St Mary's Church, Castle Street, Reading facts for kids
Quick facts for kids St Mary's Church, Castle Street |
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St Mary's Church, Castle Street
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 St Mary's Church, Castle Street
Location in Reading Central
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| 51°27′13.59″N 0°58′29.32″W / 51.4537750°N 0.9748111°W | |
| Location | Reading |
| Country | England |
| Denomination | Church of England (Continuing) |
| History | |
| Founded | 1798 |
| Dedication | none |
| Architecture | |
| Functional status | Active |
| Heritage designation | Grade II* |
| Style | Corinthian |
| Administration | |
| Archdeaconry | N/A |
| Diocese | N/A |
St Mary's Church, Castle Street is a special church building in Reading, England. It's not part of the main Church of England. Instead, it belongs to a smaller group called the Church of England (Continuing). You can find it right in the middle of Reading, not far from another church called Reading Minster.
Contents
How St Mary's Church Started
The church began in 1798 because of a disagreement. Some people from St Giles' Church in Reading had different ideas from their Bishop. Because of this, many of them decided to leave.
They started their own new chapel. This new chapel was built on Castle Street. It was on the spot where Reading's old jail used to be. Over time, this chapel grew and became what we now know as St Mary's Church, Castle Street.
What the Church Looks Like
St Mary's Church is a very important building. It is listed as a Grade II* building. This means it has special historical or architectural value. The first building from 1798 was a simple Georgian style church.
The Front of the Church
In 1840, the church got a big update. A local architect named Henry Briant added the impressive front part. This part is called a portico. It has six tall columns in the Corinthian style.
The front of the church is covered in a smooth finish called stucco. The fancy tops of the columns, called capitals, are probably made from a special stone called Coade stone.
Inside the Church
Inside, the church has a gallery from the late 1700s. This gallery has five sections. The lower part has columns in the Doric style, which look like marble. The gallery itself has columns in the Ionic style.
The ceiling in the middle of the church is curved. It has decorative blocks called modillions. There is also a small area at the front called the chancel. This is where the organ is located. The organ was built in 1870 by a company called Vowles from Bristol. It was moved to St Mary's Church in 1987. The church used to be lit by two large cast iron chandeliers from the mid-1800s.
St Mary's Church Today
Today, St Mary's Church is part of the Church of England (Continuing). This is a small group of four churches. They are not part of the main Church of England. They describe themselves as "evangelical, reformed, Anglican." This means they follow certain Christian beliefs and traditions.
Gallery
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The church in 1890 by Henry Taunt
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The church in its current street context
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