S Giles Church in Reading

A Forward in Faith Parish
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Please pray for all preparing for ordination at this time.

S. Giles is one of the three mediaeval parish churches in the town centre of Reading, the County Town of Berkshire. Reading itself is notable for its Abbey, founded by Henry 1 in 1121, which became one of the largest and most important in England. It was dissolved by Henry VIII and on 14 November 1539 the Abbot and a small group of supporters which included a Vicar of S. Giles, John Eynon, were executed for refusing to acknowledge the King as Head of the Church in England.

The Feast of the Reading Martyrs is celebrated in S. Giles on 14 November each year, and there is a shrine to Blessed John Eynon in the church.

The history of S. Giles has led to a strong identification over many years with the catholic tradition in the Church of England. The church occupies part of the currently uneasy territory between the Church of England and the Roman Catholic Church and longs for reconciliation between them. We believe that the Church of England needs catholic witness and understanding to fulfill its mission as a national church, and S. Giles sees its role as an upholder of what is sometimes mockingly called the traditionalist' faith, believed by all at all times.

Fr Michael Melrose is Rector & Vicar of S. Giles-in-Reading. His telephone number is 0118 9572831.

The Parish Church

of

S. Giles-in-Reading

This is the home page of S Giles Church in Reading

The address of the church is S. Giles-in-Reading, Church Street, off Southampton Street, Reading RG1 2SB

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