Minster Church of St Mary the Virgin
Minster Church of St Mary the Virgin
Minster Church of St Mary the Virgin
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Most Recent: Reviews ordered by most recent publish date in descending order.
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4.0
42 reviews
Excellent
16
Very good
17
Average
8
Poor
0
Terrible
1
Malkimalk
Reading, UK17 contributions
Feb 2020
The Minster is a great place to go to be quiet and reflect. 900 years of people praying and worshipping God brings a certain ongoing sense of his presence. Friday and Saturday nights it is open till the early hours.
Written February 13, 2020
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
JRMADA
United States3,332 contributions
Oct 2022
This is a lovely church. The outside was new to us. We’ve never seen the mixture of rock with sand stone in a checkered pattern before. Very beautiful indeed. The inside is lovely too. Worth a visit without a doubt.
Written October 4, 2022
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
gauly
Reading, England121 contributions
I used to walk past this little church every day on the way to work and I love the checkerboard tower. Its actually very old and has quite an interesting history. The oldest part is the door which dates from Saxon times and the main part of the church is 11th century. The checkerboard tower is newer and was made in the 16th century from stone taken from the destroyed Reading abbey. The church is in St Mary's Butts (apparently named after a place where archery was practiced) and the tourist information is located just behind the church.
Written January 20, 2008
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
AlBahati
Reading, UK132 contributions
Aug 2016 • Solo
Haven't been there for a Sunday service, but in 2016 they were opening it during the evening for prayers, for anyone who wanted to go in (and for the homeless who may need a cup of coffee, tee or a kind word).
As another reviewer has mentioned, -> This is what a church should do.
It doesnt hurt also considering this church has been in existence since 979 AD, has stood the test of time, and still looks gorgeous as ever.
As another reviewer has mentioned, -> This is what a church should do.
It doesnt hurt also considering this church has been in existence since 979 AD, has stood the test of time, and still looks gorgeous as ever.
Written February 4, 2017
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
JonathanSuch2013
Portsmouth, UK1,228 contributions
Jul 2015 • Couples
Carol and I often catch the bus at St Mary's Butts in Reading but have never gone into the church right next to the bus stop. Today we availed ourselves of the opportunity. It is lovely and peaceful inside with superb stained glass windows. The church dates as far back as 979 and the round Saxon Doorway is all that remains from the original nunnery.. It has been added to many times over the subsequent centuries and the result is splendid.
Written July 8, 2015
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
Andrew S
Marlow, UK25 contributions
Mar 2015 • Solo
the Minster church is historic, with parts of it dating from 12th century , and it is open late afternoon and at other times during the day and on Saturdays from 10pm to 2 am in the last month or so ( March 2015 ) . There are cushions and soft chairs , and some soup/ coffee and sandwiches for those who need this late at night. During the late afternoon, if open, there are candles , gregorian plainchant, and a quiet, beautiful atmosphere.for anyone wanting to sit and think about life.
On Sundays, the Eucharist, at 11:00 am usually has the Choir singing, and this is one of those rarities- an all boys' treble line, supported by a full line of young men and adults. The services over Easter were particularly beautiful: with the Veneration of the Cross on Good Friday one of the highlights: wonderful unaccompanied singing which moved to tears. Well worth a visit.
On Sundays, the Eucharist, at 11:00 am usually has the Choir singing, and this is one of those rarities- an all boys' treble line, supported by a full line of young men and adults. The services over Easter were particularly beautiful: with the Veneration of the Cross on Good Friday one of the highlights: wonderful unaccompanied singing which moved to tears. Well worth a visit.
Written April 28, 2015
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
Abbotsbury92
Arlington, VA902 contributions
Mar 2015 • Solo
The Minster Church is well worth admiring and visiting when in Reading. Chapels on the site date to the seventh century; the church occupies a lovely little plot just behind the Broad Street of downtown Reading. The distinctive checkerboard pattern on the tower owes to alternating blocks of flint and stone. The interior, which I was fortunate to see immediately after the Sunday morning service, is lovely.
St. Mary's Butts, which is the street running in front of the church, is so named because it was a practice ground for archers in medieval times (the "butts" were mounds that served as archery targets.) Wander around this area, and down to the Kennet & Avon Canal, and imagine this area as it was a thousand years ago.
St. Mary's Butts, which is the street running in front of the church, is so named because it was a practice ground for archers in medieval times (the "butts" were mounds that served as archery targets.) Wander around this area, and down to the Kennet & Avon Canal, and imagine this area as it was a thousand years ago.
Written March 8, 2015
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
malc1005
Kettering, UK5,537 contributions
Feb 2022
This a gem of a church, quite eye catching, with lovely architecture, and history. Well worth taking a look.
Written February 16, 2022
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
Greg
Cambridge, UK5,219 contributions
Jun 2019 • Solo
This church is the oldest Church foundation in Reading and occupies a good amount of land within Reading city centre. Mixes days gone by with the present day as the large tower is clearly the work of recent restoration. The new brick work is quite striking.
Written June 1, 2019
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
DMG32
Milan73 contributions
Aug 2017 • Couples
I couldn't imagine there could be a so old church in Reading. This church, since 979 AD, has been standing here as proof of our faith. Quite simple inside, welcoming everyone would to take a relaxing time for stay and pray.
Written October 3, 2017
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
Disabled parking near The Minster?
Written December 11, 2018
Is there disabled parking
Written October 30, 2018
It is the old part of downtown, so there isn't special parking, but there probably is something in the street.
Written December 19, 2018
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