Georgian

Timeline

Saxon

St Mary’s

St Giles’

St Laurence’s

The Abbey

The Monks Day

The Abbot

Pilgrims

The Grey Friars

Quakers

Baptists

Congregation-alists

Catholic Church

St Mary’s Castle Street

St James' Catholic Church

The first Catholic Church since the Abbey was demolished was built in 1812 in Vastern Lane (Blagrave Street). Catholic services had been held in the town since 1796 after a large number of Catholic Priests were housed in Reading after having escaped the French Revolution. St James Catholic Church, next to Forbury Gardens was opened in 1840 after the site had been donated by James Wheble. It was designed by Augustus Pugin who also designed the Houses of Parliament, and is the only building he designed using the classical style.