Reading Minster
WHERE
Reading
What it’s like
A working church in the middle of Reading, open certain mornings for quiet, prayer and Sunday services.
This is a church that's still very much in use, not a roped-off monument, so what you'll find depends entirely on when you turn up. On Monday, Tuesday, Wednesday and Friday mornings it's open from 10am to 1pm for prayer, quiet and reflection, which is really a chance to step inside and sit somewhere still for a bit rather than a visitor attraction with things laid on.
If you want to see it in proper use, Wednesday has a regular service at 1pm and Sunday has one at 11am, with an extra service at 2:30pm on the first Sunday of the month. Those are the times you'll see the building doing what it was built for, with people gathering rather than wandering round on their own.
There's nothing here in the way of exhibits, trails or anything aimed specifically at children, so it suits a family more as a quiet pause in a day out in Reading than as the main event. A calm older child who can sit still for a service or a few minutes of hush will get more out of it than a toddler who wants to run about, and it's worth building it into a wider day rather than a whole outing on its own.
Plan your visit
What times can we visit?
Monday, Tuesday, Wednesday and Friday mornings from 10am to 1pm it's open for prayer, quiet and reflection. Sunday services are at 11am, plus 2:30pm on the first Sunday of the month.
Is it a service or can we just look round?
Both, depending on the day. The weekday mornings are for quiet visiting, while Wednesday at 1pm and Sundays are regular services.
Do we need to book?
No booking is mentioned, so it seems to be a case of turning up during the listed hours.
Is it suitable for young children?
There's nothing aimed at children specifically, so it works better as a quiet stop for a calmer child than a full activity for little ones.
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