Reasons for Designation The Church of St Mary, Reading, also known as Reading Minster, is listed at Grade I for the following principal reasons: Architectural interest: * containing fabric of many periods including C11 Romanesque and C14 material, to which an impressive tower was added in 1551-1555 which includes stone from the medieval abbey church, and which is a notable example of stone and flint chequerboard flushwork
Historic interest: * a large and ancient church at the centre of the town, whose foundation pre-dates the Norman conquest, the building includes material from Reading Abbey brought to site following the dissolution including parts of the nave roof, material for the tower and possibly the southern nave arcade
Reading’s position at the junction of the Thames and Kennet was crucial and it is possible that there was a river port here during the Roman occupation
The ransacking of Reading by the Danes in C11 and the consequent rebuilding led to the earliest fabric in the present building which includes two Romanesque door surrounds and, possibly, the pillars of the southern nave arcade