Reading Minster

Reading Minster
The church tower, chequered with flint and stone
Reading Minster Location within Reading Town Centre
51°27′16.2″N 0°58′25.0″W / 51.454500°N 0.973611°W / 51.454500; -0.973611
Location	Reading
Country	England
Denomination	Church of England
Website	readingminster.org.uk
History
Founded	7th century
Dedication	St Mary
Architecture
Functional status	Active
Heritage designation	Grade I
Style	Gothic
Administration
Diocese	Oxford
Archdeaconry	Berkshire

Reading Minster, or the Minster Church of St Mary the Virgin, is the oldest ecclesiastical foundation in the town of Reading, Berkshire, England. Although eclipsed in importance by the later Reading Abbey, Reading Minster regained its status after the destruction of the Abbey and is now an Anglican parish church.

The minster gives its name to the street of St Mary's Butts, on which it stands.^[1] The Minster Church of St Mary the Virgin should not be mistaken for the similarly named St Mary's Church, Castle Street, which is only a few yards away.