St John the Evangelist Church, Woodley explained

St John's, Woodley
Fullname:St John the Evangelist, Woodley
Imagealt:StJohn Logo.jpg
Coordinates:51.457°N -0.8955°W
Location:Berkshire
Country:England
Denomination:Church of England
Founder:Robert Palmer
Status:Parish church
Functional Status:Active
Heritage Designation:Grade II*
Designated Date:26 January 1967
Architect:Henry Woodyer
Bells:1
Parish:Woodley, St John the Evangelist
Deanery:Reading
Archdeaconry:Archdeaconry of Berkshire
Diocese:Anglican Diocese of Oxford
Vicar:Rev. Mark Nam 甄英深
Warden:Brian Main

St John the Evangelist, Woodley, is a parish church in Woodley, close to Reading in the English county of Berkshire. It is a Church of England church in the Reading Deanery[1] of the Diocese of Oxford.[2]

The church was built by Robert Palmer in 1873. In 1987 an extension was added to the south-east wall. Adjacent to the church is the St John's Centre, a Grade II listed building[3] which was formerly a Church of England school but is now used as the church hall and office. Across the road from the church is the Vicarage.

Ministers

NameAppointedPosition
Rev. Mark Nam 甄英深2024Vicar
Rev. Edilberto (Eddie) Marquez2008Priest-in-Charge/Vicar
Rev. Jon Honour2006Acting Priest-in-Charge
Rev. Ann Douglas2002Team Rector
Rev. Fred Woods1995Team Rector
Rev. Ian Watson1989Vicar/Team Rector
Rev. John Congdon1983Vicar
Rev. John Eastgate1974Vicar
Rev. H. W. H. Wilkinson1948Vicar
Rev. K.F. Way1945Vicar
Rev. W. H. Trebble1940Vicar
Rev. Cyril Donne1930Vicar
Rev. Philip Gray1925Vicar
Rev. Frederick F. Penruddock1913Vicar
Rev. Ernest Angel Gray1881Vicar

Parish of Woodley

Originally part of the Parish of Sonning, Woodley became its own Parish in 1881.[4] In the 1960s St James' Church, Woodley was planted and came under the authority of St John's Church, being led by a curate until 1992.[5]

While Ian Watson was Vicar,[6] St John's Church planted Emmanuel Church, Woodley in 1991 by employing a Church Army couple called Richard & Mandy Priestley.

The following year, 1992, saw the one parish of Woodley become two parishes within a Team Ministry. The Parish of St John the Evangelist contained St John's Church and Emmanuel Church, whilst the new Parish of Southlake contained St James Church with the curate at the time, Rev. Paul Roberts becoming a Team Vicar.[7] The Team Rector based at St John the Evangelist Church led the team of clergy for both parishes.[8]

Woodley Airfield Church was planted jointly by St John's Church and Christ Church in 1993. Airfield Church is ecumenical, having Church of England, Methodist, and URC leadership.

Following the controversial departure[9] of the Rev. Ann Douglas in 2006, the Benefice of Woodley was suspended in order that the future of the Team Ministry could be reviewed. During the interregnum the Rev. Jon Honour, Team Vicar at Emmanuel Church, was appointed Acting Priest-in-Charge of St John's Church, assisted by the then curate, the Rev. Jason Reid.

In 2007, the PCCs of St Johns and St James independently voted to dissolve the Team Ministry and establish a Group Ministry in its place. Rev. Marquez was licensed as Priest in Charge in March 2008.

The induction of Rev. Mark Nam as Vicar for St John's Church happened in May 2024.

All three Anglican Churches in Woodley are part of Churches Together in Woodley.[10]

External links

Notes and References

  1. http://www.readingdeanery.org.uk Reading Deanery
  2. http://www.oxford.anglican.org/map-of-the-diocese.html Map of the Diocese of Oxford
  3. http://www.britishlistedbuildings.co.uk/en-41495-church-of-england-school-woodley Listing Building Entry 41495
  4. http://www.british-history.ac.uk/report.aspx?compid=43208 British History Online
  5. http://www.oxford.anglican.org/documents/southlake_pp.pdf Benefice of Southlake St James Woodley
  6. http://www.linkedin.com/pub/ian-watson/28/746/839 Linked in, Ian Watson
  7. https://www.independent.co.uk/news/people/church-appointments-1542695.html Church Appointments, The Independent, August 1992
  8. https://www.independent.co.uk/news/people/church-appointments-1555230.html Church Appointments, The Independent, October 1992
  9. https://www.independent.co.uk/news/uk/this-britain/ungodly-behaviour-and-fisticuffs-in-the-quiet-parish-of-woodley-414943.html 'Ungodly behaviour' and fisticuffs in the quiet parish of Woodley
  10. http://www.woodleychristians.org.uk Church Together in Woodley