Reading Minster
On the list as Church of St Mary
Reading Minster, 1875 and today
Drag across to compare. The two views aren’t taken from exactly the same spot.
1875: Photo: Henry Taunt · Public domain. Today: Photo: Ben Sutherland from Forest Hill, London, European Union · CC BY 2.0.
About Reading Minster
Reading Minster, listed as the Church of St Mary, is one of 5 Grade I listed buildings in Reading and about 9,341 in England. It was among the first 72 buildings in Reading to be listed, on 22 March 1957, and its entry was last amended on 1 March 2023. It stands in the St Mary's Butts and Castle Street conservation area, designated in 1972. Within 400 metres are 2 more Grade I buildings and 98 other listed buildings. We have 5 public-domain views of it from before 1950.
HERead the official list entryHistoric England’s description of the building, its history and why it is listed · List entry 1113573↗Grade I is for buildings of exceptional interest, about 2.5% of all listed buildings in England. Listing protects the whole building, inside and out: changes need listed building consent from the council.
5 old views of Reading Minster, inside and out
Public domain, made before 1950, from 1875 to 1890. Tap one to see it full screen.
Outside
1875
1875
1887
c. 1890Inside
1875From Wikimedia Commons (public domain or CC0), copied to our own server; each credit is in the viewer.
Make it a walk: 4 listed buildings in about 15 minutes
Reading · about 0.4 miles on foot, as the crow flies
- 1Reading MinsterStart here
- 2
St Mary's Church, Castle StreetGrade II* · 0.1 mi on - 3
Holybrook HouseGrade II* · 0.1 mi on - 4
Nos 154 to 160 (Even) and Railings to StreetGrade II* · 0.2 mi on
36 more listed buildings within 150 metres
Grade I and II* ones open their own page; Grade II ones open the official list entry.
Show the other 18
Grade I churches near Reading
Within 25 miles, with a photo.
Questions about Reading Minster
Is Reading Minster listed?
Yes. Church of St Mary is listed Grade I on the National Heritage List for England (list entry 1113573), first listed on 22 March 1957.
Can you visit Reading Minster?
It can be seen from the street; whether you can go inside depends on its owner.
Is Reading Minster in a conservation area?
Yes, the St Mary's Butts and Castle Street conservation area, designated in 1972.
Are there old photos of Reading Minster?
Yes: 5 public-domain views from before 1950, on this page.
© Historic England 2026. Contains Ordnance Survey data © Crown copyright and database right 2026. Check an entry on Historic England’s website before relying on it. Photos: Wikimedia Commons and Geograph, credited above, copied to our own server. Map tiles © OpenStreetMap contributors.
Sources: Historic England, National Heritage List for England (listed buildings, scheduled monuments, registered parks and gardens, battlefields, World Heritage Sites), October 2026, inside the ONS 2022 built-up-area boundary · Historic England conservation areas (supplied by local planning authorities; October 2026). All under the Open Government Licence v3.0.
Contains public sector information licensed under the Open Government Licence v3.0. Contains HM Land Registry data © Crown copyright and database right 2026. Contains OS data © Crown copyright and database right 2026 (ONS boundaries). Northern Ireland: Source: NISRA; contains Land & Property Services data and Ordnance Survey of Northern Ireland information, © Crown copyright, licensed under the Open Government Licence v3.0. Scotland: contains National Records of Scotland data, Registers of Scotland data and SEPA data, © Crown copyright / © SEPA 2025, licensed under the Open Government Licence v3.0.