The church is an ever changing group of people seeking to engage with God, often in new ways, serving the modern world as they find it. However, while we don’t dwell on the past, we know that people find it interesting and enjoyable to discover more of their local history. In that vein we offer a little of our history.
The Parish of Tilehurst : St Catherine and Calcot : St Birinus covers much of the western edge of Reading. It straddles the border of West Berkshire and Reading local authorities.
The parish church is called St Catherine of Siena and is found in the heart of our parish. It is in the middle of a 1960’s housing estate in Wittenham Avenue, opposite Birch Copse primary school. The church building was officially opened on Palm Sunday 1963.
The church hall was build shortly afterwards, but was not originally attached to the church !
The distinctive new east end was added to the church in 1980.
The shape and size of the parish changed in 2007 when it was merged with significant portions of St Birinus Calcot – see below for details.
A major development project at St Catherine’s, adding the ‘Garden Room’, Café and additional kitchen was opened in 2016. The Café was originally called ‘St Catherine’s Café’, but it was renamed Café Siena in 2018. Originally the Café just occupied the rear 1/3 of the Church on the days it was open. However, as it’s popularity increased after COVID it took over the whole of the main body of the church.
Click here for some historical photos of St Catherine’s
However, the church is not a building, and is not restricted to a building or a patch of land. A church is a worshipping group of people. Why not join us ?
St Birinus Calcot
The parish of St Birinus Calcot was partially merged with St Catherine’s in 2007. More details on geographic area of the old St Birinus parish can be seen here.
The St Birinus church building is no longer owned by the Church of England. More details on the building can be found here.
Click here for some historical photos St Birinus
Cornwell Community Church
Cornwell Community Church met in the Cornwell Centre until summer 2019. More details about Cornwell Community Church can be found here.
Click here for some historical photos of Cornwell Community Church
Parish Boundary Changes of 2007
On 1st October 2007 the new parish of “Tilehurst St Catherine and Calcot St Birinus” was formed from segments of the two earlier parishes “Tilehurst St Catherine of Siena” and “Calcot St Birinus”. The changes to their original boundaries are described here.
St Catherine's 