Introduction
This booklet was
produced as a result of intercessors from churches across Reading and
district meeting to pray for revival to come to Reading and flow out from
the town.
As we began to
pray for the town we realised that, rather like a good counsellor, we need
to understand the history of the town in order to better understand the
symptoms that we observe today. As
we began this process, so a rich tapestry of God's blessings on the town
emerged. Embedded into that
tapestry however were thorns and tears and rips that need to be removed
and mended to enable the town to reflect the glory that we are sure the
Lord has planned.
Some of these
thorns are words that have been spoken about the town and have wounded its
“spirit” or “character”. Others
are events that cannot just be buried in the past but need to be brought
into the light and forgiven and healed.
As we started this process we became enthralled with the fresh
perspective that God gave to us of our town.
As far back as the 17th century, some have described
Reading as “the place you visit to get somewhere else.”
As you read
through the following pages you will discover that the history of Reading
has been divided into historical sections.
There is a brief introduction and then the significant events and
dates from that period are listed. We
would like you to consider some of the points at the end of each section.
These points may lead to discussions.
If you are reading the booklet in a home group or other small
group, these points may provoke prayer and lead to a better understanding
of why our town is like it is today.
This booklet is
not intended to be comprehensive and may not be absolutely accurate as we
are amateurs in this field of historical research.
Our intention is that your appetites will be whetted.
Senior Minister, Tilehurst Free Church
1066 - 1540 The Middle Ages including Reading Abbey
1540-1700 including The Civil War
Historical Streets and Places in Reading
Praying together for Reading - What is God doing?