News

Lancaster flypast to open 2016 fete

An iconic four-engine Avro Lancaster from the Battle of Britain Memorial Flight crosses Caversham Court Gardens at 1.00pm on Saturday, 9 July, for the annual Caversham Church Fete. PA474 is one of only two Lancaster aircraft remaining in airworthy condition out of the 7,377 that were built (the other is in Canada with the Canadian Warplane Heritage Museum at Hamilton, Ontario). She was built in 1945.Caversham Church Fete, organised by the Parish of Caversham Thameside and Mapledurham, is a truly traditional fete, combining entertainment, refreshments, stalls and sideshows. The Fete is sponsored by AB Walker Funeral... Read more...

May Fair 2016

There was a good turnout from the local community to support St John’s May Fair on May 21. The stalls included jewellery, books, stationery, handicrafts, bric-a-brac, plants. Homemade marmalade and cakes were very popular, and there was the chance to win prizes on the tombola or in the raffle. £901 was raised on the day. Amongst our visitors, we were very pleased to welcome Rev Penny Cuthbert, soon to take up post as the Transition Minister for St John’s. Read more...

Penny returns to Caversham as priest

The Revd Penny Cuthbert is the new priest joining the team in the Parish of Caversham Thameside and Mapledurham. Baptised as a child at St Margaret’s, Mapledurham, Penny grew up in Caversham and will be licensed on June 6 with responsibility for St John the Baptist Church, on Gosbrook Road.From a ‘vague belief in God’ in childhood, Penny's faith crystallised at Durham University, spending time with church-going friends and being especially impressed by Jesus’ story of the prodigal son. On her return to Reading, Penny attended Greyfriars Church, met and married husband Simon and began to... Read more...

Wetlands Ramble

We discovered what must surely be one of Reading's best-kept secrets on our Spring Ramble on May Day – the delightful old dwellings at Coley Park and the Holy Brook water-meadows. Looking westwards as you travel along the A33 relief road you cannot imagine the beauty and tranquility of this hidden area in the centre of Reading. We followed alternately the Holy Brook, the River Kennet and the Kennet and Avon canal as it wound its way towards the Cunning Man at Burghfield, where we stopped for a drink before our return journey, making the acquaintance of our... Read more...

Spring Concert at St John’s

St John, Caversham
We were treated to a very special evening of music at St John’s Spring Concert on 23rd April. It featured the “Burnished Brass” quintet and the mezzo-soprano Caroline Carragher, with accompaniment from Len David on piano and pipe organ. Read more...

Transition Minister for St John Caversham

St John, Caversham
The Bishop of Reading is pleased to announce the appointment of the Rev Penny Cuthbert, currently Assistant Curate in the Parish of Reading St. Agnes with St. Paul and St. Barnabas, to be the Transition Minister for St John Caversham within the parish of Caversham Thameside and Mapledurham. Read more...

Celebrating the Light of Christ

St Peter, Caversham
The Easter Day celebrations in the parish began in Caversham Court at 6am - though because the clocks went forward overnight, it felt like 5am. Some 50 hardy souls gathered around the Easter dawn bonfire, lit the Paschal candle, and processed into St Peter’s for a Eucharistic service proclaiming the Resurrection. Read more...

Caversham churches share their Easter message across the river

The events of Holy Week and Easter are 3 Days that changed the world. Churches in Caversham Thameside and Mapledurham are, this year, sharing the message of Easter with everyone travelling the River Thames or simply walking the Rivermead towpath, as well as their own communities.A poster and banner campaign in Caversham, Mapledurham and across the water highlights the realities of the Easter story: the violence of Jesus' beatings and crucifixion; the blood that stained the wooden cross; the shining transformation of the Resurrection."Easter is the most central focus of our Church year and we want everyone in... Read more...