• Make a contribution
  • Get the Print Edition
  • Sign up for our daily newsletter
Sunday, July 27, 2025
  • Login
Reading Today Online
  • HOME
  • YOUR AREA
    • All
    • Caversham
    • Central Reading
    • East Reading
    • Katesgrove
    • Reading
    • Southcote & Coley
    • Tilehurst & Norcot
    • Whitley

    Changes made to Reading council tenancies for first time in nearly 10 years

    Restaurant closed for 7 years to be turned into bar and eatery

    PRIDE OF READING AWARDS: Derry raises awareness of Reading’s good people

    PRIDE OF READING AWARDS: Derry raises awareness of Reading’s good people

    PRIDE OF READING AWARDS: Meet the sponsors – Kingdom Rooms

    PRIDE OF READING AWARDS: Meet the sponsors – Kingdom Rooms

    FROM THE LEADER: New Studio Theatre at the Hexagon

    PCC allocates nearly £2M in Home Office funding to counter serious violence in Thames Valley

    The Barberettes Shine at International Choir Competition in Europe

    Reading Rep announces team behind next production, The Last Five Years

    Reading Biscuit Factory set to celebrate fourth birthday

  • COMMUNITY
  • READING FC
  • SPORT
    • All
    • Basketball
    • Football
    • Rugby

    Reading FC star Knibbs set to make Championship move as fee is agreed

    Reading FC confirm new signing as midfielder joins on permanent deal

    Former Reading FC loanee joins rivals

    Reading FC sign German attacker on permanent deal

    Reading and Chelsea legend Kerry Dixon set for Q&A at Purple Turtle

    Ex-Reading star Ejaria on trial with former Royals manager

    League One side set to win race for former Reading FC young star

    Reading FC opinion: Where are the goals coming from this season?

    Reading FC midfielder Knibbs linked with Championship move

  • ENTERTAINMENT
    • ARTS
    • READING FESTIVAL
    • READING PRIDE
    • WOKINGHAM FESTIVAL
  • PRIDE OF READING
  • OBITUARIES
  • JOBS
  • ADVERTISE
  • CONTACT US
No Result
View All Result
Reading Today Online
No Result
View All Result
Home Featured

In the steps of history: procession and service in Reading town centre marks start of new judicial year

Phil Creighton by Phil Creighton
Wednesday, October 18, 2023 7:31 am
in Featured, Reading
A A
The procession from the civic offices to the Reading Minster church Picture: David Dunham

The procession from the civic offices to the Reading Minster church Picture: David Dunham

Share on FacebookShare on Twitter

THE START of the new judicial year was marked in Reading on Friday with a dash of spectacle, a touch of razzamatazz, and a sense of history.

Judges and the great and good of Berkshire came together for the annual service at the Minster Church of St Mary The Virgin in St Mary’s Butts.

The event starts with a procession, thankfully much shorter than in the 19th century when it started from Robert Palmer’s home in Sonning. High sheriffs, judges, police cadets, clerks, ushers and bench members wore their ceremonial dress as fanfares announced their arrival at the town centre place of worship.

Also making a grand entrance were borough and town mayors including Cllr Tony Page, the mayor of Reading, and his counterpart, Cllr Beth Rowland, the mayor of Wokingham borough. Cadets and the Lord Lieutenant of Berkshire came next, while the ministry team from the Minster came in last.

In choristers’ robes, the young voices of the Ludgrove School choir performed a moving rendition of the first verse Amazing Grace, joined for the rest of John Newtown’s famous hymn by the Reading Community Gospel Choir.

Welcomes given by the Venerable Stephen Pullin, the archdeacon of Berkshire, and prayers by Minster vicar the Revd Sonya Wratten led into readings first by Simon Muir, the high sheriff of Berkshire.

Related posts

Changes made to Reading council tenancies for first time in nearly 10 years

Restaurant closed for 7 years to be turned into bar and eatery

A huge crowd at Englefield House for the The Beach Boys’ only UK show of the year

PRIDE OF READING AWARDS: Derry raises awareness of Reading’s good people

He read a short extract from a Winston Churchill speech from 1910, before Psalm 127:1-5.

The Revd Nick Hill, the rector of Reading Gateway Church in Whitley, is the chaplain to the high sheriff, and he first interviews Andrez Harriot about his work with The Liminality Group, which helps high-risk and vulnerable children in both community and custodial settings.

Then, after a scripture reading of Luke 19:1-10, Mr Hill gave his sermon, sharing some of his own story, which included being a tearaway at school until he joined the a youth organisation for boys and was taken under the wing of a Christian.

“He told me no one was beyond God’s grace,” he said. “God delights in giving second chances.”

Mr Hill continued: “Giving people second chances is not an easy task, especially for those of you who work in the criminal justice system – you can see the offender reoffend … I believe that early intervention … prevention is a key factor in guiding these children away from crime.”

He also shared the story of a drug addict who had become a Christian while in jail, after having undergone an Alpha course, and reminded people that Archbishop Desmond Tutu was an advocate of restorative justice because it was hopeful: “It believes that even the worst offender could become a better person”.

Reading Community Gospel Choir then sang Together, before the Minster’s associate vicar, the Revd Andrew Bond led prayers. Ludgrove School sang John Rutter’s anthem The Lord Bless You and Keep You, before a blessing and the national anthem.

Hymns included Dear Lord and Father of Mankind, and Guide Me O Thou Great Redeemer.

Guests included MP Theresa May, philanthropist Sir John Madejksi, representatives from charities, and spiritual leaders from across Berkshire.

Keep up to date by signing up for our daily newsletter

We don’t spam we only send our newsletter to people who have requested it.

Check your inbox or spam folder to confirm your subscription.

Previous Post

Laithwaites team raises thousands for Sue Ryder Hospice with 120km feat

Next Post

Yes, you can let your 16-year-old get behind the wheel … before they’ve passed their test

FOLLOW US

POPULAR STORIES

  • Former Reading FC striker Andy Carroll joins new club in England after leaving France

    0 shares
    Share 0 Tweet 0
  • 47-year-old woman arrested after two pedestrians die in road traffic collision in Caversham

    0 shares
    Share 0 Tweet 0
  • Masked men armed with weapons rob store in Reading

    0 shares
    Share 0 Tweet 0
  • League One side set to win race for former Reading FC young star

    0 shares
    Share 0 Tweet 0
  • Reading FC forward given ultimatum over future at the club

    0 shares
    Share 0 Tweet 0

RDG.Today – which is a Social Enterprise – provides Reading Borough with free, independent news coverage.

If you are able, please support our work

Click Here to Support RDG.Today

ABOUT US

Reading Today is dedicated to providing news online across the whole of the Borough of Reading. It is a Social Enterprise, existing to support the various communities in Reading Borough.

CONTACT US

news@wokinghampaper.co.uk

Reading Today Logo

Keep up to date with our daily newsletter

We don’t spam we only send our newsletter to people that have subscribed

Check your inbox or spam folder to confirm your subscription.

The Wokingham Paper Ltd publications are regulated by IPSO – the Independent Press Standards Organisation.
If you have a complaint about a  The Wokingham Paper Ltd  publication in print or online, you should, in the first instance, contact the publication concerned, email: editor@wokingham.today, or telephone: 0118 327 2662. If it is not resolved to your satisfaction, you should contact IPSO by telephone: 0300 123 2220, or visit its website: www.ipso.co.uk. Members of the public are welcome to contact IPSO at any time if they are not sure how to proceed, or need advice on how to frame a complaint.

Welcome Back!

Login to your account below

Forgotten Password?

Retrieve your password

Please enter your username or email address to reset your password.

Log In
No Result
View All Result
  • HOME
  • MY AREA
    • Central Reading
    • East Reading
    • Bracknell
    • Calcot
    • Caversham
    • Crowthorne
    • Earley
  • COMMUNITY
  • SPORT
    • Reading FC
    • Football
    • Rugby
    • Basketball
  • ENTERTAINMENT
    • ARTS
    • READING FESTIVAL
    • READING PRIDE
    • WOKINGHAM FESTIVAL
  • PRIDE OF READING
  • OBITUARIES
  • JOBS
  • ADVERTISE
  • CONTACT US
  • SUPPORT US
  • SIGN UP FOR OUR NEWSLETTER
  • WHERE TO GET THE PRINT EDITION

© 2021 - The Wokingham Paper Ltd - All Right Reserved.