History of the Parish
In the late 18th and early 19th century, Woodley was made up of 700 properties and pieces of land identified in records as “Wheble and Palmer Land”. This was named after James Wheble, a prominent Catholic and owner of Woodley Lodge, where, from 1802, Mass was first celebrated in the private chapel by a French émigré priest named l’Abbe la Blandiere, one of six then living in Reading. Wheble later donated the land on which St James’s Church in Reading was built, but died in 1840, the year it was completed. Ten years later, his son and heir married Lady Catherine, daughter of the Earl of Howth. Following the Catholic Hierarchy Act of 1851, he was appointed High Sheriff of Berkshire in 1854. The population of Woodley was then 860. There is then no record of Mass being celebrated in Woodley until Easter Sunday, 17 April, 1938.
The parish of St John Bosco was established in 1946, and a church built in Woodley Centre, with the help of Reading’s Polish community. A hall was later added, and from 1956 served as a school run by the Sisters of Mercy from Abingdon. In the same year, the St John Bosco Convent School was opened, and in 1960 the parish centre was moved to Western Avenue. In 1966, St Dominic Savio Junior School was opened, with the Infant School opening its doors in 1974. In 1970, the current church was completed, and on Sunday 4 March 2007, it was officially consecrated by Bishop Crispian Hollis, Bishop of Portsmouth (see below).
The parish priests who have served Woodley are:
Fr Daniel Rea (1946-1970 d),
Fr Thomas Lane (1946-1974 d),
Fr Roy Bennett (1974-1983),
Fr Brian Rutledge (1983-1990),
Fr Peter Hollins (1990-1997),
Fr Graham Attridge (1997-2001),
Fr Joe McNerney (2002-2005)
Fr Chris Whelan (2005-date)
The parish of St John Bosco was established in 1946, and a church built in Woodley Centre, with the help of Reading’s Polish community. A hall was later added, and from 1956 served as a school run by the Sisters of Mercy from Abingdon. In the same year, the St John Bosco Convent School was opened, and in 1960 the parish centre was moved to Western Avenue. In 1966, St Dominic Savio Junior School was opened, with the Infant School opening its doors in 1974. In 1970, the current church was completed, and on Sunday 4 March 2007, it was officially consecrated by Bishop Crispian Hollis, Bishop of Portsmouth (see below).
The parish priests who have served Woodley are:
Fr Daniel Rea (1946-1970 d),
Fr Thomas Lane (1946-1974 d),
Fr Roy Bennett (1974-1983),
Fr Brian Rutledge (1983-1990),
Fr Peter Hollins (1990-1997),
Fr Graham Attridge (1997-2001),
Fr Joe McNerney (2002-2005)
Fr Chris Whelan (2005-date)
The Consecration of the Church - 37 years after the event!
“Lord, as this building is filled with fragrance, so may Your Church fill the world with the fragrance of Christ” (Bishop Crispian Hollis – Sunday 4 March 2007)
Shortly after his arrival at St John Bosco’s in 2005, Fr Chris noticed that there were no consecration crosses stamped into the fabric of the building. Further enquiries at the diocesan office confirmed that there was no record of the church ever having been consecrated. The parish took immediate steps to put matters right, and finally, 37 years after it opened its doors, the church was consecrated by Bishop Crispian on Sunday 4 March, 2007.
The ceremony opened with the blessing of the font, the water blessed and then sprinkled on the congregation as the choir sang “Oh Living Water, refresh my Soul”. Next came the anointing of the altar and pillars with holy chrism oil, making them as “holy visible signs of the mystery of Christ”. After the ensuing Mass, a special tapestry was presented, and a brass plaque unveiled in the church porch.
Shortly after his arrival at St John Bosco’s in 2005, Fr Chris noticed that there were no consecration crosses stamped into the fabric of the building. Further enquiries at the diocesan office confirmed that there was no record of the church ever having been consecrated. The parish took immediate steps to put matters right, and finally, 37 years after it opened its doors, the church was consecrated by Bishop Crispian on Sunday 4 March, 2007.
The ceremony opened with the blessing of the font, the water blessed and then sprinkled on the congregation as the choir sang “Oh Living Water, refresh my Soul”. Next came the anointing of the altar and pillars with holy chrism oil, making them as “holy visible signs of the mystery of Christ”. After the ensuing Mass, a special tapestry was presented, and a brass plaque unveiled in the church porch.
