St John the Evangelist Church, Woodley

St John the Evangelist, Woodley, is a parish church in Woodley, close to Reading in the English county of Berkshire. It is a Church of England church in the Reading Deanery of the Diocese of Oxford.

St John's, Woodley
St John the Evangelist, Woodley
51.4570°N 0.8955°W / 51.4570; -0.8955
Location	Berkshire
Country	England
Denomination	Church of England
Website	www.stjohnswoodley.com
History
Status	Parish church
Founded	1873 (1873)
Founder(s)	Robert Palmer
Architecture
Functional status	Active
Heritage designation	Grade II*
Designated	26 January 1967
Architect(s)	Henry Woodyer
Specifications
Bells	1
Administration
Diocese	Anglican Diocese of Oxford
Archdeaconry	Archdeaconry of Berkshire
Deanery	Reading
Parish	Woodley, St John the Evangelist
Clergy
Vicar(s)	Rev. Edilberto (Eddie) Márquez-Picón
Laity
Churchwarden(s)	Lesley Green Pat Almond
Parish administrator	Gillian Pullen

The church was built by Robert Palmer in 1873. In 1987 an extension was added to the south-east wall. Adjacent to the church is the St John's Centre, a Grade II listed building which was formerly a Church of England school but is now used as the church hall and office. Across the road from the church is the Rectory, though the present incumbent chooses to live elsewhere in the parish.

Ministers

Name	Appointed	Position
Rev. Edilberto (Eddie) Marquez	2008	Priest-in-Charge/Vicar
Rev. Jon Honour	2006	Acting Priest-in-Charge
Rev. Ann Douglas	2002	Team Rector
Rev. Fred Woods	1995	Team Rector
Rev. Ian Watson	1989	Vicar/Team Rector
Rev. John Congdon	1983	Vicar
Rev. John Eastgate	1974	Vicar
Rev. H. W. H. Wilkinson	1948	Vicar
Rev. K.F. Way	1945	Vicar
Rev. W. H. Trebble	1940	Vicar
Rev. Cyril Donne	1930	Vicar
Rev. Philip Gray	1925	Vicar
Rev. Frederick F. Penruddock	1913	Vicar
Rev. Ernest Angel Gray	1881	Vicar

Parish of Woodley

Originally part of the Parish of Sonning, Woodley became its own Parish in 1881. In the 1960s St James' Church, Woodley was planted and came under the authority of St John's Church, being led by a curate until 1992.

While Ian Watson was Vicar, St John's Church planted Emmanuel Church, Woodley in 1991 by employing a Church Army couple called Richard & Mandy Priestley.

The following year, 1992, saw the one parish of Woodley become two parishes within a Team Ministry. The Parish of St John the Evangelist contained St John's Church and Emmanuel Church, whilst the new Parish of Southlake contained St James Church with the curate at the time, Rev. Paul Roberts becoming a Team Vicar. The Team Rector based at St John the Evangelist Church led the team of clergy for both parishes.

Woodley Airfield Church was planted jointly by St John's Church and Christ Church in 1993. Airfield Church is ecumenical, having Church of England, Methodist, and URC leadership.

Following the controversial departure of the Rev. Ann Douglas in 2006, the Benefice of Woodley was suspended in order that the future of the Team Ministry could be reviewed. During the interregnum the Rev. Jon Honour, Team Vicar at Emmanuel Church, was appointed Acting Priest-in-Charge of St John's Church, assisted by the then curate, the Rev. Jason Reid. In 2007, the PCCs of St Johns and St James independently voted to dissolve the Team Ministry and establish a Group Ministry in its place. The benefice currently remains suspended pending the completion of the necessary formal arrangements to effect this change.

Interviews were held in October 2007 for a Priest in Charge for St John's Church, and the Rev. Marquez was licensed in March 2008. In 2021, Rev. Marquez was suspended after being charged with five counts of indecent assault on a child under the age of 14. He was cleared of all charges in Sept 2023.

All four Anglican Churches in Woodley are part of Churches Together in Woodley.

External links

• St John the Evangelist Church, Woodley
• Emmanuel Church, Woodley
• Woodley Airfield Church
• St James Church