St Stephens Church - Reading

[Marmaduke 123]

I'm just modifying my post above a bit, in the light of further research! Information from the National Archives tells me St John and St Stephen were both daughter churches of St Giles originally. That would mean that they could perform baptisms and possibly burials, if they had a graveyard, but probably marriages, if they could carry them out, would be in the main church register of St Giles.

St John was established as a separate parish in 1872, and a note about the appointment of the vicar says he would also cover St Stephen. There was then some correspondence about where the boundary between St John and St Stephen should be. Marriages at St John start from 1873 according to Berkshire record office. I have checked St Giles marriages, and your couple's marriage isn't there, so I would expect to find it in the St John's register, if indeed they did marry in Reading.

Berkshire FHS haven't transcribed St Johns records, so it looks as if a trip to Reading might be indicated if you are nearby. If not, half an hours research by the record office should be enough to confirm or otherwise the existence of the marriage record. Here's a link to the relevant page about their services:
 
http://www.rootschat.com/links/019tt/

If they did marry at St John's, perhaps the fact that the church was new to marriages might explain why the marriage is missing from the GRO index.

 

[craven481]

Thanks, Marmaduke.  I've just emailed the St Stephens anyway to see if they can throw further light on the marriages.  If I get a reply I will post the details on this Forum.

Ken

[HarryW]

There is no marriage shown in the BFHS St Giles parish register transcription.

[craven481]

Thanks, Harry, for checking St Giles, Registers.

The reply I git from St Johns said:

"All our historical records are held by Reading Records office.  Here is the link for their website and you can contact them by letter or email requesting the information you need and they can then find the original records for you.  http://www.berkshirerecordoffice.org.uk/

It might be worth noting that in 1976 St Johns Church, Reading and St Stephens Church, Reading, both moved premises to form one church together.  The records therefore could be filed under St Johns & St Stephens Church, Orts Road, Reading (current) or St Stephens Church,  or even under St John’s Church (previous) but the records office are aware of this."

As said previously -  I intend visiting the record office in Autumn so will contact them nearer the time.

[Marmaduke 123]

Thanks for the update. Do let us know if you find the marriage.