Grey Friars is the oldest Franciscan church still in use in the UK. The Franciscans first arrived in Reading in 1233 and occupied the current site from 1311 up to the dissolution of the Friary in 1538. It is now firmly within the evangelical Anglican tradition.
By contrast St Mary Magdalen's Oxford is a well known Anglo-catholic church. (see pic). There was a wooden church of St Mary Magdalen on the site a thousand years ago. St Hugh of Lincoln rebuilt the church in 1194.
More recently (1841-42) Gilbert Scott worked on the church to complement his nearby Martyrs' memorial, dedicated to the Protestant martyrs Cranmer, Ridley and Latimer. Let us pray for the repose of their souls as we invoke the intercession of St Mary Magdalen, St Francis of Assisi and all the Franciscan saints and beati.
Talk about high production speed!
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