St Joseph's Church, Bracknell

Introduction

St Joseph's Church in Bracknell, within the Diocese of Portsmouth, began with an iron church blessed on October 10th 1894, with Saint Joseph chosen as patron. In November 2008, the parishes of Saint Joseph's and Saint Margaret Clitherow were merged.

History

The Reilly family of Kells House gave a room that served as a chapel for about a year. A priest bought about two acres of land and in August 1894 determined to build an iron church and school. The Premonstratensians left Farnborough and gave up their work in Bracknell, and the Bishop sent a successor priest. The Franciscan Fathers from South Ascot took charge of the Mission from April 1918 until September 1945.

A new church was planned in 1956 for 350 people, and the plan was later enlarged to seat 400. Work on the new church began in May 1961, and the church was opened on May 1st 1962 at a cost of £59,000. The church can seat 500 people comfortably.

Parish life

The Ascot & Bracknell SVP Conference meets fortnightly, alternating between St Francis Church Ascot and St Joseph's Church Bracknell. Eucharistic Ministers bring Holy Communion to parishioners who are unable to attend Mass, at home or in residential homes.

Pastoral Visitors and members of the Bereavement Support Group visit the lonely and bereaved in their homes. The parish supports a Night Shelter team during the winter months. The parish runs Soup & Roll on Friday lunchtimes during term time. The parish has a monthly Prayer and Pastoral Care meeting.

The parish continues to fundraise and work closely with its twinned diocese in Bamenda, Cameroon. The parish, together with some other Bracknell churches, joined with the Berkshire Credit Union to provide contact points across Bracknell. The parish has been running a Pop-up Food Bank in partnership with Share Wokingham at Great Hollands for over a year. The parish has formed a Hardship Group which has gathered material from the internet about poverty and hardship to educate about these matters.

The parish has emailed its MP on several matters. The parish has a Senior Leadership Team (SLT), a group of lay parishioners appointed by the Parish Priest to share responsibility in driving forward parish renewal following the 'maintenance to mission' principles of Divine Renovation.

The parish belongs to the South Berkshire Pastoral Area which consists of Bracknell, Wokingham, Crowthorne and Sandhurst and Ascot. A quarterly Service for the Sick and Housebound is held. Quarterly social groups support those suffering loneliness after bereavement.

Visiting

Eucharistic Ministers take Holy Communion to 30 Sick and Housebound Parishioners in their own homes in various areas of Bracknell, as well as Beech House Care Home, Bracknell Care Home and St David's Nursing Home (Ascot Priory).