St. Michael's Church, Tadley

Introduction

Saint Michael's Church in Tadley, within the Diocese of Portsmouth, is part of the Parish of Saint Michael, Tadley (with Kingsclere) and Saint Oswald, Burghfield Common.

Architecture and furnishings

The organ at St Michael's is grade 2 listed. The organ belonged to the family of a parishioner who donated it to the church of St Peter and Paul, Kingsclere. Following the Kingsclere church's closure in early 2015, the organ was moved to St Michael's.

Music and liturgy

Once a child has made their First Holy Communion they are encouraged to serve on the sanctuary. Eucharistic ministers assist the priest at Mass by distributing holy communion and take Holy Communion to parishioners unable to get to Mass. Readers proclaim God's Word at Mass on a rota basis; readers should be baptised Catholics and able to read English clearly. Welcomers greet everyone arriving at church services, handing out hymn books and service sheets. The Rosary is prayed in church after each weekday Mass at St Michael's & St Oswald's.

Parish life

Since 1974 the diocese of Portsmouth has been twinned with the diocese of Bamenda in Cameroon, with the Portsmouth Bamenda committee channeling support to projects there. Groups of parishioners meet weekly in two cells, one on Tuesday evenings and one on Wednesday evenings, to grow in faith and share it. There are two 'Mothers Prayers' groups meeting regularly in the parish, a movement initiated in the UK in 1995.

In Children's Liturgy of the Word volunteer catechists present the Gospel in an age-appropriate way to children too young for first holy communion. Attached to St Michael's is a parish room used for meetings, groups, children's liturgy and coffee after Mass on Sundays.