Sonning Deanery

The Diocese of Oxford is divided into four smaller ‘episcopal Areas’, each overseen by their own Area Bishop. One of these is Reading, overseen by Bishop Olivia Graham.

This area is then further split into deaneries. The deaneries of the Reading Episcopal Area are: Bracknell, Bradfield, Maidenhead and Windsor, Newbury, Reading and Sonning.

Sonning Deanery has 24 churches in 13 parishes:

There is a short-term Deanery Plan in place with a commitment to review this on a regular basis.

Following Bishop Steven’s initiative focussing on ministry with Children and Young People, the PCCs of the 13 parishes /benefices in Sonning Deanery have been sent questions to consider about this work. The responses received have recently been collated and documented and are ready for consideration of the next steps to be taken.  

The clergy chapter meets regularly once a month, and these meetings are attended by clergy from a good number of the churches in the Deanery of varying churchmanship. Often there is a speaker on a topical subject. There is a good and supportive relationship between chapter members, and the number of discussions which have taken place on controversial subjects have been courteous and gracious and where opposing views have been expressed this has been done with respect and understanding.  

The clergy at St Paul’s have been supportive of the Chapter and Deanery activities, and the current Lay Chair of the Deanery Synod is a member of the St Paul’s congregation. There is a Deanery web site which is regularly up dated by an IT expert at St. Paul’s who is in regular touch with the Area Dean.

There is a good relationship with the clergy and people of the neighbouring parish of All Saints’ Wokingham, who used the St Paul’s church building for occasional special services during the reordering of the All Saints’ church building. The Mother’s Union branches in St Paul’s and All Saint’s churches regularly invite each other’s members to social events and to meetings with outside speakers.

At the present time there are a number of vacancies in the Deanery and a large number of services in these churches are being covered by clergy from within the Deanery, including a number of clergy with Permission to Officiate.

The Deanery also has within its boundaries Wellington College, The Royal Military Academy, and Broadmoor Hospital. The chaplains of these institutions are welcome to attend Chapter meetings and Chapter social activities as and when their duties permit.

Deanery Website

Additional notes on Area Dean role

A wide range of traditions and theoliogical views are represented in the churches of Sonning Deanery. Apart from the routine reponsibilities of chairing the Deanery Synod and Standing Committee, and dealing with general administrative tasks such as burial requests, the The Area Dean will also be expected to maintain the balance and good relationships between the mix of churches. One of these relationships is defined in a formal protocol agreed between the established parishes of St Paul and All Saints in Wokingham and the new church of Christ Church operating across the town, and is explained below.

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Protocol agreed between the three Church of England churches covering Wokingham Town- All Saints, Christ Church and St Paul’s

We thank you for the parishes of St. Pauls and All Saints. And we ask you that they might be parishes and communities where the love and welcome of Christ overflows into their relationships and their love and welcome of one another and their love and service of the town of Wokingham. [May their clergy] be patient and wise pastors of the flock. Courageous watchers on the walls. Glad heralds of wonderful news.
Help [us all] to love the Lord Jesus and love his people.

Prayer from the Rev’d Joel Knight

This protocol was ratified by our PCC in December 2022, after representatives from all three
churches met during the previous month, and was signed by all three church leaders. The
full document outlines how we work together across the town and is an agreement between
the churches and not just the three church leaders. The church leaders will meet four times
a year for coffee, as well as at Chapter and around town. Every June the church leaders will
send a short update to the Archdeacon of Berkshire. The protocol will be reviewed every
three years. The new leader of the church plant, Christ Church, has been in post since April
2022.
The document covers the following topics:

• Respecting each other’s ministries and traditions
• Offering worship alternatives in the town
• Occasional offices
• Mission in the town
• Promotional activity
• Civic engagement
• Social action
• Work in schools
• Full Deanery and Diocesan participation
• Arbitration
  There are key principles:
• Commitment to the flourishing of all three Anglican churches
• Good communication and deepening trust
• Building a culture of permission which thinks the best of each other and addresses
  issues promptly and respectfully
• Working together and alongside each other despite our differences in theology and
  our approach to the world
  This is a summary of the protocol. Full details are available on request.