Berkshire History for Kids: Abbey Church

Where Monks Worshipped

The monks held services here in praise of God.
- They prayed
- They held mass
- They chanted (like singing hymns)
- They had to stand up most of the time, but had ledges called 'misericords' to rest their bums on.
Important people were buried here.
Holy relics were kept here.
- They were kept in big stone 'shrines' or small golden 'reliquaries'
- Reading Abbey had the hand of St. James. Its reliquary was probably shaped like a hand.
- Pilgrims came to see the relics in large numbers
There were many little chapels here in which to pray to particular saints.
Decoration was used to praise God. It could also be used to teach Bible stories.
The church did not only have decorative carvings, but they were brightly painted. There were big wall-paintings too. All churches were like this in medieval times, but the paint has now worn away.