Our Parish
Sonning is situated on the banks of the Thames between Reading and Henley-on-Thames. The surrounding area is a beautiful part of the Thames valley, close to all the facilities offered by the large town of Reading. Economically, the general area is thriving and combines employment opportunities (in local towns and for London commuters), good residential areas, many successful schools and lots of possibilities for recreation.
Sonning Parish is in the Deanery of Sonning, the Archdeaconry of Berkshire and the Diocese of Oxford. It includes the communities of Sonning village, Sonning Eye and Charvil and is bordered by the residential area of Woodley. There are links with the two local schools (Sonning CofE Primary School, which has 185 pupils, and Reading Blue Coat School, which is an independent school with an Anglican tradition and about 660 pupils). Reading University Farm is also in the Parish.
In Sonning, there are three hotels (including The Bull Inn, which the church owns), an Indian restaurant, The Mill Theatre, a village hall and a Working Men's Club. There are also several sports grounds and social clubs. In Charvil, there is one hotel, a village shop and post office, a village hall and a garage. The population of Charvil is 3,000; Sonning is 1,500 and Sonning Eye is 300.
Outside the Parish, but close by, there are a wide range of shops, restaurants, sports facilities and schools. When most children from the Parish leave Sonning CofE Primary School they go to The Piggott CofE School (approx: 1200 pupils) in the nearby village of Wargrave.
