The church is on Southampton Street, just outside the town centre and in the portion of the original borough to the south of the River Kennet.

In 1191 Pope Clement III gave the church to Reading Abbey and throughout the Middle Ages it enjoyed the right of sanctuary.

As a consequence it was in turn attacked by the besieging artillery and the upper part of the tower, including its spire, was destroyed in 1643.

[1][2] Soldiers who died in the Battle of Reading (1688) during the Dutch invasion of England in the early part of the Glorious Revolution are buried here.

[10] As it opposes the ordination of women to the priesthood, St Giles is a member of Forward in Faith and receives alternative episcopal oversight from the Bishop of Oswestry.