All Saints' Church, Ryde is a parish church in the Church of England located in Ryde, Isle of Wight. The building is a landmark of the island, the spire being visible from many places around the Isle of Wight and from the mainland, projecting beyond the skyline. All Saints' is sometimes referred to as the "Cathedral of the Island" It is a Grade II* ecclesiastical listed building.
Architecture
The church was built between 1868 and 1872 by the architect George Gilbert Scott. The spire was an addition of 1881/82. A previous tradition saw the spire climbed early on the Feast of the Ascension to sing an Ascension hymn.
All Saints' is listed as a 'large' church in ornate Second Pointed style, constructed of stone-rubble with ashlar dressings. There are six bay-pointed arcades with naturalistic capitals. The chancel walls were painted by Clayton and Bell. The vestry - now the choir song school - was added by C Pemberton-Leach in 1891.
There are two side chapels: The Warrior Chapel in the north aisle - which is a memorial chapel - and The Chapel of The Good Shepherd in the south aisle, which was the original sacristy. The pulpit, reredos and font are all typical Scott features, The pulpit is made of Derbyshire alabaster on polished marble columns, and appeared in The Great Exhibition of 1851, winning 1st prize in its class.
The tower contains a ring of eight bells cast by Messrs Taylor and Co of Loughborough in 1866.
There are some fine examples of stained glass windows but these are mostly confined to the north aisle and sanctuary areas, the other windows having been destroyed by enemy action during the Second World War. The window in the Chapel of the Good Shepherd is dedicated to the memory of Samuel Poole (d 1872).
On the north east corner of the church boundary is a Calvary cross war memorial.
Services and worship
Usual Sunday services: 9am BCP Holy Communion Service. First Sunday of the Month 10:30am ¡Saints Alive! informal all age service. Celtic style services and Taize coming soon All Saints' was, until 2020, the only church on the Isle of Wight to offer a fully sung evensong every Sunday. Other services (subject to change): Ash Wednesday: Sung Eucharist with formal imposition of ashes Maundy Thursday: Sung Eucharist with washing of feet and Stripping of Altar Good Friday: The All Saints' Rite at the midpoint of a three-hour meditation Remembrance Sunday: civic service with presentation of standards and act of remembrance
Choir
Until recently, an established choir existed at All Saints' which has been tradition since its consecration. The choir used to sing at all main services as well as the additional services listed above and at weddings and funerals. A new choir is currently in formation and will be singing again at services soon.
For many years, the choir has been affiliated to the Royal School of Church Music (RSCM) and the younger choristers were once trained using the RSCM 'Voice for Life' programme and also occasionally trained with other professionals.
In previous services, music sung ranged from Tallis and Byrd to more modern composers - communion settings by Kenneth Leighton and Grayston Ives and anthems by Malcolm Archer, Colin Mawby, Alan Ridout and Paul Edwards.
Prior to 2016, the choir sung evensong at the cathedrals of Portsmouth, Salisbury, Winchester and Chichester.
Organ
The organ is by Henry Willis dating from 1874. A specification of the organ can be found on the National Pipe Organ Register.