All Saints' Church, Ryde facts for kids
Quick facts for kids All Saints' Church, Ryde |
|
|---|---|
All Saints' Church, Ryde
|
|
| Denomination | Church of England |
| Website | http://www.rydeallsaints.co.uk/ |
| History | |
| Dedication | All Saints |
| Administration | |
| Parish | Ryde |
| Archdeaconry | East Wight |
| Diocese | Portsmouth |
| Province | Canterbury |
All Saints' Church, Ryde is a beautiful parish church in the Church of England. You can find it in Ryde, on the Isle of Wight. This church is a famous landmark on the island. Its tall spire can be seen from many places across the Isle of Wight and even from the mainland! Some people even call All Saints' the "Cathedral of the Island" because it's so grand. It's also a special historic building, listed as Grade II*, which means it's very important and protected.
Architecture and Design
This impressive church was built between 1868 and 1872. The architect who designed it was George Gilbert Scott, a very famous church designer. The tall spire, which makes the church so noticeable, was added a bit later, in 1881-1882.
All Saints' Church is known for its "Second Pointed style," which is a fancy way of saying it has a detailed and decorative Gothic design. It's built from stone with special carved stone details. Inside, you'll see six large archways with unique carvings at the top. The walls in the main part of the church were painted by artists Clayton and Bell.
There are two smaller chapels inside the church. The Warrior Chapel is a special place to remember soldiers. The Chapel of The Good Shepherd was originally a room used by priests. The pulpit (where sermons are given), the reredos (a decorated screen behind the altar), and the font (a basin for baptisms) all show Scott's signature style. The pulpit is especially cool! It's made of shiny Derbyshire alabaster and polished marble. It was even shown at The Great Exhibition in 1851 and won first prize!
The church tower holds eight large bells. These bells were made by Messrs Taylor and Co of Loughborough in 1866.
You can also find some lovely stained glass windows in the church, mostly in the north aisle and around the altar. Sadly, many other windows were damaged during World War II. The window in the Chapel of the Good Shepherd remembers Samuel Poole, who passed away in 1872. Outside, on the north-east side of the church grounds, there's a special cross memorial for those who died in wars.
Services and Worship
All Saints' Church holds regular services for everyone.
- On Sundays at 9 AM, there's a Holy Communion service.
- On the first Sunday of each month at 10:30 AM, there's a special "Saints Alive!" service. This is an informal service for all ages, which means it's great for families and young people!
The church also holds special services throughout the year:
- On Ash Wednesday, there's a special service with the marking of ashes.
- On Maundy Thursday, there's a service that includes the washing of feet.
- On Good Friday, there's a three-hour meditation service.
- On Remembrance Sunday, there's a special civic service to remember those who served.
Choir
All Saints' Church has a long tradition of having a choir. For many years, the choir sang at all the main services, weddings, and funerals. A new choir is currently being formed, and they will be singing again soon!
The choir has often worked with the Royal School of Church Music (RSCM). Younger singers used to learn through the RSCM's "Voice for Life" program, which helps them develop their singing skills.
In the past, the choir sang a wide range of music, from very old composers like Thomas Tallis and William Byrd to more modern ones. Before 2016, the choir even performed at famous cathedrals like Portsmouth, Salisbury, Winchester, and Chichester.
Organ
The church has a wonderful organ built by Henry Willis in 1874. You can find more details about this organ online if you're interested in how it works.
Performances
Because of its great sound, the church is a popular place for different performers to hold concerts. It also hosts the singing part of The Isle of Wight Music, Dance and Drama Festival.
