Holy Trinity Church, Ryde facts for kids
Quick facts for kids Holy Trinity Church, Ryde |
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The former church from the southwest
in 2017 |
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 Holy Trinity Church, Ryde
Location in Isle of Wight
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| 50°43′41″N 1°9′28″W / 50.72806°N 1.15778°W | |
| Location | Dover Street, Ryde, Isle of Wight PO33 2BN |
| Country | England |
| Denomination | Church of England |
| Churchmanship | Anglo Catholic |
| Website | www.holytrinityryde.org.uk |
| History | |
| Status | Parish church |
| Founded | 16 October 1841 |
| Dedication | Holy Trinity |
| Consecrated | 28 October 1845 |
| Architecture | |
| Functional status | Closed |
| Heritage designation | Grade II listed |
| Designated | 24 October 1950 |
| Architect(s) | Thomas Hellyer |
| Style | Early English Gothic Revival |
| Groundbreaking | 14 October 1841 |
| Completed | 1860 |
| Construction cost | £5,806 (equivalent to £450,000 in 2021) |
| Closed | January 2014 |
| Specifications | |
| Capacity | 800 persons |
| Spire height | 134 feet 8 inches (41.05 m) |
| Administration | |
| Parish | Ryde, Holy Trinity |
| Deanery | Isle of Wight |
| Archdeaconry | Isle of Wight |
| Diocese | Portsmouth |
| Province | Canterbury |
Holy Trinity Church is a historic building in Ryde, a town on the Isle of Wight. It used to be a church but is now a busy community center. The church opened in 1845 and became Ryde's first official parish church in 1863.
It's a very tall and impressive building with a spire that reaches about 41 meters (134 feet) high. You can see it from far away, making it a famous landmark on the island. Along with All Saints' Church, it helps people find their way around Ryde. The building is important for its history and design, and it's officially protected as a Grade II listed building.
Ryde grew very quickly in the early 1800s. At first, people had to travel far to the main church in Newchurch. To help, two smaller private chapels were built in Ryde. But the town needed a proper parish church for its growing population. So, in 1839, a plan began to build Holy Trinity Church. It was designed by Thomas Hellyer, a local architect, in the Gothic Revival style, which was popular at the time.
Contents
Building Holy Trinity Church
The old parish of Newchurch was huge, covering a large part of the Isle of Wight. The village of Newchurch was far inland, but Ryde, on the coast, became a popular place for holidays and homes. Because the main church was so far away, two smaller chapels were built in Ryde: St Thomas's in 1719 and St James's in 1827.
These chapels weren't official parish churches. So, in 1839, the new vicar of Newchurch, Rev. W. Spencer Phillips, decided to build a proper parish church in Ryde. The town's population had grown from 1,600 to over 5,800 in just 30 years! A committee was set up to raise money. By 1841, they had collected a lot of money, and the Lind family even donated the land for the church.
The first stone was laid on October 16, 1841. The church was designed by local architect Thomas Hellyer. Construction was delayed for a year because of money problems, but eventually, another builder finished the project.
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Most of the building work happened between 1844 and 1846. The church wasn't completely finished when it was officially opened on October 28, 1845. The transepts (the parts that stick out like arms on a cross-shaped church) and the spire were still being built.
In 1846, the church was given its own district, meaning it was responsible for a large part of Ryde. It could now hold burials, baptisms, and weddings. In 1863, Holy Trinity became Ryde's very first official parish church. The first service was held on the day it opened, October 28, 1845.
Changes and Repairs Over Time
The tall spire was added to the church tower in 1846. Two years later, the south transept was built. The church finally looked complete in 1860 when the north transept was added. This work cost about £1,300. An organ chamber was built inside in 1871.
In 1900, a storm damaged the spire. Its unique corner decorations had to be replaced. Later, during repairs in 1963, these decorations were found to be unsafe and were removed. New ones were put back five years later.
The Cracked Bell Story
A small bell was placed in the tower in 1846. On October 31, 1852, it suddenly cracked while being rung during a church service! The vicar, Rev. Arthur Wade, told a local science group about it, saying it happened "without any unusual violence."
The story was reported in the local newspaper. Then, a funny letter appeared in the next edition, supposedly written by "The Cracked Bell of Trinity Church." The letter joked that the bell died of a "broken heart" because it couldn't ring as beautifully as a nearby church bell. A larger replacement bell was installed in 1854.
From Church to Community Hub
In 1992, a community space was created in the church's basement, called the Crypt Centre. It had a playroom, a place to eat, and a quiet area.
By 2014, only about 12 people regularly attended church services. So, in January 2014, the church closed for worship. The remaining church members moved to St John's Church nearby.
However, Holy Trinity Church was not closed down completely. Soon after, a community group took over the building. They turned it into a community center and event space called "Aspire Ryde." It's now a registered charity that helps local people.
The church was officially listed as a Grade II building on October 24, 1950. This means it's considered "nationally important" because of its special design and history.
Church Design and Features
Thomas Hellyer, the architect, designed many churches and buildings on the Isle of Wight. Holy Trinity was his largest church on the island. It wasn't built exactly as he first planned because of costs. He wanted a bigger area at the east end, but a smaller one was built instead.
Holy Trinity Church is built from rag-stone with smooth ashlar details, and it has a slate roof. It's shaped like a cross, which is typical of the Gothic Revival style. It has a main hall (the nave), a chancel with a rounded end (an apse), and north and south transepts. There's also an entrance porch and a very tall tower with a stone spire that reaches about 41 meters (134 feet) high.
Even though it's a big building, it looks "delicate" and elegant. People have called its spire a "masterpiece." It's one of two spires in Ryde that you can see from miles away, helping people identify the town. The main hall was repaired in the 1900s. The church has many narrow, tall windows called lancets. There's also a small chapel dedicated to St Martin, which serves as a war memorial.
The church has beautiful stained glass windows made by famous artists like James Powell and Sons and Francis Skeat. The church clock was installed in April 1856. Money was raised by the community to pay for it.
Images for kids
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The former church from the southwest in 2017
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The tall spire is "a prominent landmark when approaching Ryde from The Solent".
