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 indeed 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. The spire is 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. On the north east corner of the church boundary is a Calvary cross war memorial.
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
There has been an established choir at All Saints' since its consecration. The choir still sings at all main services as well as the additional services listed above and at weddings and funerals. The choir's Director of Music Emeritus is John Lea. The choir is affiliated to the Royal School of Church Music and the younger choristers are trained using the RSCM 'Voice for Life' programme and also occasionally trains with other professionals. Music sung ranges 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 has 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 .
Organists and Directors of Music
Sidney M. Lake 1864–1872
W.B. Souter 1872–1874
Frank H. Simms 1874–1889
W. Warden Harvey 1889–1894
Rev. J. Godfrey Luard M.A. 1894–1896 said to have been organist at St Andrews, president of the Jeu de Paume de Parc Beaumont in Pau, France
Edmund Goldsmith 1896–1898
Richard Yates Mander Mus. Doc. FRCO 1898–1913
Ernest G. Welsh 1913–1929
D J Bevan 1929–1932
Osborne Edward Weare 1932–1934
Earnest G. Welsh 1934–1946
Wilfrid L. Reed 1946–1970
John Lea BA Mus LTCL 1970–1976
John Flower 1976 subsequently Assistant from 1977 to 1995
Derek Beck LRAM 1977–1984
W W L Baker LRAM 1984–1988
R Weir BA LTCL 1988–1991
John Lea 1992–1996
Andrew Cooper 1995 onward
Robert Weir 1996–1998
John Lea 1998–2003
Godfrey Davis MA ARCO 2003–2010
John Lea 2010–2011
Graeme Martin 2011–2012
John Lea 2012 subsequently Director of Music Emeritus 2013–present
Simon Jarvis BSc, PGCE 2013-2016
'''Andrew Cooper Organist and Director of Music 2016–2019
Performances
The church's acoustic makes it a popular venue for various visiting performers and it hosts the choral section of The Isle of Wight Music, Dance and Drama Festival.
