A major renovation project is now underway at All Saints Church in Ryde – marking the start of a new chapter for the historic building and its community.
Work to transform the main church space begins on Thursday (10th July) and is expected to run through until early November 2025, with big changes planned to make the church warmer, more flexible and even more welcoming for generations to come.
Improvements include a brand-new heating system, a modern sound setup, and the clever re-use of original pews – which will be made movable alongside new chairs to create a more adaptable space. A new café area is also set to be created at the back of the church to help bring the community together throughout the week.
The revamp has been carefully planned with input from the Victorian Society to respect the building’s unique heritage, retaining the iconic central cross of Victorian tiles and 60 original pews, while adding much-needed updates to meet modern needs.
Rev Heath Monaghan, Team Rector, said:
“We’re thrilled to see this vision coming to life. This work prepares us for the next stage of our mission to Ryde, equipping us to offer a warm welcome to the whole community in a space that honours both tradition and transformation.”
Sunday services won’t stop during the work:
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The 09:30 Traditional Service will move into the church hall at the rear.
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The 11:00 Contemporary Service and Kids’ Church will also be in the hall for now, but may move again as numbers grow.
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All other community groups using the hall will continue as normal.
Updates on the multi-million-pound project can be found at www.ryde.church/refurb.
Lovely to see a church getting a new lease of life and not being closed or deconsecrated and turned into flats or a supermarket.