All Saints Church in Ryde is set to reopen later this month following the completion of a major refurbishment project, with worshippers returning to the historic building for special Palm Sunday services.
The renovation of the church will be completed by the end of March, allowing services to resume in the main worship space after several months of closure.
The building has been shut since last Autumn while works were carried out, with services temporarily relocated to the adjoining church hall.
To mark the reopening, 2 services will take place on Sunday 29th March. A traditional Palm Sunday service will be held at 09:30, followed by a more informal service at 11:00 featuring groups for children and young people.
The refurbishment has introduced a range of upgrades aimed at improving both comfort and usability. These include underfloor heating, a new limestone floor, an upgraded audio-visual system and the addition of a modern café area at the rear of the nave. Some original features have been retained, with around 60 pews carefully restored alongside the introduction of new seating.
A further phase of work is planned for later in 2026, focusing on the church hall where new toilet facilities are to be installed.
The team rector, the Rev Heath Monaghan, has said:
“This really is a new beginning. The building has been refreshed, but what excites us most is what God is doing in our growing, welcoming community.
Article continues below this advertisement “We have activities for all ages – kids, youth, families, young adults – and whether you’ve never been to church before or haven’t been in a while, we’d love you to come and see. You might be surprised at what you find.
“We are really excited that we can go back into our main worship space for our services, especially in the week leading up to Easter Sunday. It’s a special time in the Christian year, and we’ll enjoy re-opening the doors and gathering in our main worship space. And we know that this refurbishment will make a huge difference as we seek to develop this church community to serve Ryde now and in future generations.
“Our vision has always been to create some more modern facilities while at the same time preserving the rich heritage of All Saints Church. The more flexible furniture, level flooring and effective heating will allow us to use the building more easily for midweek community groups.
“The project was designed with careful consultation and collaboration, including detailed on-site consultation with the Victorian Society. That allowed us to put together a renovation plan that retained details such as the central cross of Victorian tiles and 60 of the original pews.”
Worshippers will continue using the refurbished building throughout Holy Week, with services planned on Good Friday (Friday 3rd April) at 13:30 and 19:00.
On Easter Sunday (Sunday 5th April), a sunrise service will take place at Appley Beach at 05:45, followed by a traditional Communion service at 09:00 and a contemporary service at 11:00, which will include baptisms, children’s activities and an Easter egg hunt.
Further information can be found at www.ryde.church.
