All Saints' Church, Ryde
In 1866 the Parish of Ryde was formed out of the Newchurch Parish and so a Parish Church was required.
The site for the new church and vicarage was purchased on the south side of Queen's Road for £1,284. As a temporary message, an Iron Church was erected where The Church House (Abbeyfield) - formerly the Vicarage - now (2023) stands.
The design of the Grade II* listed[1], All Saints' church was by Sir George Gilbert Scott. After a tender process, a contract for £7,450 was awarded to Messrs Jackson and Shaw of Westminster to build the Nave and North Aisle, lower stages of the Tower, and the Chancel; leaving the South Aisle and Chapel until further funds were raised.
Building began in April 1869, Further funds were raised which enabled the South Aisle and Chapel to be built in conjunction with the main contract.
By the end of 1871 the church was finished and the Vicarage erected.
The church was conscrcrated by the Bishop of Winchester on 2 January 1872.
The North Porch and flight of steps were erected at the expense of the members of the Royal Victoria Yacht Club (then located in Ryde, at the lower end of St Thomas Street), in memory of Prince Albert.
In 1878 St Matthew's Mission Church was established at Ashey.
Having cleared the debt on the Building Fund by 1881, a contract was awarded to Isaac Barton, builder, of Ryde to complete Gilbert Scott's design by erecting the tower and spire at a cost of £3,037, this work was completed in 1882.
"The First Hundred Years, The Parish of Ryde, All Saints', 1867 - 1967, by Jack Wheeler"
