Ryde: St Thomas
Overview
Grid reference: SZ 591 926
The west front is entirely symmetrical. It is an unusual feature of the building that yellow stock bricks are used for the quoins and for the pilasters which clasp the corners of the tower.
Visiting and facilities
Building is closed for worship
Building
Description of Archaeology and History
John Sanderson, 1827-8. The present building is the successor of one built in 1719 at the expense of the then Lord of the Manor, William Player.
Exterior Description
The principal building material of the church is the white limestone from Binstead, a few miles away, with yellow stock brick used for quoins and pilasters; the roof coverings are of blue slates.
The west front is entirely symmetrical. It is an unusual feature of the building that yellow stock bricks are used for the quoins and for the pilasters which clasp the corners of the tower. The central west doorway in the base of the tower has a four-centred head, and similar but smaller doorways are placed as entrances to the flanking vestibules. Above the central doorway is a rectangular panel with blank tracery and the shield of arms of the Player family, and above the vestibule doorway are windows of the same pattern as those which appear in the north and south walls of the chapel. In the middle stage of the tower is a large clock face with a convex surface, and above it a string course and then the tall belfry openings with their distinctive wooden louvres set in a diamond pattern. The use of stockbrick for the tower pilasters at belfry height is deployed ingeniously to create an attractive pattem and texture. The stepped crendlation of the tower parapet creates a memorable sillhouette because of the double-stepping on each side.
The north and south walls are six bays in length, the bays divided from one another by buttresses with a single set-off. In each bay is a single large window, divided horizontally at gallery level. Below the gallery the windows are divided into two pointed openings; above gallery level in each case are two much taller pointed openings, and the tracery in the four-centred head consists of a roughly lozenge-shaped opening, flanked by the resulting mouchettes. The east window is of three pointed lights, the central light very slightly taller.
Building Fabric and Features
Stained Glass
c.1877
East Window of three lights, representing episodes from the life of St. Thomas, by Alexander Booker of London.
Interior
Interior Description
The interior of the chapel is a remarkably unspoilt example of early 19th century evangelical piety. The galleries, supported on six iron columns, extend round the north, west and south sides and contain their original banks of seating. In the west gallery these include little box pews at either end with curved seats which may have been either for directing the singers in the west gallery or the overseers of the Charity children. There are three deep recesses in the west wall internally, the central one having held the organ, which was originally provided in 1838.
Beneath the galleries are high box pews, and in the south-east corner is the Brigstocke family pew, the walls lined with a green Scandinavian marble with memorials of the more recent members of the Brigstocke family.
The seating in the central part of the nave, with alleys on the north and south sides only, are lower in height and later, being substituted for the earlier box pews in the 1870's. The roof is supported by a series. of triangular brackets some 40' across. The brackets are very shallow, and the uprights are linked by pointed struts to suggest a simple association with the Gothic style.
Fixtures and fittings
Organ (object)
Organ: by Walker, re-using some at least of the pipework of the 1830's.
Altar
The Communion Table, enclosed by its original rails with a lozenge pattern echoing the louvres of the tower and the window tracery, is a late 19th century table richly carved in a neo-Jacobethan manner.
Reredos
c.1890
Immediately behind and above the Communion Table are six panels with the Lord's Prayer, the Creed and the Ten Commandments painted in elegant lettering, which suggests a date of c. 1890.
Reredos
1904
Beneath the east window is a kind of supra-reredos of three intricately carved panels of white marble enclosed by Caen stone borders.
Font (object)
13th Century
Beneath the tower is the bowl of a 13th century Purbeck marble font with blind arcading. This was apparently brought here in 1904 for safe-keeping.
Font (object)
1870s
Inside the church under the west gallery is a Caen stone font with octagonal bowl and stem. Each of the eight faces of the bowl has a deeply cut quatrefoil with IHS, flowers, or other symbols. This no doubt dates from the 1870's.
Font (object)
1827-8
The third font, of which only the stand and the wooden rim of the bowl survive, is presumably that which was provided for the new chapel in 1827-8.
Churchyard
Grid reference: SZ 591 926
Burial and War Grave Information
It is unknown whether the building is consecrated.
It is unknown whether the churchyard has been used for burial.
It is unknown whether the churchyard is used for burial.
It is unknown whether the churchyard has war graves.
National Heritage record for England designations
There are no records of National Heritage assets within the curtilage of this site.
Environment
Ancient, Veteran & Notable Trees
Caring for God's Acre is a conservation charity working to support groups and individuals to investigate, care for, and enjoy the wildlife and heritage treasures found within churchyards and other burial grounds. Look on their website for information and advice and please contact their staff directly. They can help you manage this churchyard for people and wildlife.
To learn more about all the species recorded against this church, go to the Burial Ground Portal within the NBN Atlas. You can check the spread of records through the years, discovering what has been recorded and when, plus what discoveries might remain to be uncovered.
There are no records of Ancient, Veteran or Notable Trees within the curtilage of this site.
Renewables
| Renewable | Installed |
|---|---|
| Solar PV Panels | N/A |
| Solar Thermal Panels | N/A |
| Biomass | N/A |
| Wind Turbine | N/A |
| Air Source Heat Pump | N/A |
| Ground Source Heat Pump | N/A |
| Ev Charging | N/A |
Species summary
There are no records of species within the curtilage of this site.
Caring for God's Acre is a conservation charity working to support groups and individuals to investigate, care for, and enjoy the wildlife and heritage treasures found within churchyards and other burial grounds. Look on their website for information and advice and please contact their staff directly. They can help you manage this churchyard for people and wildlife.
To learn more about all the species recorded against this church, go to the Burial Ground Portal within the NBN Atlas. You can check the spread of records through the years, discovering what has been recorded and when, plus what discoveries might remain to be uncovered.
'Seek advice' Species
More information on species and action to be taken upon discovery.
Caring for God's Acre is a conservation charity working to support groups and individuals to investigate, care for, and enjoy the wildlife and heritage treasures found within churchyards and other burial grounds. Look on their website for information and advice and please contact their staff directly. They can help you manage this churchyard for people and wildlife.
To learn more about all the species recorded against this church, go to the Burial Ground Portal within the NBN Atlas. You can check the spread of records through the years, discovering what has been recorded and when, plus what discoveries might remain to be uncovered.
Further information
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