Major regeneration plans have been unveiled to transform the run-down St Thomas’s Church in Ryde into a community hub.
The landmark on St Thomas’s Street was bought by Ryde Town Council (RTC) in recent years to provide a new home for its youth service, Network Ryde.
Leah Mew Architecture, on behalf of RTC, said the Grade II listed building had made a positive spiritual and community contribution to the town but was now having a negative impact due to its lack of maintenance and anti-social behaviour issues in the churchyard.
The overhaul, if approved, would feature a new kitchen area, four multifunctional pods, office space plus underfloor heating in two thirds of the church.
The stained glass windows, first installed in 1884, are said to be in a poor and unsafe condition.
The plan is to remove all three, and have them cleaned and restored by a specialist.
The clock would also be restored and reinstalled by specialists Thwaites and Reed, who did the same in 1992.
The church has suffered water ingress, with ceiling boards badly damaged. They would be replaced.
All the pews would remain but be cleaned and coated in wax.
Outside, historic iron railings would be reinstated, solar panels would be added to help with the running costs and a flag pole and lightning rod would be installed on the tower.
A church has been on the site since 1719, but it was rebuilt and enlarged in 1827 as the population of Ryde grew.
Following the death of its main patron George Brigstocke in 1956, maintenance stopped and services continued for only another year.
The building was threatened with demolition in 1969 but was saved in 1971 by the Friends of St Thomas’s and later the St Thomas’s Trust.
In 1987, Queen Elizabeth II visited with Prince Philip to open the new heritage and genealogy centre, which at the time commemorated the sailing of the first fleet to Australia 200 years before.
The planning agents say it will bring the building back into the community as a much-needed space for the youth of Ryde and prevent the building from continuing on its path of decay.
You can see the plans, 22/02150/FUL, on the IW Council’s planning register. Comments can be left until January 27.
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