John Charles Ryle (10 May 1816 – 10 June 1900) was an English evangelical Anglican bishop. He was the first

Anglican Anglicanism, also known as Episcopalianism in some countries, is a Western Christianity, Western Christian tradition which developed from the practices, liturgy, and identity of the Church of England following the English Reformation, in the ...

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Life

He was the eldest son of John Ryle, private banker, of Park House, Macclesfield, M.P. for Macclesfield 1833–7, and Susanna, daughter of Charles Hurt of Wirksworth, Derbyshire. He was born at

Macclesfield Macclesfield () is a market town and civil parish in the unitary authority of Cheshire East, Cheshire, England. It is sited on the River Bollin and the edge of the Cheshire Plain, with Macclesfield Forest to its east; the town lies south of Ma ...

on 10 May 1816. He was educated at Eton and the

University of Oxford The University of Oxford is a collegiate university, collegiate research university in Oxford, England. There is evidence of teaching as early as 1096, making it the oldest university in the English-speaking world and the List of oldest un ...

, where his career was unusually distinguished. He was Fell exhibitioner at Christ Church, from which foundation he matriculated on 15 May 1834. He was Craven scholar in 1836, graduated B.A. in 1838, having been placed in the first-class in ''literæ humaniores'' in the preceding year, and proceeded M.A. in 1871. He was created D.D. by diploma on 4 May 1880. Ryle left the university with the intention of standing for parliament on the first opportunity, but was unable to do so because of his father's bankruptcy. He took holy orders (1841–42) and became

curate A curate () is a person who is invested with the ''care'' or ''cure'' () of souls of a parish. In this sense, ''curate'' means a parish priest; but in English-speaking countries the term ''curate'' is commonly used to describe clergy who are as ...

at Exbury,

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. In 1843, he was preferred to the rectory of St Thomas, Winchester, which he exchanged in the following year for that of Helmingham,

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. The latter living he retained until 1861, when he resigned it for the vicarage of Stradbroke in the same county. The restoration of Stradbroke church was due to his initiative. In 1869, he was made rural dean of Hoxne, and in 1872 honorary

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. He was select preacher at

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in 1873 and the following year, and at Oxford from 1874 to 1876, and in 1879 and the following year. In 1880, he was designated

dean of Salisbury The Dean of Salisbury is the primus inter pares, head of the cathedral chapter, chapter of Salisbury Cathedral in the Church of England. The Dean assists the archdeacon of Sarum and bishop of Ramsbury in the diocese of Salisbury. List of deans ...

, and at once, 19 April, advanced to the newly created see of Liverpool, which he ably administered until his death at

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on 10 June 1900. He is buried at All Saints Church,

Childwall Childwall () is a suburb and ward of Liverpool, in Merseyside, England, located to the southeast of the city. It is bordered by Belle Vale, Bowring Park, Broadgreen, Gateacre, Mossley Hill, and Wavertree. In 2019, the population was 13,640. ...

Family

He married three times but his first two wives died young.Farley, William P
J.C. Ryle: A 19th-century Evangelical
/ref> The first marriage was on 29 October 1845, to Matilda Charlotte Louisa, daughter of John Pemberton Plumptre, of Fredville, Kent. The second, in March 1850, was to Jessy, daughter of John Walker of Crawfordton, Dumfriesshire. The third, on 24 October 1861, was to Henrietta, daughter of Lieutenant-Colonel William Legh Clowes of Broughton Old Hall, Lancashire. He had a daughter by his first wife, and three sons and a daughter by his second wife Jessy. His second son, Herbert Edward Ryle also a clergyman, became successively Bishop of Exeter, Bishop of Winchester and Dean of Westminster.

Legacy

John Charles Ryle Vanity Fair 26 March 1881

Ryle was a strong supporter of the evangelical school and a critic of

ritualism A ritual is a repeated, structured sequence of actions or behaviors that alters the internal or external state of an individual, group, or environment, regardless of conscious understanding, emotional context, or symbolic meaning. Traditionally ...

. He was a writer, pastor and an evangelical preacher. Among his longer works are ''Christian Leaders of the Eighteenth Century'' (1869), ''Expository Thoughts on the Gospels'' (7 volumes, 1856–69), and ''Principles for Churchmen'' (1884). Ryle was described as having a commanding presence and vigorous in advocating his principles albeit with a warm disposition. He was also credited with having success in evangelizing the blue collar community.

Published works

*''The Cross: A Call to the Fundamentals of Religion'' (1852) *
Expository Thoughts on Matthew
'
LibriVox audio
*
Expository Thoughts on Mark
'
LibriVox audio
*''Expository Thoughts on Luke''

Vol. 1Vol. 2
LibriVox audio
Vol. 1Vol. 2
*''Expository Thoughts on John''
Vol. 1Vol. 2Vol. 3
LibriVox audio
Vol. 1Vol. 2Vol. 3''Coming Events And Present Duties, and Prophecy''
(1867) Now published a
''Are You Ready for the End of Time?''
(1870) *
Knots Untied
' (1877) *
Holiness: Its Nature, Hindrances, Difficulties and Roots
' (1877, enlarged 1879)

*
Practical Religion: Being Plain Papers on the Daily Duties, Experience, Dangers, and Privileges of Professing Christians
' (1878) *'' Higher Criticism: Some Thoughts on Modern Theories about the Old Testament'' (1880)
''Simplicity in Preaching''
(1882)
''Upper Room: Being a Few Truths for the Times''
(1887)
''The Duties of Parents''
(1888)
From Old Times: or Protestant Facts And Men''
(1890) (partially reprinted as
Five English Reformers
') *
Bible Inspiration: Its Reality And Nature
' (1877) *
Christian Leaders of the Last Century
' (1873) *
Tracts and Other Works
' Independently published: *
Warnings to the Churches
' (1967)

References

Attribution

External links

Biography, Tracts, and Articles on or by JC Ryle
. * * * * . * . * . * . * . * . A famous Christmas

sermon A sermon is a religious discourse or oration by a preacher, usually a member of clergy. Sermons address a scriptural, theological, or moral topic, usually expounding on a type of belief, law, or behavior within both past and present context ...

relating to the question of who is a Christian. * . * . * * . * {{DEFAULTSORT:Ryle, John Charles 1816 births 1900 deaths 18th-century English Anglican priests 18th-century evangelicals 19th-century English Anglican priests 19th-century evangelicals Alumni of Christ Church, Oxford Anglican bishops of Liverpool Burials in Merseyside Critics of the Catholic Church Deans of Salisbury English cricketers English cricketers of 1826 to 1863 19th-century British sportsmen English evangelicals Evangelical Anglican bishops Oxford University cricketers People educated at Eton College People from Stradbroke People from Macclesfield