View source for J. C. Ryle

{{short description|Anglican bishop (1816–1900)}}
{{Other people|John Ryle}}
{{Use dmy dates|date=December 2019}}
{{Use British English|date=May 2012}}
{{Infobox Christian leader
| honorific-prefix = [[The Right Reverend]]
| name = J. C. Ryle
| title = [[Bishop of Liverpool]]
| church = [[Church of England]]
| diocese = [[Anglican Diocese of Liverpool|Liverpool]]
| enthroned = 19 April 1880
| term_end = 1 March 1900
| predecessor = '''Initial'''
| successor = [[Francis Chavasse]]
| ordination =  
| consecration = 
| image       = JCRylePhoto.jpg
| alt         = 
| caption     = 
| birth_name  = 
| birth_date  = {{Birth date|1816|05|10|df=yes}}
| birth_place = [[Macclesfield]], England
| death_date  = {{Death date and age|1900|06|10|1816|05|10|df=yes}}
| death_place = [[Lowestoft]], England
| nationality = 
| other_names = 
| occupation  = 
| known_for   = 
}}
'''John Charles Ryle''' (10 May 1816 – 10 June 1900) was an English evangelical Anglican bishop. He was the first [[Church of England|Anglican]] [[bishop]] of [[Liverpool]].

==Life==
He was the eldest son of [[John Ryle (politician)|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]] on 10 May 1816.{{sfn|Rigg|1901}}

He was educated at [[Eton College|Eton]] and the [[University of Oxford]], where his career was unusually distinguished. He was Fell exhibitioner at [[Christ Church, Oxford|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.{{sfn|Rigg|1901}}

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]] at [[Exbury]], [[Hampshire]]. In 1843, he was preferred to the rectory of [[St Thomas Church, Winchester|St Thomas, Winchester]], which he exchanged in the following year for that of [[Helmingham]], [[Suffolk]]. 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 (Christianity)|dean]] of [[Hoxne]], and in 1872 honorary [[canon (priest)|canon]] of [[Norwich]]. He was select preacher at [[Cambridge]] 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]], and at once, 19 April, advanced to the newly created [[Anglican Diocese of Liverpool|see of Liverpool]], which he ably administered until his death at [[Lowestoft]] on 10 June 1900. He is buried at [[All Saints' Church, Childwall|All Saints Church]], [[Childwall]], [[Liverpool]].{{sfn|Rigg|1901}}

==Family==
He married three times but his first two wives died young.<ref>Farley, William P. [https://web.archive.org/web/20180203014335/http://enrichmentjournal.ag.org/200604/200604_120_JCRyle.cfm 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.{{sfn|Rigg|1901}}

==Legacy==
[[File:John Charles Ryle Vanity Fair 26 March 1881.jpg|thumb|150px|John Charles Ryle, by [[Carlo Pellegrini (caricaturist)|Carlo Pellegrini]], 1881.]]
Ryle was a strong supporter of the [[Evangelical Anglicanism|evangelical school]] and a critic of [[ritualism]]. 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.{{sfn|Rigg|1901}}

==Published works==
*''The Cross: A Call to the Fundamentals of Religion'' (1852)
*''[https://archive.org/details/expositorythoug00ryle/page/n5/mode/2up Expository Thoughts on Matthew]'' ([http://www.gracegems.org/Ryle/Matthew.htm HTM], [https://archive.org/details/expository_thoughts_matthew_ma_librivox LibriVox audio])
*''[https://archive.org/details/expositorythough00ryleuoft/page/n1/mode/2up Expository Thoughts on Mark]'' ([http://www.gracegems.org/Ryle/Mark.htm HTM], [https://archive.org/details/expositorythoughtsonthegospelsstmark_ms_librivox LibriVox audio])
*''Expository Thoughts on Luke'' ([http://www.gracegems.org/Ryle/Luke.htm HTM]), [https://archive.org/details/expositorythoug08rylegoog/page/n11/mode/2up Vol. 1], [https://archive.org/details/saintluke0002ryle/page/n5/mode/2up Vol. 2], LibriVox audio: [https://archive.org/details/expositorythoughtslukevol1_1311_librivox Vol. 1], [https://archive.org/details/expositorythoughtslukevol2_1409_librivox Vol. 2]
*''Expository Thoughts on John'' ([http://www.gracegems.org/Ryle/John.htm HTM]) [https://archive.org/details/saintjohn0000ryle/page/n5/mode/2up Vol. 1], [https://books.google.com/books?id=zIVUAAAAYAAJ Vol. 2], [https://archive.org/details/expositorythoug00rylegoog/page/n5/mode/2up Vol. 3], LibriVox audio: [https://archive.org/details/expositorythoughtsjohnvol1_1411_librivox Vol. 1], [https://archive.org/details/expositorythoughtsjohn2_1608_librivox Vol. 2], [https://archive.org/details/expositorythoughtsjohn3_2101_librivox Vol. 3]
*[https://books.google.com/books?id=lfMEAAAAQAAJ ''Coming Events And Present Duties, and Prophecy''] (1867) Now published as [http://christianfocus.com/item/show/49/- ''Are You Ready for the End of Time?'']
*[https://gracegems.org/Ryle/shall_we_know_one_another_in_hea.htm ''Shall We Know One Another''] (1870)
*''[https://books.google.com/books?id=%20gC3RwwyfzwC&hl=en&gbpv=0 Knots Untied]'' (1877)
*''[https://archive.org/details/HolinessJ.C.Ryle1887/page/n1/mode/2up Holiness: Its Nature, Hindrances, Difficulties and Roots]'' (1877, enlarged 1879) ([http://www.ccel.org/ccel/ryle/holiness.toc.html HTM])
*''[https://archive.org/details/practicalreligio00ryleiala/page/n3/mode/2up Practical Religion: Being Plain Papers on the Daily Duties, Experience, Dangers, and Privileges of Professing Christians]'' (1878)
*''[[Historical criticism|Higher Criticism]]: Some Thoughts on Modern Theories about the Old Testament'' (1880)
*[https://books.google.com/books?id=MgkDAAAAQAAJ ''Simplicity in Preaching''] (1882)
*[https://ccel.org/ccel/ryle/upper_room/upper_room ''Upper Room: Being a Few Truths for the Times''] (1887)
*[https://www.chapellibrary.org/files/4313/9930/8165/dopa.pdf ''The Duties of Parents''] (1888)
*[https://books.google.com/books?id=DndJAAAAYAAJ From Old Times: or Protestant Facts And Men''] (1890) (partially reprinted as ''[https://archive.org/details/fiveenglishrefor00ryle/page/n1/mode/2up Five English Reformers]'')
* ''[https://ia800203.us.archive.org/25/items/bibleinspiratio00rylegoog/bibleinspiratio00rylegoog.pdf Bible Inspiration: Its Reality And Nature]'' (1877)
*''[https://archive.org/details/dli.granth.74826/page/n5/mode/2up Christian Leaders of the Last Century]'' (1873)
*''[https://books.googleusercontent.com/books/content?req=AKW5QaeH%20ct49qCtfNxpEyOjFvwi1K9HCY8IYYmRjAXUmZoCN1Xu%20uU11EY6%20rMwgnLqtZYfb6PyqnLN0botCLPYyEci6UfZwRa%20D%201TAoKaBj6jNcB0DQf5GxVBEvMaz8WXkfBCkHXhWVEBpexJkUek4zDpdI5YQ-nGhEqD%20apZ-ytncWqMP8zmALyYTuuEBT5QVq7ig Tracts and Other Works]''

Independently published:

* ''[https://www.monergism.com/thethreshold/sdg/ryle/Warnings%20to%20the%20Churches%20-%20J.%20C.%20Ryle.pdf Warnings to the Churches]'' (1967)

==References==
{{reflist}}

===Attribution===
*{{DNBSupp|wstitle=Ryle, John Charles |first=James McMullen|last=Rigg}}

==External links==
{{wikiquote}}
{{commons category|John Charles Ryle}}
{{wikisource|works=or}}
{{Portal|Christianity}}
*[http://www.churchsociety.org/issues_new/history/ryle/iss_history_ryle_intro.asp Biography, Tracts, and Articles on or by JC Ryle] {{Webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20110728152511/http://www.churchsociety.org/issues_new/history/ryle/iss_history_ryle_intro.asp |date=28 July 2011 }}.
* {{Gutenberg author | id=37191}}
* {{Internet Archive author |sname=John Charles Ryle}}
* {{Librivox author |id=2565}}
* {{Citation|url=http://geocities.com/johncharlesryle/ |title=The Evangelical Bishop: The JC Ryle Book Shelf |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20091026234350/http://geocities.com/johncharlesryle/ |archive-date=26 October 2009 }}.
* {{Citation | url = http://www.wretchedradio.com/pdf/JC_Ryle_advice.pdf | title = Advice to young Men: Thoughts For Young Men | publisher = Wretched radio | url-status = dead | archive-url = https://web.archive.org/web/20110718122117/http://www.wretchedradio.com/pdf/JC_Ryle_advice.pdf | archive-date = 18 July 2011}}.
* {{Citation | url = http://www.churchsociety.org/publications/tracts/CAT004_RyleRitualism.pdf | title = The Teaching of the Ritualists not the Teaching of the Church of England | publisher = [[Church Association]] | type = tract | number = 4 | access-date = 9 July 2005 | archive-date = 27 August 2010 | archive-url = https://web.archive.org/web/20100827095117/http://www.churchsociety.org/publications/tracts/CAT004_RyleRitualism.pdf | url-status = dead }}.
* {{Citation | url = http://www.bible.org/page.asp?page_id=1686 | title = Faithfulness and Holiness: The Witness of J.C. Ryle: An Appreciation | publisher = Bible.org}}.
* {{Citation | url = http://www.biblebb.com/ryle.htm | title = The J. C. Ryle Collection | publisher = Bible BB}}.
* {{Citation | url = http://www.biblebb.com/files/ryle/what_think_ye_of_christ.htm | title = What Think Ye of Christ? | publisher = Bible BB}}.  A famous Christmas [[sermon]] relating {{bibleverse|Matthew|22:42}} to the question of who is a Christian.
* {{Citation | author1-link = Peter Toon | first1 = Peter | last1 = Toon | first2 = Michael | last2 = Smout | url = http://www.anglicanbooksrevitalized.us/Peter_Toons_Books_Online/History/rylebiog.htm | title = John Charles Ryle, Evangelical Bishop | publisher = Reiner Publications | year = 1976 | url-status = dead | archive-url = https://web.archive.org/web/20111010042805/http://www.anglicanbooksrevitalized.us/Peter_Toons_Books_Online/History/rylebiog.htm | archive-date = 10 October 2011}}.
* {{Citation | url = http://www.churchsociety.org/issues_new/history/ryle/iss_history_ryle_guthrie-chap1.asp | type = Biography | title = JC Ryle | first = M Guthrie | last = Clark | publisher = Church Society | access-date = 15 September 2006 | archive-date = 31 May 2010 | archive-url = https://web.archive.org/web/20100531150402/http://www.churchsociety.org/issues_new/history/ryle/iss_history_ryle_guthrie-chap1.asp | url-status = dead }}.
* {{Citation | url = http://www.reformedsermonarchives.com/ryletitle.htm | archive-url = https://archive.today/20130105082155/http://www.reformedsermonarchives.com/ryletitle.htm | url-status = dead | archive-date = 5 January 2013 | title = Sermons | first = JC | last = Ryle | publisher = Reformed sermon archives }}
* {{Citation | url = http://www.tracts.ukgo.com/john_charles_ryle.htm | title = Tracts | first = JC | last = Ryle | author-mask = 4}}.
* {{Citation | url = https://www.jcryle.info/ | title = The J.C. Ryle Archive}}

{{Deans of Salisbury}}
{{Bishops of Liverpool}}
{{Authority control}}

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