J. C. Ryle | |
|---|---|
| Bishop of Liverpool | |
 | |
| Church | Church of England |
| Diocese | Liverpool |
| Installed | 19 April 1880 |
| Term ended | 1 March 1900 |
| Predecessor | Initial |
| Successor | Francis Chavasse |
| Personal details | |
| Born | (1816-05-10)10 May 1816 Macclesfield, England |
| Died | 10 June 1900(1900-06-10) (aged 84) Lowestoft, England |
John Charles Ryle (10 May 1816 – 10 June 1900) was an English evangelical Anglican bishop. He was the firstAnglicanbishop ofLiverpool.
He was the eldest son ofJohn 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 atMacclesfield on 10 May 1816.[1]
He was educated atEton and theUniversity of Oxford, where his career was unusually distinguished. He was Fell exhibitioner atChrist Church, from which foundation he matriculated on 15 May 1834. He wasCraven scholar in 1836, graduated B.A. in 1838, having been placed in the first-class inliteræ humaniores in the preceding year, and proceeded M.A. in 1871. He was created D.D. by diploma on 4 May 1880.[1]
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 becamecurate atExbury,Hampshire. In 1843, he was preferred to the rectory ofSt Thomas, Winchester, which he exchanged in the following year for that ofHelmingham,Suffolk. The latter living he retained until 1861, when he resigned it for the vicarage ofStradbroke in the same county. The restoration of Stradbroke church was due to his initiative. In 1869, he was made ruraldean ofHoxne, and in 1872 honorarycanon ofNorwich. He was select preacher atCambridge in 1873 and the following year, and at Oxford from 1874 to 1876, and in 1879 and the following year. In 1880, he was designateddean of Salisbury, and at once, 19 April, advanced to the newly createdsee of Liverpool, which he ably administered until his death atLowestoft on 10 June 1900. He is buried atAll Saints Church,Childwall,Liverpool.[1]
He married three times but his first two wives died young.[2] 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 four other children 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.[1]
Ryle was a strong supporter of theevangelical school and a critic ofritualism. He was a writer, pastor and an evangelical preacher. Among his longer works areChristian Leaders of the Eighteenth Century (1869),Expository Thoughts on the Gospels (7 volumes, 1856–69), andPrinciples 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.[1]
Independently published:
This article incorporates text from a publication now in thepublic domain: Rigg, James McMullen (1901). "Ryle, John Charles". InLee, Sidney (ed.).Dictionary of National Biography (1st supplement). London: Smith, Elder & Co.
