{{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 = 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 Anglican bishop, preacher, and writer in the evangelical and Calvinist traditions.<ref>{{cite speech |last=Ryle |first=J.C. |title=Election |url=https://www.monergism.com/election-j-c-ryle |publisher=Monergism |access-date=14 August 2025}}</ref> He was the first Anglican bishop of Liverpool.

==Life== J.C. Ryle was born at Macclesfield, Cheshire on 10 May 1816, as the eldest son of an old and wealthy English family. His father was John Ryle of Park House, Macclesfield, a private banker and the M.P. for Macclesfield 1833–7. His mother, Susanna, was the daughter of Charles Hurt of Wirksworth, Derbyshire.{{sfn|Rigg|1901}}

He was educated at Eton, where he excelled in rowing and cricket.<ref>{{cite web | url = https://www.lausanne.org/content/the-work-of-the-holy-spirit-in-conviction-and-conversion | title = J.C. Ryle | last = Nichols | first = Stephen | date = 8 May 2019 | publisher = Ligonier Ministries | access-date = 14 August 2025}}</ref> From Eton, he entered the University of Oxford, where his career was unusually distinguished. He matriculated into Christ Church as a Fell Exhibitioner on 15 May 1834. He was Craven scholar in 1836, and was placed in the ''literæ humaniores'' in 1837. {{sfn|Rigg|1901}}

In the winter of 1837, during his time at Oxford, Ryle experienced a religious conversion upon hearing {{bibleverse||Ephesians|2:8|ESV}} ("For by grace you have been saved through faith. And this is not your own doing; it is the gift of God"). In a letter to his family, he wrote:<ref>{{cite web | url = https://www.lausanne.org/content/the-work-of-the-holy-spirit-in-conviction-and-conversion | title = J.C. Ryle | last = Nichols | first = Stephen | date = 8 May 2019 | publisher = Ligonier Ministries | access-date = 14 August 2025}}</ref>

{{blockquote| Nothing I can remember to this day appeared to me so clear and distinct as my own sinfulness, Christ's preciousness, the value of the Bible, the absolute necessity of coming out of the world, the need of being born again, and the enormous folly of the whole doctrine of baptismal regeneration. All these things seemed to flash upon me like a sunbeam, in the winter of 1837, and have stuck in my mind from that time down to this. People may account for such a change as they like, my own belief is that it is what the Bible calls conversion. Or, what the Bible calls regeneration. Before that time, I was dead in sins, and on the high road to hell. From that time, I had become alive, and have had a hope of heaven, and nothing to my mind can account for it but the free sovereign grace of God.|}}

Ryle graduated B.A. from Oxford in 1838, intending not to enter the priesthood but to stand for Parliament at the first opportunity. He 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, Winchester, which he exchanged in the following year for that of Helmingham, Suffolk. He retained the latter living 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 canon of Norwich.

Ryle also continued his theological education. He proceeded M.A. at Oxford in 1871, and was created D.D. by diploma on 4 May 1880.{{sfn|Rigg|1901}}

Ryle was selected preacher at Cambridge in 1873 and the following year, 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 see of Liverpool, which he ably administered until his death at Lowestoft, Suffolk on 10 June 1900. He is buried at All Saints Church, Childwall, Liverpool.{{sfn|Rigg|1901}}

==Family== Ryle married three times. 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> His first marriage was on 29 October 1845, to Matilda Charlotte Louisa, daughter of John Pemberton Plumptre, of Fredville, Kent. His second, in March 1850, was to Jessy Elizabeth Walker, daughter of John Walker of Crawfordton, Dumfriesshire, and sister of George Gustavus Walker. His third marriage, on 24 October 1861, was to Henrietta Clowes, daughter of Lieutenant-Colonel William Legh Clowes of Broughton Old Hall, Lancashire, and sister of Samuel Clowes. Ryle 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 an Anglican clergyman, became successively bishop of Exeter, bishop of Winchester, and dean of Westminster.{{sfn|Rigg|1901}} Through his son Reginald, J.C. Ryle was the grandfather of the philosopher Gilbert Ryle.

==Legacy== [[File:John Charles Ryle Vanity Fair 26 March 1881.jpg|thumb|150px|John Charles Ryle, by Carlo Pellegrini, 1881.]] Ryle was a strong supporter of the 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, yet having 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?''] {{Webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20141026131436/http://www.christianfocus.com/item/show/49/- |date=26 October 2014 }} *[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) *''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:English evangelicals Category:Evangelical Anglican bishops Category:Oxford University cricketers Category:People educated at Eton College Category:People from Stradbroke Category:People from Macclesfield