J. C. Ryle

J. C. Ryle – Life, Ministry, and Memorable Sayings

John Charles Ryle (1816–1900) was the first Anglican Bishop of Liverpool, a powerful evangelical preacher, and a prolific author. Discover his life, theological emphasis, legacy, and some of his most famous quotes.

Introduction

John Charles Ryle, better known as J. C. Ryle, was an influential English clergyman whose life bridged the age of Victorian England and the rise of modern evangelicalism. As a preacher, pastor, and writer, he sought to bring clarity, holiness, and simple gospel faith to his contemporaries. His works—especially his commentaries on the Gospels and his treatise Holiness—remain in print and continue to inspire Christian readers.

Born on 10 May 1816, he lived through an era of intellectual, social, and theological ferment—Darwin’s publication, ritualist movements in the Church of England, and debates over biblical authority. Against that backdrop, Ryle remained a staunch defender of evangelical and reformed doctrine.

Early Life and Family

J. C. Ryle was born in Macclesfield, Cheshire, into a socially prominent family. His father, John Ryle, was a private banker and later Member of Parliament; his mother was Susanna Hurt (daughter of Charles Hurt of Wirksworth).

He was the eldest son, with sisters older and younger. The family had means and status, which shaped Ryle’s educational opportunities and early ambitions.

Ryle was married three times (each of his first two wives died young), and had children through those unions.

Education, Conversion & Early Ambitions

Schooling at Eton and Oxford

Ryle was educated privately in his childhood before attending Eton College (from about 1828). At Eton he distinguished himself in sports—rowing and cricket.

In 1834 he matriculated at Christ Church, Oxford, where he studied classics (“Greats”) and graduated with a first-class degree.

Spiritual Awakening and Change of Direction

While at Oxford, Ryle underwent a deep spiritual conversion, reportedly during a period of illness when he was drawn to Ephesians 2.

Originally, he had been considering a career in politics (influenced by family background and opportunity). But a combination of health challenges, his father’s financial collapse, and his spiritual conviction led him to give up those plans and instead enter the Christian ministry.

He was ordained in 1841–42 by the Bishop of Winchester.

Pastoral Ministry & Ecclesiastical Career

Early Posts and Parish Ministry

Ryle’s first clerical role was as a curate at Exbury, Hampshire.

In 1843 he became rector of St. Thomas, Winchester, and shortly thereafter exchanged this for the living of Helmingham in Suffolk.

In 1861 he took the vicarage of Stradbroke (Suffolk), where he invested heavily in church restoration and pastoral care.

He also served as rural dean of Hoxne, honorary canon of Norwich, and later was made dean of Salisbury.

Bishop of Liverpool

In 1880, at age 64, Ryle was appointed the first Bishop of Liverpool, a new diocese in the Church of England.

He served in that office until 1 March 1900, when he resigned due to failing health, and died a few months later (10 June 1900).

During his episcopate, he was known for frequent preaching, pastoral visits, church-building efforts (he helped to build or improve many churches in his diocese), and for defending evangelical doctrine within the Anglican Church.

Theological Emphases & Writings

Evangelical, Reformed, and Biblical Convictions

Ryle was firmly in the evangelical tradition of the Church of England. He resisted the ritualist and “high church” tendencies of his day, believing instead in simplicity, preaching, the authority of Scripture, and personal conversion.

He emphasized holiness (a moral, daily pursuit of Christlikeness), spiritual seriousness, personal commitment, and clarity in doctrine over ambiguity.

He stressed that doctrine without life is dead, and that Christian faith must produce tangible sanctification.

Major Works

Ryle was a very prolific writer. He published over 200 tracts (with circulation in the millions) and many books, commentaries, and sermons.

Some of his most notable works include:

• Expository Thoughts on the Gospels (a multi-volume commentary on Matthew, Mark, Luke, and John)

• Holiness: Its Nature, Hindrances, Difficulties, and Roots (a systematic treatment of Christian sanctification)

• Christian Leaders of the Eighteenth Century

• Principles for Churchmen

• Practical Religion, Upper Room, The Duties of Parents, From Old Times, and others

Ryle’s style was direct, earnest, and pastoral—intended not merely for scholars but for lay Christians. He was less concerned with novel theological speculation and more with faithful exposition, spiritual exhortation, and practical godliness.

Legacy and Influence

Lasting Influence in Evangelicalism

J. C. Ryle’s influence persists, particularly among evangelical Christians and pastors. His writings are still reprinted and widely read for their clarity, simplicity, and depth.

He is often cited as a model pastor-writer: someone who combined pastoral concern with theological integrity and a heart for holiness.

His defense of evangelical doctrine in the Church of England during times of ritualist controversy secured him a reputation as a key figure in the Low Church tradition.

Commemoration & Reputation

Ryle has been described by contemporaries and later admirers as a man of moral firmness and spiritual warmth. Evan­gelical pastors often speak of him in high regard; some called him “that man of granite, with the heart of a child.”

Charles Spurgeon (a famous Baptist preacher) is said to have regarded him as one of the best men in the Church of England.

Though his name is less widely known outside Christian and Anglican circles today, among those interested in faithful biblical preaching, he remains a respected and beloved voice.

Personality, Strengths & Challenges

Ryle combined a strong, commanding presence with genuine pastoral warmth and concern.

He was courageous in confronting theological trends he viewed as dangerous, yet remained committed to clear gospel preaching rather than polemics.

His capacity for work was remarkable—he maintained sustained writing, preaching, pastoral care, and administrative responsibility well into old age.

His challenges included the intellectual pressures of modernizing theology (evolution, higher criticism), the tension between intellectual respectability and evangelical conviction, and the physical demands of ministry in advancing years. Despite that, he remained active and committed until shortly before his death.

Famous Quotes of J. C. Ryle

Here are some of Ryle’s most memorable and enduring quotations:

“Do nothing that you would not like God to see. Say nothing you would not like God to hear. Write nothing you would not like God to read. Go no place where you would not like God to find you.”

“Holiness is the habit of being of one mind with God, according as we find His mind described in Scripture. … measuring everything in this world by the standard of His Word.”

“We must read our Bibles like men digging for hidden treasure.”

“A Christian is a walking sermon. They preach far more than a minister does, for they preach all week long.”

“It costs something to be a true Christian. It will cost us … our sins, our self-righteousness, our ease and our worldliness!”

“The saddest road to hell is the one that runs under the pulpit, past the Bible, and through the middle of warnings and invitations.”

“Men fall in private long before they fall in public.”

“Doctrine is useless if it is not accompanied by a holy life. It is worse than useless; it does positive harm.”

These lines encapsulate his emphasis on integrity, holiness, Scripture, and the seriousness of Christian discipleship.

Lessons from J. C. Ryle

1. Doctrine and life must go together.
   Ryle insisted that correct theology must bear fruit in obedience, character, and holiness. Doctrine without transformation, he warned, becomes hollow or harmful.

2. Simplicity and clarity matter for communication.
   He wrote for common Christians, avoiding unnecessary obscurity. His example encourages ministers and writers to make the truths of Scripture accessible.

3. Steady, faithful ministry over flash.
   Ryle’s life was not marked by sensationalism but by long service, persistent preaching, and pastoral care. His enduring legacy underscores the value of consistent faithfulness.

4. Courage to stand for evangelical convictions.
   In an age of shifting theological currents, he remained steadfast in his commitment to biblical authority, conversion, and holiness.

5. A pastoral heart and intellectual rigor can coexist.
   Ryle models a union of head and heart: a thinker who loved souls, a preacher who cared for individuals, not merely ideas.

Conclusion

J. C. Ryle was a remarkable figure in nineteenth-century Anglicanism—first Bishop of Liverpool, prolific author, compelling preacher, and tireless pastor. His work continues to speak because he addressed timeless issues: how to live faithfully before God, how to interpret the Bible, how holiness is not optional but central, and how doctrine without life is empty.

Though his world was Victorian England, his concerns echo powerfully today. For those seeking a spiritual mentor across the centuries, he remains a guide worth revisiting.