J.C.Ryle from Riches to Wealth

 

 

As John pulled away from the family mansion in Henbury he could see the confused look in his dogs face.  His faithful mastiff of many years, Ceaser, did not understand the events of the previous six weeks that had brought John Charles Ryle from a position of great wealth and influence to the point of poverty and desolation.  

 

Born to a wealthy family in May 1816, John wanted for nothing.  The family had inherited a large fortune through the silk trade.  His father was also the MP for Macclesfield as well as being a landlord in the heart of rural England.   People had high hopes for young John as he went to Eton and Oxford. 

 

His intellectual abilities shone at an early stage as well as his brilliance as both a bowler and batter in cricket. Ryle’s love of cricket remained with him for many years and when reflecting on his life years later he wrote: I believe it gave me a power of commanding, managing, organising, directing, seeing through men’s capacities and using every man in the post for which he is best suite…which I have found of infinite use on hundreds of occasions in life, though in very different matters.  Despite his passion for sport Ryle did not allow his studies to suffer.  In his sixth form at Eton he was third for the Newcastle Scholarship which meant that Ryle studied religion in some detail.  This included the 39 Articles, which is like the equivalent of our churches Westminster Confession and Shorter Catechism. 

 

Despite the study of religion, Ryle grew up in a home where there was little true love or zeal for Christ.  The riches and high position that were all part of family life for John had caused carelessness with regard to true religion.  As is often the case, the Lord brings someone to an end of them-selves before they look to Christ.  After a period of illness when all his strength was taken from him, the proud young man began to earnestly seek the Lord.  Under a sermon in 1838 in Oxford the preacher read out Ephesians 2 v 8 For by grace are ye saved through faith and that not of yourselves it is the gift of God.  The verse pierced Ryles heart like an arrow.  He came to a realisation that it was God’s grace alone that could save him and it was this grace that Ryle would proclaim for the rest of his days.  Soon dancing and billiards were things of the past.  He turned his back on the world and set his face towards the things of God.

 

Leaving Oxford, Ryle returned to Cheshire where he took up a position in his father’s bank.  Having read law for 6 months, he went on to take up a position as a County Magistrate.   As with his father, Ryle junior was interested in politics and would often speak on behalf of the Conservatives.  He was also a popular speaker in Evangelical circles and was widely known in some very important households.   The young J.C. Ryle had the world at his feet and had his heart set on a seat in parliament, but God had other plans for him.  In June 1841 Ryle’s bank collapsed.  A fortune that was worth half a million pound was lost in one day.  All assets were sold off and the 25 year old Ryle lost his inheritance.  Within six weeks of the crash, he was bidding farewell to the beautiful estate of Henbury and his bewildered dog.  The poor dog did not live long after Ryles departure.

 

In God’s providence the event was used to turn Ryles thoughts towards the ministry.  He was ordained in December 1841 and began his work at the New Forest in Exbury.  Throwing himself into the work of such a needy parish shattered his health within 2 years.  After a break he moved St Thomas in Winchester where in the space of a few months his church was filled to overflowing.   Again Ryle was not to stay long and in April 1844 he moved to Helmingham in the County of Suffolk.  Although a small parish, Ryle left no stone unturned in his efforts to reach sinners with the gospel.  As well as his preaching he was a prolific tract writer.  He went on to write 2-300 tracts which were in time translated into languages such as Russian, Chinese and Hindustani. 

 

After the collapse of his families business Ryle was devestated by the many people who had been let down by the crash.  There was much conflict in his family as a result of the problems and it was his great desire to find a partner in life.  This dream was fulfilled in October 1844 when he was married to the daughter of an MP.  Tragically his wife died 3 years later and left Ryle with a baby to care for.  Despite marrying again, Ryle’s second wife was very ill and he could rarely leave her.  In 1860 she also died leaving Ryle to care for 5 children.  As well as the pain of death, Ryle had to cope with problems in his congregation.  This was eventually resolved by moving to the parish of Stradbroke where he spent twenty happy years.  He married again in 1861 and his third wife enjoyed good health until her death in 1889. 

 

When most men are thinking about retirement, Ryle was called to be Bishop of Liverpool in 1880.  Unlike many Bishops Ryle had no interest in building a power base or basking in a glorious Cathedral.  In fact the plans to build a Cathedral in Liverpool were put on hold while Ryle raised money to build more churches throughout the city.  He once observed the humblest cottage meeting where Christ is preached, and the Scriptures honoured, and a few real believers are assembled, is more pleasing in His sight than the grandest Cathedral in which the gospel is never heard, and no work of the Spirit ever goes.  There is much that Ryle did in Liverpool that could be compared with the Free Church minister of the 19^th Century Thomas Chalmers.  Under his leadership in Liverpool, Ryle manged to establish ninety new places of worship, and ordained 150 men to the ministry.  The men Ryle gathered around him were similar to their mentor and their reformed doctrine was to influence the Church of England for many years to come.

 

As late as 1899 Ryle spoke at the Church Missionary Society centenary meetings.  This natural giant of six foot three inches stood tall even in his eighties.  With his long grey beard and passionate preaching he must have been quite an imposing figure.  He eventually retired in March 1900 and went on to be with his saviour in June 10^th of the same year.   We close with a quote from a magazine after his death; “John Charles Ryle was an outstanding example of the power of a life that shirked no conviction, and brooked no compromise; controversial if needs must be, but without bitterness of speech or narrowness of thought; fearless, steadfast, and reserved before his fellowmen; gentle, patient and devout before the Holy God” (The Record 1941).