author
J. C. (John Charles) Ryle
1816–1900
A plainspoken Victorian bishop and writer, he became the first Bishop of Liverpool and won a lasting readership through clear, practical Christian teaching. His books and gospel commentaries are still widely read for their directness, warmth, and steady focus on everyday faith.
3 Audiobooks
A Sketch of the Life and Labors of George Whitefield
by J. C. (John Charles) Ryle
The Cross: A Tract for the Times
by J. C. (John Charles) Ryle
About the author
Born in Macclesfield in 1816, J. C. Ryle was educated at Eton and Christ Church, Oxford. After a personal evangelical awakening in early adulthood, he entered ordained ministry in the Church of England and became known as a vigorous preacher, pastor, and writer.
Ryle emerged as a leading voice in the evangelical wing of the Church of England. In 1880 he was appointed the first Bishop of Liverpool, a role he held until 1900. He was especially known for his straightforward style, his defense of Protestant and Reformed Anglican convictions, and his resistance to the ritualist movement of his day.
He wrote extensively, including the much-loved Expository Thoughts on the Gospels, as well as books on holiness, practical religion, and Christian living. More than a century after his death in 1900, readers still turn to him for writing that is simple, earnest, and deeply pastoral.