On June 10th, 1900, the prolific writer, vigorous preacher and faithful pastor, John Charles Ryle died in England at the age of 84. Here are some quotes surrounding Ryle’s death and his legacy in Christian history.
J.C. Ryle’s Death
From Evangelical Bishop by Peter Toon and Michael Smout:
Ryle had chosen Lowestoft [England] as the scene of his retirement, along with his daughter, Jessie Isabella. He had learned to love the seaside town during his time in Suffolk and so it was appropriate that he should name his new home, ‘Helmingham House.’ The Ryles were due to arrive in Lowestoft on March 6th, 1900, but it was the middle of the month before they arrived, further illness having delayed them. The house was pleasant and overlooked the North Sea, but Ryle was in no condition to appreciate the view. He slept badly and had little energy to talk. The end came suddenly. It was June 9th, a Saturday evening, when the doctor was called. He found Ryle partly unconscious. His sons were sent telegrams asking them to come immediately but only Herbert, not far away in Cambridge, came in time. At 2:15 p.m. on the Sunday afternoon, the Lord’s Day, John Charles Ryle went to be with that same Lord.
J.C. Ryle’s Funeral
On Wednesday morning a small crowd gathered at Lowestoft station to pay its last respects. The huge oak-paneled coffin was put in a special funeral car attached to the 7:57 a.m. train for Liverpool. Arriving in Liverpool the coffin containing the old Bible from which he had preached was taken to All Saint’s Church, Childwall. As yet there were no crowds; only the Vicar and Bishop Royston were there to receive it. The ivy-clad church stood on the slope of a hill looking out south over the Mersey [river] and into Cheshire. The Bishop had known it well for he had visited the grave of his wife there each week since she had died [in 1889].
The morning of the day of the funeral began grey and drizzly but by the afternoon the weather had brightened up and people in their thousands came out from the center of Liverpool in the special trains. The service was quite simple. Archdeacon Taylor read the first lesson from Psalm 90. ‘Rock of Ages’, Ryle’s favorite hymn, was sung. The second lesson was from I Corinthians 15 read by Archdeacon Madden. It had been planned to end the service by the graveside but the rain came on. Therefore after the service in church only the words of committal, said by Bishop Royston, and the benediction, given by Bishop Chavasse, were said by the graveside. The body of J. C. Ryle, with Bible clasped in his hands, at last lay next to that of his third wife.
J.C. Ryle’s Gravestone
On the gravestone were engraved two texts. The first was a reminder of the conversion which set him off on the Christian pilgrimage; Ephesians 2:8, ‘For by grace are ye saved through faith.’ The second testified that he had now finished that earthly pilgrimage; II Timothy 4:7, ‘I have fought the good fight, I have finished the course, I have kept the faith.’ In a memorial sermon Canon Hobson declared that ‘few men in the nineteenth century did so much for God, for truth and for righteousness among the English speaking race, and in the world, as our late Bishop.’ More simply, his successor, Bishop Chavasse, described him as a man ‘who lived so as to be missed.’
(Image below courtesy of Nigel Goodrich)
From The J.C. Ryle Bookshelf:
The gravestone on the left (below) marks the grave of Bishop Ryle. The stone on the right (below) marks the grave of his third wife Henrietta (Clowes) Ryle. His first marriage was to Matilda C. L. Plumptre on Oct. 25, 1845. Matilda died in June 1847. On Feb. 21, 1850, Ryle married his second wife Jessie Elizabeth Walker. Jessie died in May 1860 from Bright’s disease. In Oct. 1861, Ryle was married to Henrietta, who died in 1889.
(Image below courtesy of Nigel Goodrich)
The Ryle gravestones; Ryle on L, wife on R.
J.C. Ryle’s Legacy
From Faithfulness and Holiness: The Witness of J.C. Ryle, p. 13, 14:
Three days after Ryle’s burial, Richard Hobson, a senior clergyman who had been at the Liverpool diocese from its foundation in 1880, declared:
“He [J.C. Ryle] was great through the abounding grace of God. He was great in stature; great in mental power; great in spirituality; great as a preacher and expositor of God’s most holy Word; great in hospitality; great as a writer of Gospel tracts; great as a Bishop of the Reformed Evangelical Protestant Church in England, of which he was a noble defender; great as first Bishop of Liverpool. I am bold to say, that perhaps few men in the nineteenth century did as much for God, for truth, and for righteousness, among the English speaking race, and in the world, as our late Bishop.”
(Image below courtesy of Paul Hart)
J.C. Ryle Memorial at the Liverpool Anglican Cathedral
(Image below courtesy of Jeff McDonald)
J.C. Ryle Memorial at the Liverpool Anglican Cathedral
[...] If you love J.C Ryle, you may want to know that 110 years ago today, this great man passed away, and to read a super interesting article about it click here. [...]
Wonderful! I wasn’t aware of this. So Spurgeon died in 1892 and Ryle eight years later. Fascinating.
We need to hear these accounts. They encourage us to live in a way that we will be remembered for the right reasons, when we’re gone.
They also remind me of the stark contrast between the kingdom of this world and the kingdom of God. How many thousands show up when a US President dies? Even larger throngs when a pop singer dies.
But alas, the servants of the one and only true and living God, though nothing in themselves, but a huge encouragement to Christ’s body on earth – how does the world take note of them?
“a small crowd gathered at Lowestoft station…to All Saint’s Church, Childwall. As yet there were no crowds”
Yes, thousands did come out for the funeral. But in comparison to the ‘greats’ in the eyes of the world, God’s servants this side of eternity are more or less ignored.
ask the average person today who JC Ryle was and they’d probably not have a clue. Sad, but encouraging. Encouraging because we don’t want the praise of men here on earth. Our reward is in heaven and for that we work and wait.
Thanks for posting this! As always, it spurred me on!
paul
Amen!
Yes, Amen !
[...] The 110th Anniversary of J.C. Ryle’s Death (via J.C. Ryle Quotes) June 10, 2010 tags: death, J. C. Ryle by Jon J. Cardwell We’re reminded by Erik Kowalker, owner/editor/operator/proprietor of the J.C. Ryle Quotes blog, that today is the anniversary of the death of John Charles Ryle. Erik provides a very educational article for this occasion. 110 years ago today, June 10th, 1900, the prolific writer, vigorous preacher and faithful pastor, John Charles Ryle died in England at the age of 83. Here are some quotes surrounding Ryle’s death and his legacy in Christian history. J.C. Ryle’s Death From Evangelical Bishop by Peter Toon and Michael Smout: Ryle had chosen Lowestoft [England] as the scene of his retirement, along with his daughter, Jessie Isabella. He had learned to love the seasi … Read More [...]
I cannot believe I missed it! J.C Ryle is one of my heroes. I am currently reading ‘Practical Religion’. I first discovered his works when a minister was clearing out some old books in his garage and offered me the opportunity to take some books. And I saw two books of his, ‘Practical Religion’and ‘Holiness’and thought, “These look ok”. They were better than ok…pure gold!
I had to ditch them due to the fact that they were old and mouldy, but praise God that his works have been re-printed.
Now years later, I am an Anglican minister and I find his work to be better than ok…pure Gold! I even blogged about it! http://creideamh-a-mhain.blogspot.com/2010/08/gold.html
Ryle’s writings are indeed “pure gold” Joshua.
Thanks for the link.
[...] Ryle suffered much heartache in his 84 years, most heartbreaking was the fact that he was widowed three times during his life. Here is a brief [...]
Living in Liverpool, Ryle and his dear friend Richard Hobson would be spinning in their graves if they saw what was going on now. The Cathedral looks more like a “mass” house were you can pay to light candles and pictures all over the place. The Bishop of Liverpool going hand in hand with his Romish counterpart and a religion of works and not faith everywhere. Reformed Evangelical Protestantism died in Liverpool, except for a few small groups, some years ago. Ryle writes in one of his books that he gave England 100 years before it was enslaved by Popery as the people turned away from Evangelical religion, the 100 years is up and he has been proven correct
Ian,
Yikes! How incredibly sad. I agree, Ryle and Hobson would indeed be so disappointed at the condition of Reformed Evangelical Protestantism in England today.
[...] To view photos of Ryle’s gravestone in England and a memorial to him at the Liverpool Anglican Cathedral, go HERE. [...]
I only discovered J.C.Ryle a few months ago – I love his teaching, so Bible-breathed, wholesome, intelligent and encouraging. In short, pure gold, as others have said! What a great saint. I’m praying for God to raise up men and women of that kind in our days, because I’m also so tired of seeing lukewarm, watered-down excuses for Christians…
Thanks Amanda. I wholeheartedly agree; may God raise up many more men and women like Ryle in this generation.
[...] books) sum up why Ryle connects with so many today: From his conversion [in 1837] to his burial, J.C. Ryle was entirely one-dimensional. He was a one-book man; he was steeped in Scripture; he [...]
[...] 110th Anniversary of J.C. Ryle’s Death (910 [...]
[...] is a fairly new video from J.C. Ryle’s tract written in 1895, five years before Ryle’s death, entitled True Christianity: What is [...]
[...] by Augustus M. Toplady, an Anglican clergyman and hymn-writer, in 1775. This hymn was also sung at Ryle’s funeral. Enjoy the video below, sung by the Antrim Mennonite [...]
[...] still mindboggles me, especially considering this site is dedicated to the quotes of a man who died over a hundred years ago in 1900, and for all intensive purposes, is “under the radar” in regards to Christian [...]
[...] 16. The 110th Anniversary of J.C. Ryle’s Death [...]
[...] writer, vigorous preacher and faithful pastor, John Charles Ryle died in England at the age of 84. HERE are some quotes surrounding Ryle’s death, funeral and legacy in Christian history. [...]
His Works inspired me a lot to grow in my spiritual life. Not many people know about his profound works! it is good to share his teachings to the world.
At Bootle Protestant Free Church Ryle will be remember this evening (UK time) and I will be using him as an example of how Christians ought to act
Ian,
Great to hear. Wish I could cross the pond to be there.
We give thanks to God for such faithful, fruitful servants as J. C Ryle. Would to God that He, would raise up such men again, to preach the everlasting gospel in faith and with faith, through the unction of the Holy Spirit, to this sick nation as the only remedy for it’s ills.
I found a book written by J C Ryle “The Upper Room” how deep, how truthful, how beautiful. I am so happy I bought it.