Author: Ryland, John
Biography:
RYLAND, John (1753-1825: ODNB)
The younger John Ryland was born in the Church of England rectory in Warwick on 29 Jan. 1753, rented by his father for his boarding school. A mercer who became a schoolmaster and Baptist minister, his father was John Collett Ryland (1723-1792). His mother, his father’s wife, was born Elizabeth Frith (d 1779). He was educated at his father’s school that was, from 1759, in Mary Street, Northampton. From age fifteen, he assisted his father at the school. Confirmed in the ministry in Northampton in 1771, he was named co-pastor with his father on 8 June 1781. He succeeded his father as pastor in 1786. From birth, he was exposed to Calvinism under his father’s instruction and by his attendance at College Lane Chapel. He also was influenced by two notables who became his regular correspondents, the Rev. John Newton (q.v.) and the Rev. Robert Hall. He moved away from strict Calvinism and became active in evangelism when in 1784 he read a pamphlet by the incomparable American evangelist Jonathan Edwards (after whom he named one of his sons). As a consequence, in 1792 he co-founded the Baptist Missionary Society (BMS). In the coming years, he held several executive positions in the BMS. In 1794, he moved to Bristol. There he was, concurrently, pastor of Broadmead Baptist Chapel and of an Independent paedo-baptist congregation. He was also at the same time principal, later president, of Bristol Baptist College. He was twice married. On 12 Jan. 1780 he married a wealthy heiress, Elizabeth Tyler, a daughter of auctioneer Robert Tyler of Banbury, Oxfordshire. She died on 23 Jan. 1787 following the birth of their only child. On 18 June 1789, he married Elizabeth’s friend, diarist Frances Barrett (b 1761), a daughter of William Barrett of Northampton, by whom he had four children. He died at his house in Stokes Croft, Bristol, on 25 May 1825, and was buried on 2 June in the Broadmead Chapel cemetery. (ODNB 7 Nov. 2024; PROB 11/1153 will of Elizabeth Tyler Ryland; PROB 11/1701 will of the younger John Ryland; J. Taylor, History of College Street Church, Northampton [1897], 23-42; T. Larsen ed, Biographical Dictionary of Evangelicals [2003]; “Introduction to Frances Barrett Ryland,” in T. Whelan ed, Nonconformist Women Writers, 1720-1840 [2012], pt II vol 8 taylorfrancis.com n.p. 9 Nov. 2024) JC
Other Names:
- John Ryland, Jr