John Ryland

RYLAND, John. b. Warwick, 29 January 1753; d. Bristol, 25 June 1825. He was the son of a Baptist pastor, John Collett Ryland (1723-1792), a notable figure in 18th-century Baptist circles (he was baptized by Benjamin Beddome* and his funeral sermon was preached by John Rippon*). To distinguish himself from his forceful parent, the son called himself ‘John Ryland, Junior’. In 1759 John Collett Ryland moved to Northampton as pastor: he taught his son Hebrew and Greek, and John Ryland Junior is said to have been able to read the New Testament in Greek at the age of nine. He was baptized in the River Nene in 1767. He assisted his father at Northampton as a teacher in the school, and as co-pastor...