Bishop Ridley
BISHOP RIDLEY
The same day that Wolsey and Pygot died in Ely—October 16, 1555—two other outstanding leaders of the church died at Oxford: Bishop Ridley of London and Bishop Hugh Latimer of Worcester.
Among those martyred for the true Gospel of Christ in Queen Mary’s time, Dr. Ridley serves as an excellent example of spiritual inspiration and godly education. Born in Northumberland, Ridley learned his grammar as a child in Newcastle and attended Cambridge, where he soon became well known for his intelligence and advanced rapidly, becoming a doctor of divinity and the head of Pembroke Hall. After that, he traveled to Paris, was made Henry VIII’s chaplain on his return, and appointed bishop of Rochester by the king. In King Edward’s days, he served as the bishop of London.
Ridley worked so diligently at preaching and teaching his flock the true doctrine of Christ that his parishioners loved him the way a child loves his father. People swarmed to his sermons like bees to honey, knowing their bishop not only preached Christ but lived a pure, holy life. He was well educated, with a remarkable memory, and even his enemies admired his writing, pithy sermons, and lectures.
Besides all this, Ridley gave excellent advice, being very judicious in all his doings. He was merciful and careful when dealing with Catholics during Edward’s reign, winning many of them over through his gentle teaching.
Ridley was an attractive man who never held a grudge and always forgave any injury done to him. He was kind and affectionate to his relatives but expected as much from them in their daily lives as he did from any other parishioner. Any family member doing evil could expect no special treatment from Ridley; those who lived honest, godly lives were his brothers and sisters, no matter who they were.
Ridley lived a well-regulated, strict life. As soon as he was dressed in the morning, he prayed on his knees for half an hour in his room. Then he would go to his study, where he worked until the ten o’clock prayers for his household. After prayers, he would go to dinner, where he talked very little, then return to his study until afternoon prayers at five. He would have his dinner, go back to his study until eleven, then retire for the night.
At his manor in Fulham, he would give a lecture to his family every day, beginning at Acts and going through all Paul’s epistles. He gave every member of his household who could read a copy of the New Testament. He was extremely careful to see that his family served as good examples of virtue and honesty. In short, he was so godly and virtuous himself that those qualities reigned in his whole household.
When Bishop Ridley was at home in Fulham, he always had his next-door neighbor, Mrs. Bonner, and her sister over for supper and dinner, giving her the honored seat at the end of the table, even if someone else of importance was present. “By your lordship’s favor,” he would tell his guest, “this place is for my mother Bonner.” Mrs. Bonner was the mother of the man who would later become Bishop Bonner during Queen Mary’s time—the man responsible for the deaths of many Protestants, including Ridley.
Dr. Ridley was first brought to the Gospel through Bertram’s Book of the Sacraments and discussion with Bishop Cranmer and Peter Martyr. When Queen Mary came to the throne, he was arrested. First imprisoned in the Tower of London, he was then sent to jail in Oxford with the archbishop of Canterbury and Hugh Latimer. After being condemned, he was kept in the house of Mayor Irish from 1554 until his death in 1555.