John Rider (bishop) - Career in The Church

Career in The Church

Ryder was educated at Jesus College, Oxford (B.A, M.A.). Afterwards he was Rector of Bermondsey (1581–1583) and of South Ockendon (1583–1590). At Oxford, 1589, he published his celebrated English-Latin Dictionary, which was important as it was the first example of such a dictionary in which the English language took precedent to Latin. He added over four thousand words which hitherto had no record of translation. In this huge undertaking, he was greatly aided by his friend Henry Radclyffe, 4th Earl of Sussex. The book was universally regarded by the learned as an invaluable contribution to English literature, eliciting many very flattering complements in both Greek and Latin verse. He followed this success by soon afterwards publishing another book which gave an account of the Spanish Armada in Ireland.

Through his relation, William Stanley, 6th Earl of Derby, he was appointed to the valuable living of Winwick, Lancashire. Ryder also held the patronage of Elizabeth I of England and was described as "a great, personal favourite" of hers. Through her he was first appointed to a Predend in the Chapter of Dublin in order to pacify the more senior clerics in Ireland so that he could be officially eligible for the position of Dean of St. Patrick's Cathedral, Dublin, which the Queen desired for him. In 1597, following the death of Bishop Richard Meredith and in accordance with Her Majesty's wishes, he was appointed Dean of St. Patrick's, a position he later exchanged for the Archdeaconry of Meath in 1608. In 1598, the Queen gifted him the Prebendary of Geashill, which fell under the Cathedral of Kildare. In 1612, he was consecrated Bishop of Killaloe, a position he held until his death, November 12, 1612. He is buried at Killaloe Cathedral, Co. Clare. He left behind him the "character of a learned and religious prelate".