 Returning to England, he became vicar of St Paul's Church in Huddersfield from 1874-1879.In 1879, Ridley was appointed Bishop of the newly created Diocese of Caledonia in northern British Columbia; he was consecrated a bishop, by Archibald Campbell Tait, Archbishop of Canterbury, on 25 July at St Paul's Cathedral; and he and his wife Jane set out for Canada.His appointment involved ensuring that missions under the Church Missionary Society (CMS) adhered to Anglican doctrine.