He trained for the ministry at Trinity College, Bristol, gaining a second BA in 1987;[7] and later studied for a Master of Arts degree from Sheffield University, which he was awarded in 2006.
He was made a deacon at Petertide 1987 (27 June)[8] and ordained a priest the Petertide following (3 July 1988) — both times by Michael Baughen, Bishop of Chester, at Chester Cathedral;[9] he began his ministerial career with a title post as assistant curate at St George's Heaviley, Stockport[10] (1987–1991); he was then Vicar of Acton and Worleston, Church Minshull and Wettenhall, Cheshire (1991–1997).
He moved to Somerset in 1997 to serve as Team Rector for the Langport Team Ministry[2] (Aller, Drayton, High Ham with Low Ham, Huish Episcopi, Long Sutton, Muchelney, and Pitney); then from 2002[7] until his appointment to the episcopate[11] he was Diocesan Missioner for the Diocese of Exeter and a Canon Residentiary at Exeter Cathedral.
[14][15][16] In March 2018 it was announced that Rylands would resign as Bishop of Shrewsbury and return to parish ministry.
[17] Since July 2018,[18] he has led the Ashburton and Moorland Team Ministry in the Diocese of Exeter, first as priest-in-charge and then as rector since 2021.