Charles Owen Leaver Riley

Charles Owen Leaver Riley was Archbishop of Perth and an influential figure in civic and religious spheres. Born in Birmingham in England in 1854 he was the eldest child of the Reverend Lawrence William Riley and Emma (nee) Shaw. Charles was well educated, attending Heversham Grammar School and Owens College in Manchester. He then attended Cambridge, completing studies in mathematics to Doctorate level. 

Riley became deacon when he achieved his Bachelor of Arts in 1878 and was ordained as a priest the following year. He served as curate in York and Manchester, becoming rector of St Paul's Preston in 1885, while also serving the bishop of Manchester. In 1886 he married Elizabeth Merriman and they went on to have a large family, three daughters and three sons. Riley was offered a position at Morecombe, Lancashire in 1894 then he was offered the bishopric of Perth, as successor to Bishop Parry. The Archbishop of Canterbury consecrated him on the 18 October and he and the family arrived in Western Australia on the 3 February 1895. Riley was 40 when he came to Australia, and served for 34 years, only resigning shortly before his death.

His son, Charles Lawrence Riley, was Bishop of Bendigo from 1938 to 1957 and was also Chaplain of the Forces in the Australian Army.

Charles Riley was known to support many social causes, military affairs, tertiary education, Freemasonry, arts, culture and welfare. He contributed to the establishment of the University of Western Australia, St George's Cathedral, overseeing many Anglican dioceses, a theological college, St George's College, and was Anglican chaplain general of the Australian Imperial Forces, patron to the State branch of the Returned Sailors and Soldiers Imperial League of Australia.

Charles Riley was well liked, humorous and had a commanding presence. He was awarded the O.B.E in 1920 and a state funeral attracting 30,000 people, including 1000 returned soldiers, said to be the largest and most representative crowd ever assembled in Perth. He was buried in Karrakatta cemetery. A portrait of Archbishop Riley hangs in the University of Western Australia's senate room.