Charles Riley

Charles Owen Leaver Riley (26 May 1854 – 23 June 1929) was the first Anglican Archbishop of Perth, Western Australia.

Early years Riley was born in Birmingham, Warwickshire, England, the eldest child of the Reverend Lawrence William Riley, the vicar of St Cross, Knutsford, England, and his wife Emma, née Shaw. In 1878 he was ordained as a deacon in 1878, and in 1879 he was ordained as a priest. He was curate at East Bierley, Yorkshire from 1878 to 1880, Bradford from 1880 to 1882, and Lancaster from 1882 to 1885. He became vicar of St Paul's, Preston, in 1885, a position he held for nine years.

Archbishop of Perth In 1894 Riley was appointed Bishop of Perth.

Personal life Riley married Elizabeth Merriman on 7 January 1886; subsequently they had three daughters and three sons. In Australian Freemasonry he is particularly notable as the longest serving Grand Master of the Western Australian Grand Lodge. He held this position from 1904 until his death, with the exception of a three-year term (1917–1920) by Sir William Ellison-Macartney.