Charles Edward Riley

Charles Edward Riley (1883–1971) was an Anglican clergyman, pastor, and occasional hymn writer whose ministry was primarily centered in Canada. He was born on May 21, 1883, in Liverpool, England, and later moved to Canada, where he pursued his education and lifelong service in the church. Riley studied at McGill University in Montreal, earning a Bachelor of Arts in 1908, and continued his theological training at the Diocesan Theological College, receiving his Licentiate in Theology in 1911. He further advanced his studies at Trinity College in Toronto, where he earned a Bachelor of Divinity in 1917 and was later awarded a Doctor of Divinity in 1933.

Riley’s pastoral ministry spanned several decades and locations across Ontario. He served congregations in McNab from 1910 to 1915, Dundas from 1916 to 1925, and St. Catharines from 1925 to 1933. His leadership and faithfulness led to his appointment as Dean of Niagara from 1933 to 1937, and subsequently as Dean of Toronto from 1937 until his retirement in 1961. Throughout his ministry, he was known primarily as a preacher and pastor, with hymn writing serving as a secondary but meaningful extension of his theological and devotional work.

Though not a prolific hymn writer, Riley contributed a small number of hymn texts that reflect his pastoral heart and doctrinal grounding. Among his known works are “Jesu, Son of Blessed Mary” and contributions to “O Savior, When We Have No Work.” His hymns, like his ministry, emphasize Christ-centered devotion and practical Christian living. Riley passed away on April 16, 1972, in Toronto, leaving behind a legacy of faithful service in the Anglican Church, where his influence was felt more through his leadership and preaching than through his limited but sincere hymn writing.