If you trawl through our church records we can identify individuals, other than ministers, who from the very earliest days have had a significant effect on shaping our church’s history, the town’s and, as you will see, other places, too. We can easily bring to mind the names of Thomas Drummond and James Robertson. One who might be overlooked by some from the turn of the 19th century years is that of Charles Riley.
Mr Riley was a successful Fleetwood town business man. The records suggest that he lived at ‘Holmhurst’ on Mount Road and then the Esplanade. But more importantly then being a successful business man, he was known as an ardent Christian Independent-Congregationalist gentleman. He worked diligently and conscientiously at Lord Street & London Street, particularly with and for children and young people in the Sunday school. Such was his dedication to the Fleetwood cause that when he removed to Lytham St Anne’s he travelled to Fleetwood to maintain and sustain the work to which he was so committed.
Mr Riley obtained a lease on the land which we now refer to as Fairhaven. It was Mr Riley who gave the area the name alluding to a biblical reference. He was responsible for the development of Fairhaven and his lasting legacy is the famed ‘White Church’.
And for the golfers? He provided the land for the creation of the Fairhaven Golf course. (The original course was on the sea-shore and kept being swamped whenever a big tide came in!)
Whether he was a golfer or not is unknown. However, such was Charles Riley’s influence over the creation of the Fairhaven golf course that for many years clergymen did not have to pay fees to play there. (The cartoon at the head of this article would not though have featured in Mr Riley’s thoughts! In 2013 the Fairhaven club is to host a major women’s competition.)
In August this year thousands of golfers will be streaming for the Open golf being played in Lytham St Anne’s and they should remember Mr Charles H Riley’s generosity and foresight.
Characters from our own history that shaped history! We are proud of them and should remember them.