Charles Manthorpe

Charles Manthorpe (31 March 1836 – 6 December 1898) was a Congregationalist minister remembered for his 36-year pastorate in Glenelg, South Australia.

[1] In 1861 he was appointed co-pastor of the old Freeman Street (now Gawler Place, Adelaide) church, whose pastor C. W. Evan was in poor health.

[3] In September 1879 the new building measuring 80 by 50 feet (24 m × 15 m) with seating for 700,[3] now St Andrews Uniting Church, was opened at 92 Jetty Road, Glenelg.

During his 36-year pastorate Manthorpe returned to England twice; on the first, undertaken in 1875 with his son Charles Edward, the ship's cargo of wool caught fire and the Aurora, on her maiden voyage, had to be abandoned off the Azores and the journey completed on another vessel.

For several years he was without a charge, preaching at special services and acting as temporary replacement as opportunity arose, notably the tiny New Parkside Congregational Church which had hitherto relied on lay preachers.

At its first service on 27 November 1898 Manthorpe was due to read the first lesson, but he was so frail, his eyesight so poor, and his voice so weak that his friend F. W. Cox was obliged to take over the duty.