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Rex Riches.

Photo courtesy of the General Conference of Seventh-day Adventists Archives.

Riches, Rex (1935–2007) and Rose Marie (1940–2019)

By Daniel Lunkhohao Touthang, Sylvestar Shangpliang, and Remwil R. Tornalejo

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Daniel Lunkhohao Touthang

Sylvestar Shangpliang (B.A. in Theology, Spicer Memorial College, India; M.Min., Adventist International Institute of Advanced Studies [AIIAS], Philippines) is from Meghalya, India. He has served as a school chaplain and church pastor in the Khasi Jaintia Conference of the Southern Asia Division. Currently, he is a D.Min. student at AIIAS. He is married to Baiada Lyngdoh and has one daughter.

Remwil R. Tornalejo is an associate professor in the Historical-Theological department of the International Institute of Advanced Studies Seminary (AIIAS). Tornalejo has a B.A. in theology from Mountain View College, Valencia, Philippines, and M.P.S., M.Div., and M.Th. degrees from AIIAS. He had served as a pastor, Literature Ministry Seminary dean and instructor at the South Philippine Union Conference. He had served as chair of the theology department of the South Philippine Adventist College. Tornalejo completed his D.Theol. from Theological Union (ATESEA). He is married to Marilou Manatad. They have four children.

First Published: October 5, 2022

Audio

Rex and Rose Marie Riches served the Church in various capacities in England, Southern Asia, and the United States.1

Early Life, Education, and Marriage

Rex Riches was born on September 20, 1935, in Ipswich, England, to Sidney Robert Riches and Agnes Barnard Riches.2 Rex’s brothers were Robin and Gaeton Riches.3 He was baptized in 1947.4

Rex was an educated minister who graduated from Newbold College, England; Andrews University, Loma Linda University; and Fairfax University, U.S.A.5 Between 1954 and 1956, during his secondary education, Rex completed his General Certificate of Education from Oxford University.6 In 1961, he graduated with a Bachelor of Arts in Religion from Columbia U.C. (U.S.A.) and Newbold (U.K.).7 Between 1972 and 1974, Riches completed his M. A. program from Andrews University and a Master’s degree in Public Health from Loma Linda University8 in 1973.9 He earned his doctoral degree in 1995 from Fairfax University.10

Riches was married to Rose Marie, a teacher and educational administrator at Belfast Church,11 on August 15, 1962.12 She was born to W. G. Nicholson13 on October 24, 1940, in Belfast Ireland.14 The Riches had two daughters–Ann-marie Riches and Katrina Riches.15

Rose Marie attended primary school at Belfast and Dublin, Ireland. She then went to Newbold College in Bracknell, England, and also attended East Hampstead Teacher Training College where she earned a degree in education and economics. It was during her stay at Newbold that she meet Rex Riches.16

She completed her General Certificate of Education from Northern Universities, U.K., in 1959.17 She had attained teachings skills, earning diplomas in teaching from Reading University, U.K., in l961, and also Teaching Advanced Nutrition and Hygiene from Royal College of Nutrition in 1977.18 In 1990, she completed B.A. in Education from Fairfax University, U.S.A.19

While Riches served as pastor in South England Conference, Rose Marie worked at Stanborough Park Secondary School where she taught history and home economics, and served as vice principal as well.20 When Riches was called to serve as president of Sri Lanka Union of Seventh-day Adventist in 1979, Rose Marie served as his secretary and partner in the ministry. She worked as secretary of the Literature Evangelism Department when they moved to Pune, India.21

Ministry

Rex Riches had served as a pastor, departmental director, president, and project officer.22 He began his ministry in 1961.23 In 1962, he served as a resident minister of Colchester Church,24 South England Conference.25 In 1966, he moved to Weston and Taunton and served in the Stewardship and Development Department.26 In 1967, he was ordained while serving in the South England Conference.27 In 1968, under his vigorous influence, the vocation Bible study was conducted for the first time at Chiswick, Torquay, Stanborough Park, Peckham, Ipswich, and Haddiscoe of the South England Conference.28

In 1969, Riches worked as the departmental secretary for Sabbath School, youth, and temperance. He also contributed to the youth magazines as an assistant editor.29 He organized and attended the Conference's youth camping, Pathfinders, and Master Guide investitures.30 He was also known for his commitment to the Health Department,31 conducting health emphasis seminars and finding ways to help the smoking clinic through medical personnel. Dr. Rex Richies, with his three departmental secretaries in the conference, was “promoting their various interests with soul-winning as the guiding principle of all their endeavors.”32 Richies and his colleagues’ contribution to community health hit Britain’s headlines in major news, articles, TV, and radio interviews. They even caught the attention of Britain’s minister of health because of their ongoing campaign on smoking cessation called “Operation Dolly,” a five-day plan clinic.33 While working as the youth leader and a missionary volunteer in the South England conference, he had significantly impacted the lives of both Adventist and non-Adventist youth, especially with the no-smoking promotion. His skillful approaches to the young pupils were effective as his deliberate avoidance of certain words, e.g. cancer, during his presentation did not cause fear and stress to the children. His emphasis was simply on educating them of the bad effects of smoking.34

In 1977, he served as the executive director of the British Temperance Society.35 Thus, between 1967 and 1979, he served as an effective deparmental director of the British Union.36 During this period, Rose Marie was alongside her husband in support to his ministry. Between 1962 and 1979, she served as elementary/secondary school teacher at the British Union Conference.37

In 1979, Rex Riches received a called to be the president of Sri Lanka Union.38 He served in this postion until 1983.39 While in Sri-Lanka, Rex Richies influenced the usage of mobile audio-visual units through which the Union could make films available and broadcast on a broader basis to town and villages about health and temperance films or Adventist films.40 Under his leadership, the Union experienced increases in financial growth. It became the first Union in Southern Asia to reach its objectives in 1982 ingatherings and exceeded its goals by almost 25 percent.41 The mission also witnessed membership growth where conversion occurred mostly from Catholic and Christian communities.42 During the same period, Rose Marie also accompanied her husband to serve as Union Education Sponsorship Director, Southern Asia Division, Sri Lanka.43

At the end of 1983, Dr. Rex and his wife arrived at the headquarters of Southern Asia as he took up the new position of projects officers for SAWS/ASIA (ADRA). As the director of ADRA, he helped the field unit plan and implement their community development projects.44 He served in this position between 1983 and1985.45Rose Marie also served as Education Office secretary, Southern Asia Division, India, during the period.46 Rex Riches permanently returned from Southern Asia Division to the Northern European Division effective August 1985.47 Between 1985 and 1991, he was the pastor of the Upward, Edneyville, and Mills River, North Carolina, churches.48 Between 1985 and 1991, he pastored the Mills River Church.49 He continued to serve as a pastor and his wife as a teacher in the Carolina Conference until their retirement in 1999.50

Later Life

When they retired, they settled in Chattanooga, Tennessee, where they spent their time with their children and grandchildren. They helped home school two of their grandchildren and traveled around the world.51 Rex Riches died on January 1, 2007, at the age of 71 at a local hospital in Chattanooga, Tennessee.52 Rose Marie Riches died peacefully in her sleep on September 27, 2019.53

Contribution

Rex and Rose Marie Riches were a selfless and passionate church workers and missionaries having served in South England, Southern Asia, and the United States. They will be remembered for their great contribution to the Adventist mission work in Sri Lanka and India.54

Sources

Biographical Information Blank, Rex Riches. General Conference of Seventh-day Adventist Archives. Silver Spring, Maryland, U.S.A.

Charles, Edwin, “SAWS/ASIA obtains Riches.” Southern Asia Tidings, August 1, 1983.

Cooper, V. H. “Our Visit to Southern Asia.” Southern Asia Tidings, March 1981.

Dunnett, D. J. “Ordination and Symposium.” British Advent Messenger, April 15, 1967.

Foster, E. H. “South England report shows Evangelism strong.” ARH, January 29, 1970.

Gammon, K. H. “Holiday-time Evangelism.” British Advent Messenger, Oct. 11, 1968.

Lowe, D, “Departments Reorganized.” British Advent Messenger, April 19, 1974.

Mahon, Jack. “Smoking Dolls Hit Britian’s Headlines.” British Advent Messenger, May 22, 1970.

Minutes of the General Conference Committee for April, “Parmanent returns.” General Conference Archives 85-95, April 3, 1985.

Minutes of the General Conference Committee for June, “Calls and Transfers Between Divisions.” General Conference archives 79-161, June 28, 1979.

Mcknight, Eric. “Peckham and Stoke Newington Investiture.” and Miss V. Graham, “Another thrilling investiture at Balham.” British Advent Messenger, January 29, 1971.

Murtagh, M. D. “Wedding Bells.” British Advent Messenger, October 11, 1963.

Perry, Olson. “Mills River Church Celebrates 25th Anniversary.” Southern Tidings, November 1, 2005.

Poley, F. E. “Pretty-But no brains.” British Advent Messenger, February 27, 1970.

Quick, Ron. “Obituaries.” Southern Tidings, June 27, 2007.

Rex Riches, “Sri Lanka Union.” Southern Asia Tidings, February 1982.

“Rex Riches,” https://www.chattanoogan.com/2007/1/3/99116/Riches-Rex.aspx.

“Rose Marie Nicholson Riches,” https://www.findagrave.com/memorial/203451326/Rose Marie-riches.

Seventh-day Adventist Yearbook. Washington, D.C.: Review and Herald Publishing Association. Various years. https://www.adventistyearbook.org/.

Notes

  1. Ron Quick, “Obituaries,” Southern Tidings, June 28, 2007, 28.↩

  2. Ibid.↩

  3. Ibid.↩

  4. Biographical Information Blank of Rex Riches, General Conference of SDA Archives.↩

  5. Edwin Charles, “SAWS/ASIA obtains Riches,” Southern Asia Tidings, August 1983, 7.↩

  6. Biographical Information Blank.↩

  7. Ibid.↩

  8. D. Lowe, “Departments Reorganized,” British Advent Messenger, April 1974, 4.↩

  9. Biographical Information Blank.↩

  10. Ibid.↩

  11. M. D. Murtagh, “Wedding Bells,” British Advent Messenger, October 1963, 6.↩

  12. Biographical Information Blank.↩

  13. Murtagh, 6.↩

  14. Biographical Information Blank.↩

  15. https://www.findagrave.com/memorial/111667698/rex-riches.↩

  16. “Rose Marie Nicholson Riches,” https://www.findagrave.com/memorial/203451326/Rose Marie-Riches. Accessed September 28, 2022.↩

  17. Ibid.↩

  18. Ibid.↩

  19. Ibid.↩

  20. “Rose Marie Nicholson Riches.”↩

  21. Ibid.↩

  22. Charles, 7.↩

  23. Biographical Information Blank.↩

  24. Murtagh, 6.↩

  25. Seventh-day Adventist Yearbook, 1962, 146, https://documents.adventistarchives.org/Yearbooks/YB1962.pdf.↩

  26. “Stewardship and Development Department,” British Advent Messenger, March 1968, 14. “Appointments made at South England Conference Session,” British Advent Messenger, June 1967, 2.↩

  27. D. J. Dunnett, “Ordination and Symposium,” British Advent Messenger, April 1967, 10.

    President Notes, “South England Conference,” British Advent Messenger, May 1966, 3.↩

  28. K. H. Gammon, “Holiday-time Evangelism,” British Advent Messenger, October 1968, 8.↩

  29. Jack Mahon, “Smoking Dolls Hit Britian’s Headlines,” British Advent Messenger, May 1970, 1-2.↩

  30. R. D. Vine, “First Investiture at EDMONTON for three years Is news, affirms press secretary, M. R. Davis,” British Advent Messenger, August 1969, 4.↩

  31. Eric Mcknight, “Peckham and Stoke Newington investiture,” and Miss V. Graham, “Another thrilling investiture at Balham.” British Advent Messenger, January 29, 1971, 4, 6.↩

  32. E. H. Foster, “South England report shows Evangelism strong,” ARH, January 29, 1970, 18.↩

  33. Mahon, 1-2.↩

  34. F. E. Poley, “Pretty-But no brains,” British Advent Messenger, February 1970, 7.↩

  35. “British Temperance Society,” Messenger, October 1977, 3.↩

  36. Biographical Information Blank.↩

  37. Ibid.↩

  38. Minutes of the General Conference Committee for June, “Calls and Transfers Between Divisions.” General Conference Archives 79-161, June 28, 1979, https://documents.adventistarchives.org/Minutes/GCC/GCC1979-06.pdf.↩

  39. Biographical Information Blank.↩

  40. V. H. Cooper, “Our Visit to Southern Asia,” Southern Asia Tidings, March 1981, 3, 4.↩

  41. “Ingatheirng Campaign on everywhere,” Southern Asia Tidings, April 1981, 3, 6.↩

  42. Rex Riches, “Sri Lanka Union,” Southern Asia Tidings, February 1982, 11.↩

  43. Biographical Information Blank.↩

  44. Charles, 7.↩

  45. Biographical Information Blank.↩

  46. Ibid.↩

  47. Minutes of the General Conference Committee for April, “Parmanent returns,” General Conference Archives 85-95, April 3, 1985, https://documents.adventistarchives.org/Minutes/GCC/GCC1985-04.pdf.↩

  48. George A. Powell, “Carolina,” Southern Tidings, October 1985, 25.↩

  49. Olson Perry, “Mills River Church Celebrates 25th Anniversary,” Southern Tidings, November 1, 2005, 6.↩

  50. Biographical Information Blank.↩

  51. “Rose Marie Nicholson Riches.” Ron Quick, “Obituaries,” Southern Tidings, June 2007, 28.↩

  52. “Rex Riches,” https://www.chattanoogan.com/2007/1/3/99116/Riches-Rex.aspx. Accessed September 28, 2022.↩

  53. “Rose Marie Nicholson Riches.”↩

  54. Edward Pettit, “Destined to Triumph-Voice of Youth,” British Advent Messenger, August 14, 1970, 3.↩

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Touthang, Daniel Lunkhohao, Sylvestar Shangpliang, Remwil R. Tornalejo. "Riches, Rex (1935–2007) and Rose Marie (1940–2019)." Encyclopedia of Seventh-day Adventists. October 05, 2022. Accessed March 15, 2025. https://encyclopedia.adventist.org/article?id=EI6P.

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Touthang, Daniel Lunkhohao, Sylvestar Shangpliang, Remwil R. Tornalejo. "Riches, Rex (1935–2007) and Rose Marie (1940–2019)." Encyclopedia of Seventh-day Adventists. October 05, 2022. Date of access March 15, 2025, https://encyclopedia.adventist.org/article?id=EI6P.

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Touthang, Daniel Lunkhohao, Sylvestar Shangpliang, Remwil R. Tornalejo (2022, October 05). Riches, Rex (1935–2007) and Rose Marie (1940–2019). Encyclopedia of Seventh-day Adventists. Retrieved March 15, 2025, https://encyclopedia.adventist.org/article?id=EI6P.

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