Dear family of Charlie! I attended Bible School in 2001/2002. Charlie was one of the many teachers, to whom I really enjoyed listening. He was so aware of the presence of God and his living teachings without limits often captured me. I remember the lessons about the Character of God which opened my mind for a new perspective and horizon. I felt bible school on Thetis was so good conducted. The time was such a blessing for my life. The knowledge of God increased. I know it is hard to lose a loved one. Maybe to be challenged to carry new responsabilities. I think the Lord wants us to set our trust on him wholeheartedly. He is the same yesterday, today and tomorrow AS he was for Charlie. I hope you can do a good grief work. With love,
Brigitte from Austria

Charlie was the dad at Thetis for many.  
He was a faithful teacher, leader and mentor that always had the time to talk to you. .  I had the privilege of going to Israel twice with him and he always brought a sense of comfort to me when I was in his presence.  I enjoyed his humour and stories and the way he taught the love of Christ.  He had such an attention to detail and put others before himself.  Until we meet again.   My condolences.

I feel deeply privileged to have known Charlie Fordham, a truly great man of God. One of my most cherished memories of him dates back to his visit to India 10 years ago. During that time, he shared powerful insights on the life of Jephthah, teaching us the importance of being faithful to the Lord no matter the circumstances. His message challenged me personally to deepen my own commitment to God.
Equally inspiring was his wife Merlin, who beautifully reminded us through scripture that “The Joy of the Lord is my strength.” Together, they were a remarkable couple, living out the Word with authenticity and love. Their example of faith, joy, and service left a lasting impression on everyone they met.
It was such a blessing to meet Charlie again last month during our visit to Canada. Even then, he encouraged us to serve the Lord with joy and reminded us that a life dedicated to God is a life full of purpose. He took the time to meet my wife and our one-year-old child, and that moment will always remain special to us.
His visit to India, his teachings, and his personal encouragement have blessed countless lives, including mine. It is hard to digest that he is no longer with us, yet I find comfort knowing he is now in the presence of the Lord. We miss you dearly, brother. Your faith, joy, and example continue to inspire us, and I look forward to the day we meet again on the other shore.

I was in Charlie and Marlene’s home group I. 2009/2010, and I’ll never forget the impact he and Marlene had on me. That year, challenging me in my faith, encouraging me in evangelism, and the grace he showed me when I fell in the cave at Thetis…I will never forget any of it. Charlie’s faithfulness to our Lord Jesus is inspiring to me even now 15+ years later, and probably will be until the day I go to see our Lord Jesus. Praying you all have a wonderful day at the service tomorrow! - Parker

I remember my dad flew out to my Capernwray Graduation in the spring of 2010. He had just started looking in Jehovah’s Witness stuff, and Charlie ripped over to Chemainus in the boat to pick up my dad, I got to come with Charlie, and was a fly on the wall the whole boat ride back to Thetis… watching Charlie evangelize to my earthly father.  It’s something I’ll never forget, and I believe planted a seed in my dad. I told my dad that Charlie passed away, and even though my dad only met him one time…he said “Oh I remember that conversation with him on the boat well” clearly God used Charlie and I pray that the Lord makes that seed grow. - Parker

I cannot measure the impact he has had on my life.  Charlie loved people.  A few months ago I chatted with him and he talked about when we first met over 40 years ago.  He still knew the names of mutual friends and the events that brought us together.  He was all about people.  His love for the Lord, and the way he channeled that into concern and respect for everyone is a standard I always measure my life by.  His life was not ‘spent’ but invested in others and those blessed to know him continue to be blessed.

Margaret and I extend our heartfelt condolences to Chris and Susie, and Jessica as well as Seth, Elijah and Zoe  on the loss of Charlie and Marlene. We will always hold their memory in our hearts as a true witness of the life of the living. Christ. Our many visits to Capernwray over the past thirty years have always reinforced the beauty of the Christ centered  life which was Charlie’s passion. My first memory of meeting Charlie was at men’s retreat in 1996. He was serving us during dinner and upon coming to our table he said to me you need a nice big piece of prime rib and slapped it on my plate with gusto. Servanthood and generous hospitality left its mark on me right then and there and we continued to witness it in countless ways throughout the years. Both of them have a great reward in store for their faithfulness to the commission of Jesus Christ our Lord. Let us embrace their example as we carry forth the life saving gospel. 
John and Margaret Liira

My heart ached when Charlie became blind a few years back and so I prayed that God would give him back his sight allowing him to continue studying, teaching and preaching. 
I wasn't sure exactly what to pray most of the time so I continued to ask God for Charlie's healing and for teaching opportunities. 
In the summer of 2024 a asked Charlie at a holiday Bible week if he was able to teach much and he said not as much because he requires  some kind of assistance for almost everything he would do because he could not see. 
I still felt there was something I needed to pray for, for Charlie, and then it struck me 
I needed to ask God to allow Charlie " to have the eyes of his enlightened" even more. So I began to pray that God would give Charlie, not new, but"fresh" insights and understanding into the scriptures as he and other staff members have reminded us over the years.
This year when I came to Holiday Bible Weeks one and two I was able to take Charlie on a few walks as I did in 2024 and sit with him on the Thursday evening of the second week and just visit. 
I think it was at that visit the Charlie mentioned he was listening to the Word on recordings .I cannot remember who was there with me or his exact words but he said God had been so good to him by letting him see many things afresh and that it had brought him to tears at times.
I never got to follow up on that but I was so amazingly blessed that God gave that to Charlie. 
In the same way Charlie, Marlene and all of the staff, over the years, have blessed us tremendously.  I will miss him dearly and will continue to pray for Chris, Suzy, the boys, Jessica and her family and all the Capernwray staff .

Steve Dirks

It was with great sadness I learned of the passing of Charlie Fordham.  Having known him since his founding of Capernwray, Thetis Island in 1979 I was blessed to have been able to support Charlie and his team as their insurance broker and watch as the facility and its teachings grew to what it is today.  There are few people I've ever known who gave as much energy, commitment and Christian guidance to a cause that has changed the lives of thousands of young people over five decades.  Charlie is now at peace with the love from his earthly life,  his wife Marlene who, with Christ, no doubt welcomed him home to share a heavenly eternity together. You will be missed Charlie.  My prayers are for the continued, Christ supported success of Capernwray HBC.
Sincerely,
Bruce Drew

God was always ready at Charlie’s side, and now Charlie is ready for God.

In Loving Memory of Our Dear Friend and Brother, Charlie Fordham

Ruth and I are deeply shocked and saddened to hear of the passing of Charlie, our beloved friend and brother in Christ. Our heartfelt and prayerful condolences go out to the entire Fordham family in this time of loss.

We first met Charlie in January 1980 in India at a mini Bible conference, where he was one of the speakers. From the very first moment he opened the Word, his passion for proclaiming the life of Christ as the only hope of the Christian life left an indelible mark on our hearts. Charlie’s passion never wavered through the decades we knew him.

During our years at Capernwray Harbor in 1981 and 1982, and throughout more than 30 years of our discipleship ministry at Green Valley Bible School in India, Charlie’s friendship, encouragement, and partnership were a source of great encouragement to us. Even after the Lord relocated us to the USA for our pastoral ministry at Grace Christian Assembly in Philadelphia, his influence remained a blessing in our lives.

Charlie was far more than a friend. He was one of our lifelong spiritual mentors. We thank the Lord for the privilege of walking alongside him in the faith. Our memories of him, and of our times with both Charlie and Marlene most recently in December 2024 and again with Charlie on June 30, 2025, are etched permanently in our hearts.

While we will miss him dearly, we rejoice in the certain hope we have in Christ, that all who know Jesus as Lord and Savior will be reunited forever when Christ returns for His own. Until then, we give all glory to God for the gift of Charlie’s life and ministry.

“Precious in the sight of the Lord is the death of His saints.” – Psalm 116:15

OBITUARY

Charles Howard Fordham

11 September, 1945 – 9 August, 2025

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