Charles Richard Alford (13 August 1816 – 13 June 1898) was an Anglican bishop and author in the last third of the 19th century. Alford was born into an ecclesiastical family in Somerset, England on 13 August 1816. His father was the rector of West Quantoxhead. He was educated at St Paul's School, London and Trinity College, Cambridge. He was ordained deacon in 1839 and priest a year later at Lincoln Cathedral. He served curacies at Holy Trinity, Finningley and St Matthew's Rugby. Alford married Sarah Jacosha Fleet at St Margaret Pattens in the City of London, on 20 July 1840.