As mentioned previously, Charles was called to serve as Presiding Elder of the Henefer Branch in 1865. The next year a fort was erected on the site of the present meeting house as a protection against the Indians.

The Deseret Evening News of March 18, 1866 reported a visit Apostle Joseph F. Smith made to Henefer when Charles was Presiding Elder. Elder Smith reported they held a meeting on a Monday evening and had an excellent time. He then wrote,

“This little branch has undergone a process of cleansing since I last visited it one year ago. Then I preached a fervent discourse on the Word of Wisdom and honesty; but my words seemed to rebound like echoes from the crumbling sand-stones which rear their heads in the surrounding hills, and before the congregation had dispersed several of my attentive (?) hearers drew forth their trusty clay-pipes, charged them with tobacco, lighted them, and behind their curling smoke steamed out of the meeting-house with an air of nonchalance that would have done credit to a nobler deed. Now strict attention was paid and every word seemed to be absorbed by the listeners, and after meeting those friendly greetings, the hearty ‘welcome’ and the kindly ‘good-bye’ so dear to friends and brethren, were freely exchanged.”

Charles faced other problems as Presiding Elder. In 1870 missionaries from The Reorganized Church of Jesus Christ of Latter Day Saints arrived in Henefer with the message that they were the true followers of Joseph Smith- calling themselves Josephites, and those who followed Brigham Young, Brighamites. They held meetings proclaiming that Brigham Young had led his followers astray by teaching and practicing plural marriage. They started a school in Henefer called The New West School. “The school offered free supplies and church literature which was attractive to many townspeople. Many families joined the Josephite church so their children attended the New West School.”

The Josephites were so successful with their message that in the spring of 1871, according to Robert R. Jones, nearly half of the population of Henefer (fifteen families) moved to Council Bluffs, Iowa, headquarters of the Reorganized Church. One of the men who left was a counselor in the branch presidency, and another man who left had served in a previous branch presidency. Brother Jones wrote in his life story that only two families returned to Henefer. One of the families realized they made a mistake and asked for re-baptism. The other family did not. The man was bitter towards the Brighamites and tried to expose the temple ceremonies. No doubt this was a very trying time for Charles as the Presiding Elder of the Henefer Branch. After the Josephite followers moved away the school was discontinued.

In 1872, while Presiding Elder, Charles acted as chairman of the building committee responsible for Henefer's first church building. On July 8, 1877, the Summit Stake was organized, and Henefer was made a ward with Charles Richins as bishop. He was ordained by Lorenzo Snow assisted by John Taylor and Franklin D. Richards, all Apostles. Prior to his being made bishop he was re-baptized on September 20, 1876 by William Cluff, Stake President, which was the practice in those days. He was chosen on a committee appointed to consider plans and make estimates for building a stake tabernacle. After the plans were accepted he was appointed to a committee responsible for guiding the work to be done on the building.

Charles presided in Henefer until 1885 when, on account of persecution for his practicing plural marriage, he was forced to be absent so much of the time that his counselors Robert Jones and John Curtis Paskett took charge of the ward. A re-organization was effected in 1890 with John C. Paskett as bishop. The writer of the Summit County Centennial History paid tribute to the work of Charles Richins when she wrote: “The career of Charles Richins as Bishop was outstanding. He was esteemed by Church members and non-members. He had the interest of the people always at heart and worked untiringly for their welfare.” Parley T. Richins, who was born in the Big House said many of the general authorities of the Church were overnight guest in their home after his father became bishop. He stated that his father felt honored and blessed to be so favored of the Lord.

Besides being active in the Church, Charles became involved in civic affairs. He helped build the first dirt roads in the area. When the Union Pacific Rail Road came through the valley he was given a contract to furnish ties for the first rails laid from Echo Canyon to Ogden. It was a big undertaking. He hired men from the area to chop down the trees, bark them and then haul them to where they had to be planed by hand. On completion of the project, Charles received for pay a $1,000 bill from the Union Pacific Rail Road.

The canyon west of Henefer where Charles got the timber for the ties was named “Bishops Canyon” after Charles. Robert A. Jones said in his life's story that he drove Edward Richins' team of oxen to haul the timber, while his father drove Edward's team of horses. They were paid $10 a day. It took them one day to get to the timber operation, another day to load the wood and a third day to deliver the ties to the lower end of Echo Canyon. This was not the end of Charles' railroading. In 1872, he obtained a contract to build the Summit County Railroad, which went from Echo to Coalville and Grass Creek. It was built to haul coal to the main line in Echo. In order to accomplish this task he purchased a track-laying outfit. Bishop Richins, as he was commonly called, provided employment for many of the men in the valley of Henefer and nearby communities.

On March 5, 1866, Charles was appointed one of seven road supervisors in Summit County. He was appointed each year thereafter for the next eight years and then again in 1878 and 1879. His responsibility was for the roads in the Henefer and Echo area. In 1867 he and James Hennefer were given the water of Hogsback Creek for irrigation purposes. At that same time he was given one- forth of the water from Franklin Canyon while Thomas Franklin was given the rest. Bond’s and Batchelor’s were granted the right to use the waste water.

Charles was also involved with the political affairs of his day. He first became a delegate from the Henefer precinct to the county political convention in 1868. He was a delegate again in 1870, 1871, 1872, and 1874. At one time he was a delegate from Summit County to the State for the “People’s Party,” which was the party in Utah favorable to the Mormon Church. Starting in 1872 Charles served as a Selectman (County Commissioner). He continued in that position for the next six years. While serving as a commissioner in 1874-1875 he was appointed superintendent for the construction of the Summit County Courthouse in Coalville. Charles took the contract to furnish the plaster of paris used to plaster the rooms of the courthouse. He had teams haul the plaster from Salt Lake City to Coalville.