Jesus, jam and a Christian businessman

This year marks the 150th anniversary of a brand established by William Hartley that is still thriving today.

Despite the worldwide fame of his jam, Hartley himself is not a familiar figure to the public. Few know that he was a devout Christian whose stated purpose in life was to ‘serve the Lord every day to the best of my ability’. His business practice reflected his faith, earning him a reputation for integrity, quality and outstanding care for his customers and employees. Nothing gave him greater joy than to share his immense wealth with others.

The young Christian

William Hartley was born in 1846 in Colne, Lancashire. His father, John, was a tinsmith, his mother, Margaret, ran a grocery in the town. He was the only one of their children to survive infancy.