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Philip Christian

Epithet: Architect and philanthropist (1855-1941)

Record type: Biographies

Biography: From ‘New Manx Worthies’ (2006):

The Christians inherited the Finch Hill estate which Patrick Vinch had created when purchasing part of the Ballakermeen quarterland in 1601. The family name evolved to Finch and in 1801 the estate passed to Elizabeth Buck (nee Finch) and eventually through the family to the Christians.

Philip was born at Douglas on 4th February 1855, the son of William Christian and his wife Jane. His father died in 1858 and the estate was held in trust for his elder brother, William Finch Christian. Unfortunately William caught typhoid at Cambridge University and died three months before his 21st birthday in January 1871. In August 1870 Philip had been sent to King William's College to finish his education and he left at midsummer 1872, aged seventeen. He then became articled to the architect Christopher Obee Ellison Friba of Dale Street, Liverpool, who designed Loch Promenade in Douglas.

He was still a pupil with Ellison when he came of age in 1876 and inherited what had become some of the prime building land in Douglas. Returning to the Island he drew up plans for the layout of the land into building plots and produced elevational drawings to which the speculative builders had to work. He did not actually practise as an architect but tended instead to become involved in charitable work. He did however design a large house for himself, Finch Hill House [currently, 2006, St Bridget's Hospice] to replace its ancient forebear which stood adjoining Bucks Road.

In 1883 Philip Christian became a member of the Voluntary Poor Relief Committee (later known as the Board of Guardians) and served for 58 years. He was involved in the running of the hospital and dispensary in Fort Street and then became one of the original committee members of the Noble's Hospital opened at the top of Crellin's Hill (now the Manx Museum). He was on the committee of the House of Industry (later the Ellan Vannin Home) and the Industrial Home for Orphan and Destitute Children (later the Children's Home) and he would often pay for the children to be taken on the train as a treat to Glen Wyllin or some other resort for a day. He was a founder of the Society for the Prevention of Cruelty to Animals, president of the Isle of Man Band of Hope Union and the Manx Temperance Union, and treasurer of Douglas Art School

He was particularly keen to see an improved lifestyle for the youth of Douglas and built the Gymnasium in Raphael Road opposite his own house. He also laid out the Finch Hill bowling green and paid for the pavilion to be built to his own design. He made available the site for an art school which also provided vocational night classes for the young men of Douglas. This was alongside his gymnasium and now forms the Douglas Youth Centre as the covenants he placed on the building restrict its use to those purposes. He provided the FA Cup for annual football competition as well as prizes for other sporting pursuits. He was a devout worshipper at Finch Hill Congregational Church but assisted others whenever he could, including providing a site for the Rosemount Methodist Church (now Trinity Methodist Church).

In 1894 he married his cousin Agnes Cubbon of The Priory Douglas who was fourteen years his junior. In 1904 he was made a Justice of the Peace and subsequently became a director of the Isle of Man Bank. His wife died in November 1904 and his son William Finch Christian in December of the same year. His eldest daughter Winifred had died in 1899 aged a little over two years old and so he left the house that he had designed for himself and bought one on Quarterbridge Road, in which he lived with his only remaining child Dorothy until his death on 15th January 1941. He continued his philanthropic lifestyle to the end.

Biography written by Peter Kelly.

(With thanks to Culture Vannin as publishers of the book: Kelly, Dollin (general editor), ‘New Manx Worthies’, Manx Heritage Foundation/Culture Vannin, 2006, pp.78-9.)

Culture Vannin

#NMW

Gender: Male

Date of birth: 4 February 1855

Date of death: 15 January 1941

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