[taken from Chapter 9 Manx Worthies, A.W.Moore, 1901]

PHILIP CHRISTIAN (d. 1652)

would probably have been forgotten but for his benefaction to his native town of Peel, since, except the fact that he was "a clothworker and citizen of London," absolutely nothing is known of him. By his will he, after the death of his " loveing wife Rebecca," "have and devised two houses in Lovell's Inn, Pater Noster Rowe, in the Parish of St. Faith, to the master, wardens and cominalty of the art or mystery of clothworkers of the citey of London . . . and to their heirs and successors for ever; to this intent and purpose that they and their successors shall pay out of the rents and proffits thereof yearly arising, or to them accruing unto two poore youthes or boyes every year for ever, the somme of tenn pounds appiece, the said youthes or boyes to be natives of the Isle of Mann; and if they be of my kindred or my name, my will is that they shall be preferred before any other . . . and if it shall happen that there be not a free school maintained for the teaching of children in the towne of Peel then my will is that the twenty pounds a yeare by me formerly given for the putting out of two boyes to be apprences shall cease, and the said somme to be paid by the said Company of Clothworkers towards the maintenance of the said schools, of which somme my will is that the schoole master for the time being shall have eighteen rounds a yeare for his paines, and the other forty shillings to be paid and employed in buying and providing bookes, pen, inke, and paper, for poore schollers there."⁺ There being no free school in Peel, a school was, about the year 1689, founded through the exertions of Bishop Levine who recovered " one hundred pounds for arrears of the said benefaction," and obtained ' a Decree of Chancerie for the settlement of the annuall sallary of twenty pounds.": This school, known as Christian's School, is still in existence. In 1840, the Clothworkers announced that, if an improved school were provided, they would add to the annuity, the value of the premises in London having greatly increased. The present school house and teacher's house were erected by the Clothworkers in 1876, and the same beneficent corporation has lately made large additions to the buildings. We may mention that, in addition to this benefaction, PHILIP CHRISTIAN also gaffe five pounds to bee disposed of by twenty shillings a year for five years . . . for buying of small books, pen, ink, and paper, or what shall be thought most fit by the minister and schoolemaster of the town of Peele . . . for the use of the poorest men's sons and daughters of the said towne of Peel, inhabiting there, and not otherwise."

+ Isle of Man Charities, pp. 63-4.
* MS. Letter in Episcopal Records