From the Chair Jeremy Johnson KSM
In the earliest days of the Canterbury Settlement, Maria Somes used her land entitlement to endow scholarships for the fledgling Christ’s College. That single act of generosity 175 years ago did more than help College survive its infancy. It established one of our strongest traditions: philanthropic support of the College by its community.
For generations since, our community has answered the call to give. Donors have endowed prizes – such as the Ormsby Medal and Maling Memorial Prize – and created scholarships that continue to recognise and support our boys.
Others have given to the fabric of our heritage campus. The Memorial Dining Hall – a tribute to the remarkably high number of Old Boys and staff who died in World War I – was only made possible due to donations. Likewise, the extension to our Chapel in the 1950s – also a memorial to those who made the ultimate sacrifice in service of our country. Since the 1970s, the Tothill Science Block, the Old Boys’ Theatre, and, most recently, Upper West were made possible by the generosity of those who believed in what College could be. Perhaps the most enduring legacy of that generosity is our scholarship programme. Largely endowed by Maria Somes’ original gift, it has ensured – for generations – that any boy talented enough to attend Christ’s College can attend, regardless of his family’s financial circumstances. Philanthropy will be just as vital to our future. Across Australasia, the United Kingdom, and North America, the independent schools that thrive are those whose communities invest in them. Donations enable cutting-edge facilities to be built, innovative programmes to be developed, and more students to attend on scholarships. At College, we have the aspiration to expand our scholarship programme further through additional endowments, so that even more boys can benefit from the education we offer. We also aspire to enhance the fabric of our school. College will only continue to flourish as a small, independent, Anglican school for boys, boarding and day – with the traditions of aspiration and excellence that have defined us for 175 years – if our community continues its proud history of giving. This is College’s first Philanthropy Report since 2015, and it serves three purposes: to acknowledge the generosity of our donors and the difference their support has made to our boys; to demonstrate the tangible impact that giving to College can have; and to articulate how philanthropic support advances our mission. To those who have contributed – thank you. In these pages you will see the impact of your generosity. And to those in our community who have considered giving but not yet taken the step, I invite you to read this report and see what your support could make possible. Every gift, at every level, helps shape the future of College and the lives of our boys. Bene tradita bene servanda .
2025 Philanthropy Report
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