Douglas Horsfall

Howard Douglas Horsfall (1856 – February 1936) was a stockbroker and benefactor based in Liverpool, England. He is remembered for building churches in Liverpool, and as a founding benefactor of St Chad's College, Durham.

Early life and education

He was the second son of Robert Horsfall, and nephew of Thomas Horsfall, MP for Liverpool.

The Horsfall family had a tradition of building churches: Douglas' grandfather, Charles, was a founder of St George's Church, Everton, and Charles' sons built Christ Church, Everton in his memory. Douglas' father Robert had firm Anglo-Catholic convictions, and funded the building of the Church of St Margaret of Antioch, Liverpool, in 1868.

He studied at Eton College (with William Johnson Cory as his tutor) in 1870–71, before entering his father's stockbroking firm. in 1975 it received the highest Grade I listing for historical significance.

In 1900 he funded the building of St Faith's Church in Great Crosby.

Horsfall was also a member of the original committee for the building of Liverpool Cathedral; though he did not make any donation to its building.

St Chad's College

In 1904, he became the major benefactor involved in the founding of St Chad's Hall at Durham University, to train Anglo-Catholic priests to serve in the Church of England.

Personal life

In 1887 he married Mabel, daughter of Egerton Parks Smith, and had two sons and two daughters.

His elder son, Captain Robert Elcum Horsfall (1890–1917), studied at Eton College, then worked with Professor John Garstang on archaeological investigations in Egypt and Mesopotamia (including at the discovery of the Meroë Head), before enrolling at King's College, Cambridge. In 1914, he enlisted in the King's Regiment (Liverpool) and was appointed Captain of the 12 Battalion in 1916. He was killed in action in Cambrai on 20 November 1917, aged 27. Oxford University holds a collection of 450 negatives taken by him in Egypt.

Douglas' younger son, Major Ewart Horsfall M.C (1892–1974), was an Olympic and university rower who competed in the 1912 and 1920 Olympic Games before going on to manage the British Olympic rowing team.