Background
Theophilus P. Chandler was born in 1845 in Boston, United States.
Theophilus P. Chandler was born in 1845 in Boston, United States.
Theophilus was educated at Harvard University. He studied architecture in this country and in Paris at the Atelier Vaudremer.
Upon his return to Boston opened an office in the city. Later, in 1870, Mr. Chandler moved to Philadelphia and practiced professionally there until late in life when he retired to his home at Ithan, (Delaware County).
During his active years, Mr. Chandler planned some commercial buildings and a number of residences but was better known in the field of church design. His most important ecclesiastical buildings in Philadelphia were the Swedenborgian Church at Chestnut and 22nd Streets and the Bethlehem Presbyterian Church on Broad Street. Elsewhere the First Presbyterian Church at Pittsburgh and St. Thomas' Church in Washington, were built from his plans. Among his various other works were the John
Wanamaker residence in Philadelphia at 20th and Walnut Streets, and the Liverpool, London and Globe Insurance Building in that city. Theophilus helped organize the School of Architecture at the University of Pennsylvania, United States and served as its first Director.