 The RIBA, a prestigious national body of architects, had been formed in 1834 for the advancement of the profession and its members.Christian was elected Vice-President of the Institute in 1880 and reached the height of his career when he served as President of the RIBA from 1884 to 1886 and was awarded the Institute's Royal Gold Medal in 1887.During his long career Christian was a very busy and productive architect producing over 2,000 works, much of it for the Church of England.