St. John’s Church, Kolkata designed by James Agg 1784-87 of the Bengal Engineers (with a blend of English and Greek architecture) dominated by huge tall columns, impressive portico and eye-catching paintings and rare blue-gray marble (removed from the Medieval structures in Gaur and transported through Hooghly river), is one of an earliest churches built during the EIC's rule. The altar is a small one with a dome above. The foundation stone was laid by Warren Hastings, the Governor General of India on 6 April 1784 on the land donated by Maharajah Nabo Kishen Bahadur. One of the first public building in Kolkata, the total cost Rs. 30000 was raised through public subscription. Modeled after St.Martin’s in the fields, London, the land was previously a grave yard hence the church is believed to be deeply impregnated with the history of the British in India. "The foundations were laid among the moldering remains of scores upon scores of those who had died during the ninety years of the English occupation."
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St John's church Kolkata indianvagabond.com
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Above image: St John's church, Kolkata, West Bengal. Sketch by Samuel Bourne 1865 (Courtesy British Library)
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| St John's church Kolkata indianvagabond.com |
Located close to the Raj Bhavan, Governor's residence it was built in 1787 and is the third oldest church in Calcutta (Kolkata), the others being the Armenian and the Old Mission Churches. In 1811 verandah was added to the church building. This Anglican Cathedral of Calcutta (Kolkata) functioned till 1847 when it was transferred to St. Paul’s Cathedral. ''St John's was not built as a cathedral, and ceded that function to the purpose-built St Paul's.''
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| Altar. St John's church Kolkata indianvagabond.com |
Bishop Heber, second bishop of Calcutta ministered from here at St John's. He died in Tiruchirappalli, Tamil Nadu at the age of 42 in a freak accident on April 3, 1826. Following his death, the then governor-general ordered a 42-gun salute and flags were flown at half-mast in Madras and Calcutta; he was buried in Tiruchi and has many memorials there. Heber was not happy with the overall architecture of the exterior part,of St. John's, particularly the spire which was 174 foot tall. . But was pleased with fine interior... ''there are large and handsome glass chandeliers ... with a light pulpit, with chairs on one side of the chancel for the Governor-General and his family, and on the other for the Bishop and Archdeacon." (qtd. in Firminger 133). A man of erudition Bishop Heber was a famous hymn writer and was critical of EIC' operations in India. .
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| St John's church Kolkata indianvagabond.com |
Above image: St John's church - Kolkata The Seating on left Reserved For the Members Of The Chaplain And Pews of Church Wardens. The right Section is For The Choir.............................
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| St John's church Kolkata indianvagabond.com |
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| St John's church Kolkata indianvagabond.com |
The church was built using a combination of brick and stone (materials used: Chunar, stone and bricks
St) John was referred to in Kolkata as
"the stone church." Adorned with eye-catching
paintings of the Last Supper, with Indian features, large windows with colored glasses and a simple altar in a circular dome despite the time factor, it has stood the vagaries of climatic changes. The sunlight coming through the colored glass windows brighten up the interior. The original chair of Warren Hastings, the mantle clock and perhaps the most prized possession hangs on the wall - a portrait of Warren Hastings which bears his original signature. are worthy of mention. Yet another important artifacts include the construction diagrams of the church, Church Court of Arms, etc. These features plus several historical toms of bs of English men in the the graveyard of the church attract tourists, particularly from the UK. The Charnock (1630-1692) Mausoleum (his discovery of Calcutta is debatable) erected in 1695 and others get our attention. Here one could see oldest pieces of British masonry in the city.
(Photo credit: indianvagabond.com)
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