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Suggest pagesSt. Paul's Cathedral, Kolkata
| St. Paul's Cathedral | |
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| Location | Kolkata, West Bengal |
|---|---|
| Country | India |
| Denomination | Church of North India (Anglican) |
| History | |
| Dedication | St. Paul |
| Architecture | |
| Status | Cathedral |
| Architect(s) | Major William Nairn Forbes, C.K. Robinson |
| Style | Gothic Revival |
| Groundbreaking | 1839 |
| Completed | 1847 |
| Administration | |
| Diocese | Calcutta |
| Clergy | |
| Bishop(s) | Rt. Rev. Ashoke Biswas |
| Priest(s) | Reverend Andrew Simick |
St. Paul's Cathedral is an Anglican cathedral of the Church of North India - a united church which is part of the Anglican Communion - in Kolkata, West Bengal, India. It is the seat of the Diocese of Calcutta, and the incumbent bishop is the Rt. Revd. Ashoke Biswas.[1]
The building itself stands on the "island of attractions" in Kolkata - beside the Victoria Memorial, Nandan, Rabindra Sadan theatre complex, and the Birla Planetarium.
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[edit] Construction
The building was initiated by Bishop Daniel Wilson in 1839 and was completed in 1847,[2] in Gothic Revival style with stained glass windows and two frescoes in Florentine Renaissance style. A military engineer, Major William Nairn Forbes, designed the cathedral with the assistance of C.K. Robinson, modelling the tower and spire upon the Norwich Cathedral. The tower was rebuilt along the lines of Bell Harry Tower in Canterbury Cathedral following the 1934 Calcutta earthquake. The Bishop's House across the street is also architecturally notable. St. Paul’s was consecrated in 1874.
[edit] Architecture
The cathedral conforms to the Neo-Gothic or the Gothic Revival style of architecture that was greatly patronized by the British during the days of the colonial era. The main cathedral hall is large, with beautifully carved wooden pews and chairs along with the stained glass window to the west, the intricate coloured artwork covering the eastern walls, the two marvellous Florentine frescoes. The church is 247 ft. in length and 81 ft. in width and the tower is 201 ft. high. The Cathedral is set within huge grounds with several ancient trees. There is a small meditation spot on the grounds, set up recently in collaboration with distinguished citizens of Tagore's Shantiniketan. The interior of the church is a feast for the eyes, with excellent floral designs on the walls. Beautiful architecture and exquisite mural painting captivates the beholder. The life and work of St. Paul is vividly described in pictures. Bishop Wilson lies in his eternal slumber in a coffin inside an underground chamber. The commission plate conferred on him by Queen Victoria is still exhibited here. The ambience of the church is very soothing and tranquil.[3]
[edit] Picture gallery
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St.Paul's Cathedral
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St.Paul's Cathedral in 1865
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St.Paul's Cathedral
_-_1865.jpg)
[edit] Burials
- Arthur William Garnett, the English engineer who died in India in 1861.[4]
- T. F. Middleton, first Bishop of Calcutta (1814–1822)
[edit] References
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Wikimedia Commons has media related to: St. Paul's Cathedral, Kolkata |
- ^ http://www.ilovekolkata.in/index.php/City-Tour/St.-Pauls-Cathedral.html St. Paul's Cathedral
- ^ St Pauls Cathedral, indnav.com, accessed June 2009
- ^ http://kolkata.clickindia.com/travel/stpaulscathedral.html
- ^
Garnett, Frederick Brooksbank (1890). "Garnett, Arthur William". In Leslie Stephen and Sidney Lee. Dictionary of National Biography. 21. London: Smith, Elder & Co.
Coordinates: 22°32′39″N 88°20′48″E / 22.54417°N 88.34667°E
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