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St. Paul's Church, Bengaluru

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Coordinates: 12°58′18″N 77°35′40″E / 12.9715987°N 77.5945627°E / 12.9715987; 77.5945627
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St. Paul's Church
Mission Church of St. Paul
Map
12°58′18″N 77°35′40″E / 12.9715987°N 77.5945627°E / 12.9715987; 77.5945627
LocationBangalore
CountryIndia
DenominationChurch of South India
TraditionAnglican
Websitewww.stpaulschurchspg.yolasite.com
History
Consecrated1840
Architecture
StyleEnglish Baroque
GroundbreakingAugust 1839
CompletedMarch 1840
Construction costBINR 1250
Administration
DioceseKarnataka Central Diocese

St. Paul's Church is located in the corner of Old Poor House Road, and Bowring Hospital Road, next to the Bowring and Lady Curzon Hospital, Bangalore Cantonment, India. St. Paul's has the distinction of being the very first Tamil Anglican Church in the erstwhile Mysore State. St. Paul's celebrated its 175th anniversary in May 2014.[1] Like most old churches of Bangalore, the congregation of St. Pauls is spread all across Bangalore.[2]

History

Rev. George Trevor (1809-1859), Chaplin, East India Company, re-established the Church of England Bangalore Tamil Mission, which was originally found by Rev. William Thomas in the early 19th century. Rev. Trevor, supervised a schoolmaster and a Catechist of the Tamil mission. The native Tamil congregation worshipped at the St. Mark's Church, with the Tamil services being conducted by the Catechist. The christening and the baptisms of the Tamil converts were also recorded in the registers of St. Mark's. Rev. Trevor, took an active part in missionary work, in spite of his heavy civil and military duties as Chaplin of the East India Company in Bangalore, with him personally baptising many new native converts. However, the Government of Madras, raised objections of the use of the registers of St. Mark's (which was a then a Company church), as it gave the impression that the Government was involved in converting the natives. Rev. Trevor then contacted Sir. Mark Cubbon, the then Chief Commissioner of Mysore, and was able to obtain a site in the Bangalore Civil and Military Station for a church and school for the native Tamil congregation, and raised funds to build the same.[3][4]

There existed a St. Paul’s Tamil Medium Primary School at the present site of the Church, since 1835, till it was closed down in 1900. The Native Tamil Anglicans (mainly converted "sepoys" or soldiers of the Madras Army), wanted a Tamil Anglican church for worship in their native language. The clergy of the St. Mark's Church helped in establishing the St. Paul's Church, the first Tamil Anglican church in Mysore State.[1][5] Rev. George Trevor, Chaplin, East India Company, raised a local subscription towards building the church, while the Church of England also contributed £50 towards its construction.[6][7] The church was built in the compound of the St. Paul’s Tamil Medium Primary School. The 180-year-old school building has now been renovated and serves as the community parish hall.[1]

According to Rev. A Westcott, as recorded in his book 'Our Oldest Indian Mission: A Brief History of the Vepery (Madras) Mission',[8] Rev. G Trevor, the Company Chaplain helped raise funds for building the Tamil Church. Bishop Spencer laid the foundation in August 1839. The church was completed at a cost of BINR 1250 and consecrated in March 1840 as 'The Mission Church of St. Paul.' The act of consecration specifically states that the Church is dedicated for Divine Services in the Tamil languages only. At this time there were around 132 Christian families attached to the Bangalore Mission.

Missionaries, the elders and the congregation of St. Mark's Church identified a suitable place for building a separate church for the Tamil Anglican community, in 1838. Works commenced in the same year, under the guidance of Rev. George Trevor. The church was consecrated on 31 March 1840 by the Lord Bishop of Madras, the Rev. George Trevor Spencer, with Rev. S. J. Joshua (SPG) as its first parish priest.[9][10]

Both St. Mark's Church and St. Paul's Church were supported by the Society for the Propagation of the Gospel in Foreign Parts (SPG).[9][11]

Renovations

A record of an alteration to St. Paul's has been recorded in 1865. Mr. Pettigrew, Station Chaplain of the East India Company stationed at the Bangalore Civil and Military Station extended, altered and improved the St. Paul's Tamil SPG Church. Before that it is recorded as being ugly and small.[12]

Other that the above, the church building has been altered and extended at least four times (as recorded), in 1901, 1936, 1947 and recently in 2007.[1]

1901 - Eastern side

Below the baptismal altar in the church, there is a stone, dated 7 March 1901, AD, which marks the extension of the Eastern side of the church, acknowledging the benevolence of Mr. Joseph David, this being the first recorded extension of the church.

1936 - Western side

In 1936, the western side of the church was extended, with the foundation being laid by Rev. Canon H. H. Flynn on 13 April 1936, and the completed church re-dedicated by the Rt. Rev. E. H. M. Waller, DD, Lord Bishop of Madras, on 11 October 1936. This now houses the vestry and choir room. The tablets for this second recorded extension are on the side of the church facing the setting sun.

1947 - Southern side

In 1947, Rt. Rev. Pakenaham laid the foundation for the extension on the Southern side, for housing the holy sanctuary and chancel. A brass tablet located beside the arch of the sanctuary acknowledges this event. Funds were raised by the Mother's Union. The consecration of the altar sanctuary was performed by Rt. Rev. P Gurushantha, Bishop, Mysore Diocese. A circular cross embedded silver plate acknowledges this event, this being the third extension of the church.[13]

175th anniversary

The church celebrated its 175 years of existence in May 2014. The celebrations were led by Rt. Rev. Y William, retired bishop of the CSI Vellore Diocese. An eternal lamp was lit, using the flame brought from the St. Mark's Cathedral, the mother church of St. Paul's.[1]

On 19 April 2015, a special commemorative Post Cover was released by India Post (Special Cover approval no. KTK/38/2015) to mark 175 years of St. Paul's Church.[14][15] The Postal cover was released by Rt. Rev. Dr. Prasanna Kumar Samuel, Rev. D John Milton and S Shivaram, Senior Superintendent of Post Offices on the occasion of the celebration of Septaquintaquinque centennial celebrations service at the church.[16]

Community services

The church is located right next to the Bowring and Lady Curzon Hospital. The church was established 20 years before the hospital was built. Being, next to the hospital, the church offers solace to people of all religions and communities who drop in to offer prayers for their loved ones who are admitted to the hospital.[1]

Dateline

  • 1835 Location for building the St. Paul's Church identified by the Missionary, the Elders and the Congregation of St. Mark’s Church (SPG)
  • 1838 Rev. George Trevor, Chaplin, East India Company, helps establish St. Paul's Church, the first Anglican Tamil Church in the Mysore State
  • 1840 March 31 St. Paul's Church consecrated by The Lord Bishop of Madras the Rev. George Trevor Spencer, with Rev. S J Joshua (SPG) as the first parish priest[1][6]
  • 1901 First extension on the eastern side
  • 1936 Second extension on the western side
  • 1940 Centenary celebrations, under the presbytership of Rev. R Ezekiel, and Hon. Secretary G S Samuel
  • 1947 Third extension on the southern side
  • 1965 125 years celebrations under the presbytership of Rev. Paramamandam
  • 1989 March 31 150 years celebrations, under the presbytership of Rev. Solomon Gnanaraj and Rev. Saduri[10]
  • 2014 175 years celebrations, led by Rt. Rev. Y William, retired bishop of the CSI Vellore Diocese.[1]
  • 2015 April 19, special commemorative cover released by India Post to mark 175 years of St. Paul's

List of presbyters (till 2011)

  • Rev. S J Joshua (1840-
  • Rev. D Savarimuthu (1852 - 1858)
  • Rev. S A Godfrey (1858 – 1861)
  • Rev. I Eleazer (1861 - 1870)
  • Rev. G Lazarus (1870 – 1882)
  • Rev. I Ignatius (1882 – 1886)
  • Rev. Thomas Duraisingh (1886 - 1888)
  • Rev. Cornelius (1888 - 1894)
  • Rev. M D Israel (1894 - 1896)
  • Rev. S Paranjothi (1896 – 1925)
  • Rev. M Yesudian (1925 - 1926)
  • Rev. James Barnabas (1926 - 1929)
  • Rev. Koilpillai (1929 – 1933)
  • Rev. Gnanaiyah Yesudian Tucker Tucker (1933 – 1937)
  • Rev. Daniel Jacob (Deacon)
  • Rev. R Ezekiel (1937 - 1945)
  • Rev. A S Lokapathy (1945 - 1957)
  • Rev. E S Paramanandam (1957 - 1968)
  • Rev. M P Henry (Deacon)
  • Rev. G J R Athistham (1968 – 1971)
  • Rev. Y David (1971 – 1972)
  • Rev. M K Arnold (1972 – 1975)
  • Rev. G J R Athistham (1976 – 1983)
  • Rev. James Williams (1983)
  • Rev. D M Bhaskaran (1983 - 1987)
  • Rev. J Saduri (1987 – 1990)
  • Rev. D Victor Thomas (1990 - 1995)
  • Rev. Moses Jayakumar (1995 - 1997)
  • Rev. J Saduri (1997 - 2001)
  • Rev. J A Victor Joshua (2001 – 2003)
  • Rev. A Jeganathan (2003 – 2008)
  • Rev. D Victor Thomas (2008 – 2011)
  • Rev. D John Milton (2011 – [17]

References

  1. ^ a b c d e f g h "St. Paul's church to celebrate 175 years". No. Bangalore. The Hindu. 1 May 2014. Retrieved 4 February 2015.
  2. ^ Gierth, Roland (1977). Christian life and work at the pastorate level and practical theology in South India: an inquiry based on 16 field studies of selected Church of South India pastorates in Bangalore and the Kolar Gold Fields (Karnataka Central Diocese) and a survey of Indian publications on the field of practical theology. Christian Literature Society. p. 56. Retrieved 10 August 2015.
  3. ^ "Details of GEORGE TREVOR". Spuddy Bike. Retrieved 10 August 2015.
  4. ^ Penny, Frank (1904). The Church in Madras : being the History of the Ecclesiastical and Missionary Action of the East India Company in the Presidency of Madras From 1805 to 1835: Volume I (PDF). London: John Murray. p. 71. Retrieved 10 August 2015.
  5. ^ Penny, Frank (1912). The Church in Madras : being the History of the Ecclesiastical and Missionary Action of the East India Company in the Presidency of Madras From 1805 to 1835: Volume II (PDF). London: John Murray. p. 71. Retrieved 9 February 2015.
  6. ^ a b Burns, J, ed. (1840). "Colonial Church". The Church of England Magazine. 9. London: Church Pastoral-aid Society, London: 7. Retrieved 30 January 2015.
  7. ^ Rev. Dr. Russell (June 1840). "Society for Promoting Christian Knowledge". The Ecclesiastical Gazette - Monthly register of the affairs of the Church of England. 1. London: Charles Cox: 246. Retrieved 9 February 2015.
  8. ^ Westcott, A (1897). Our Oldest Indian Mission: A Brief History of the Vepery (Madras) Mission. Madras: Madras Diocesan Committee of the Society for Promoting Christian Knowledge. Retrieved 26 October 2015.
  9. ^ a b O'Connor, Daniel (12 January 2012). Chaplains of the East India Company, 1601-1858. London: Continuum International Publishing Group. p. 143. ISBN 1441175342. Retrieved 4 February 2015.
  10. ^ a b "About St. Paul's Church." St. Paul's Church. 2013. Retrieved 4 February 2015.
  11. ^ Caine, William Sproston (1890). Picturesque India: A Handbook for European Travellers. London: London and G. Routledge & Sons, Limited. p. 522. ISBN 9781274043993. Retrieved 9 February 2015.
  12. ^ Stephenson, John (20 March 1865). "Extracts From Letters: 247 From Rev. John Stephenson". Occasional Papers from St. Augustine College (87): 3. Retrieved 23 October 2015.
  13. ^ "Down the Memory of St. Paul's Church". St. Paul's Church. Retrieved 4 February 2015.
  14. ^ Mehra, Sunil. "175th anniversary of St. Paul's Church, Bangalore - 19 April 2015". Rainbow Stamp Club. Jeevan Jyothi. Retrieved 10 August 2015.
  15. ^ Mehra, Sushil. "Special Cover on 175th Anniversary of St. Paul's Church, Bangalore - 19th April 2015". Indian Philatelists' Digest. Indian Philatelists' Forum. Retrieved 10 August 2015.
  16. ^ "Daily News Events 19th April 2015". Pics 4 News. Retrieved 31 August 2015.
  17. ^ "Presbyters and Deacons who has served St. Paul's Church since 1840 A.D". St. Paul's Church. 2011. Retrieved 4 February 2015.
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