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The Question
Public Question Asked by User109021 about Calcutta
St Johns church calcutta
Does the church still exist. I have just found out that my great uncle married there in 1911, he married an Asian lady who I believe was the child of a British worker and a local resident. Who can I contact at the church if it still exists or where would the records be
Answers (3)
The Best Answer
Answered by Ankur Roy Chowdhury , Calcutta, India
The Church does exist. It was the main Anglican church of old Calcutta but lost it eminence when the St. Paul's Cathedral was consecrated in 1853 or so. Yet, as Calcutta's oldest Anglican Church, the church is still important and quite handsome.
The graveyard contains the tombs of important colonists... most significantly, that of Job Charnock himself - the founder of Calcutta (in 1689-90). He was a servant of the British East India company and landed on the bank of the Hoogly River, here (that's what the mighty Ganga is called in Bengal), and entered a hamlet called Sutanati - which became the heart of old Calcutta when the city developed around this sleepy village soon after Charnock's landing. It is still there and the centre of (what was) the 'Black Town.
St John's is just sputh of this area, in what can be called 'White Town' and is today in the business district of Dalhousie of BBD Bagh (which is the Indian name).
The Church contains an impressive organ (perhaps the largest in India), and an original Zoffany painting. It also houses the famous round table on which the Charter of Calcutta was signed (When Robert Clive took Calcutta back from the Bengali nawab after the famous Battle of Plassey in 1757).
You should go and see the place. Maintainence is not up to the mark (as is the case with most historic buildings in India), and recently, the Church of North India were quite busy there with some convocation of some sort... and I'd seen a guard at the gate (for the first time) and some important looking cars in the front yard. But it is still open to public, I am sure.
The driveway is long and impressive... overgrown with weeds. And when I last visited the grounds at the back (when an English friend had come visiting) the churchyard was overgrown too with a mass of creepers. But we could still make out important falgstones, mausolea, sarcophagi etc.
You may not find the caretakers to be of much help, but try and get to the Rector/Head (whose house is within the grounds) who may be more worth your time. As anywhere in India, being British would help - especially if you're white!
Say hello to the ghosts there for me, while inside. Some of my favourite Calcuttans lie there (I hope) in restful peace.
Answered by Suez Akram , Delhi, India
Calcutta St. John's Church is located on the Council House Street beside B.B.D. Bagh. The flooring of the church is done with stones obtained from different places. Owing to this fact, it is also sometimes referred to as the stone church. Its architecture represents Greek designing. There is a lot to explore in the St. John church of Kolkata, India. For example, the church contains the sculpture of Job Charnock, which is highly artistic. Then, there is a fabulous dome with a pitcher attached to it. You can also find the tombs of Charnock's daughters. Other attractions of Saint Johns church include the mind-blowing sculptures of British Admiral Watson, Lord Brabourne, Lady Canning and other eminent personalities.
Once there, you can contact the people at the church who would be able to help you out. All the best in your search
Answered by Anurag Kumar Goel , Vadodara, India
Calcutta's St. John's Church is located on the Council House Street beside B.B.D. Bagh. The flooring of the church is done with stones obtained from different places. Owing to this fact, it is also sometimes referred to as the stone church. Its architecture represents Greek designing. There is a lot to explore in the St. John church of Kolkata, India.
eg. the church contains the sculpture of Job Charnock, which is highly artistic. Then, there is a fabulous dome with a pitcher attached to it. You can also find the tombs of Charnock's daughters. Other attractions of Saint Johns church include the mind-blowing sculptures of British Admiral Watson, Lord Brabourne, Lady Canning and other eminent personalities.
St. John's Church,
Kiran Shankar Roy Road,
B B D Bagh, Kolkata,
West Bengal
