Kolkata city is the city where British Empire first came into existence in the country and thus there is no surprise to have various Christian religious places in the city as it was governed by British for more than two centuries. Let me take you one such place that is the first public buildings built by East India Company in the city of Kolkata. It is a religious building known as St. John’s Church. More than two centuries old this spectacular church was built in the late eighteenth century in the year 1787 by the architect James Agg. The construction was started in the year 1784 with the lottery money of Rs. 30000 raised from public. Popularly called by the name of The Stone Church it is situated at the BBD Bagh, one of the most famous areas of Kolkata. It was not only the first public building built by British in Kolkata but also it is the first Anglican Church of India. There is no surprise in the fact that being an Anglican Church it has to maintain all the code of conduct as stated by the Church of England.The creators and designers tried to resemble this spectacular church structure to that of London’s St. Martin –in- the –fields church because St. Martin’s church is considered the most beautiful church in entire world. The structure of the church is actually a huge square and gives a hint of neo classical style of architecture. The excellent architecture of the church having a combination of steeple (tower) and porch with tall columns have given new definition to the colonial style of church architecture in the course of time. In the interiors the Grecian Architectural effect is clearly noticed. The structure of the church is quite massive and worth exploring. Inside the church you will find an altar along with some rare portraits of late Archbishops of Canterbury. The altar is simple but the floor is in dark blue coloured stone brought in from Gaur. From the books in the church you come to know that how British robbed the ruins of Gaur to get the stone to build the church of St. John’s. There are colourful stained glass windows at the right side while there is a semi circular dome behind the altar. The coloured glass windows let the sunlight in the church in colours. The popular German painter Johann Zoffani’s outstanding painting of “The Last Supper” is the main attraction in the church. It is the replica of the painting of great artist Leonardo da Vinci.There are several memorials of British army officers and civil servants on the walls of the church in the form of tablets, statues and plaques. Some of these are memorial of James Achilles Kirkpatrick also known as White Mughal, memorial of James Pattle, etc.The present St. John’s Church was built at a place which was used to be a graveyard and that is why there are various tombs and memorials are there. Some of them are dating back to the construction of the church while some are added after the Church was built. Some important memorials and tombs in the premises are as under:
- Job Charnock’s Mausoleum
- Admiral Watson’s tomb
- Julius Imhoff’s tomb
- Black Hole of Kolkata monument
- Second Rohilla War Memorial
- Charlotte Canning, Countess Canning Memorial
- Francis (Begum) Johnson’s Grave
Currently the compound of church is used as a parking lot by the employees of close by offices. At the time of Christmas this church is beautifully decorated and sees good number of devotees and visitors from not only the city but faraway places.RUCHI MAHAJAN займ на карту без отказов круглосуточновзять кредит онлайн