Location Kolkata Functional status Active Years built 25 July 1864 Year built 25 July 1864 Groundbreaking 7 June 1862 | Country India Architectural type English Gothic Phone 033 2284 7483 Architectural style Gothic architecture | |
 | ||
Address 167, Acharya Jagadish Chandra Bose Rd, Madhusudhan Market, Mullick Bazar, Entally, Kolkata, West Bengal 700014 Similar Church of the Lord Jesus - Ko, Osmond Memorial Church, St John's Church - Kolkata, Metcalfe Hall, Metropolitan Building | ||
St. James' Church in Kolkata (Calcutta), India, is one of Kolkata's most elegant churches. Built in 1862. the twin spires of the St. James' Church dominates Kolkata's skyline. It is popularly known as Jora Girja (Bengali:জোড়া গির্জা), literally meaning twin church for its twin spires.
Contents
History
The present church was built to replace an older one of the same name which was situated in Nebutolla Lane, near Amherst Street. This earlier church, built very much after the style and plan of St. Thomas’ Church, Free School Street, was consecrated by Bishop Reginald Heber on 12 November 1829. It appears to have fallen into a state of disrepair, due chiefly to white ants having eaten into the beams, and was declared unsafe for divine worship. An attempt was made to repair the building, but while the work was in progress, the roof fell in during the early hours of the morning of 23 August 1858, leaving the church in ruins. It was decided to abandon any further attempts to repair the Church as it was found to be very much out of the way, and in many ways inconvenient for those attending it. The church authorities, therefore, resolved to build a new church in a more convenient locality and, in conjunction with it, a school for the children of the neighbourhood. Prominent vicars of this church in the past include the late Fr Basil Manuel and Fr John Perumbalath, currently Archdeacon of Barking in the Church of England.
Architecture
The project for building the new church and school had the full support and backing of Archdeacon Pratt, a keen educationist, who, with his influence, was able to acquire the garden house of Mr. Coates together with its spacious grounds for the purpose. At the same time, a smaller house on the grounds was also acquired for the residence of the Chaplain. This property was situated opposite the Female European Orphan Asylum, across the road, which had been founded during July 1815 by Mrs. Thompson, the wife of the Rev. T Thompson.
The foundation stone of the new Church was laid on 7 June 1862, by the Honorable John Peter Grant, acting Lieutenant-Governor of Bengal, at the south-east corner of the foundations. A marble tablet placed on the eastern wall of the south transept reads –
Address
167, Acharya Jagadish Chandra Bose Road, Kolkata (formerly Calcutta) - 700 0014. West Bengal. India.