St. Paul's Church, Bangalore

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.

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. 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. 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.

According to Rev. A Westcott, as recorded in his book 'Our Oldest Indian Mission: A Brief History of the Vepery (Madras) Mission', 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.

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).

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.

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.

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.

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.

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. 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.

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.

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