St. Paul’s Cathedral : Kolkata: A Gothic Legacy in the City of Joy

Churches stand tall not only as a place of worship but also as a symbol of faith, unity and heritage. The church acts as a beacon for the ones who seek solace, reflection and a sense of home due to its serene ambience, rich spirituality and distinct architecture. Over the years, it has become an inseparable part of the local cultural and religious landscape, witnessing generations, celebrations and solemnities.

In India, colonial architecture was established and began with the colonial rule of the Portuguese, Dutch, French, and the British. The colonial period began in India with the incoming of the Portuguese in the 16th century, followed by the others. The British were the last colonial rulers who had a large impact on the Indian subcontinent. Colonial architecture involves a blend of different styles being influenced by different colonial rules.

St Paul’s Cathedral is located on seven acres of magnificent property in the center of Kolkata, opposite from the well-known Victoria Memorial Monument in Kolkata, and adjacent to the designated Cathedral Road to the west. The Chowringhee Road, the city’s main spine, includes the expanded commercial area to its east, beneath which the city’s metro transit system operates. Performing Arts Centre, Academy of Fine Arts Galleries, and Auditoria are all part of the cultural center that shares the Cathedral’s southern border. Lakes and ponds may be seen in the expansive green Maidan (Ground) to the northwest of the site. This area of greenery is the city’s lungs. Its northern boundary is shared by the Calcutta Racket Club and the Birla Planetarium.

St Paul’s Cathedral was the first Episcopal Church in Asia and is still one of the most important Anglican churches in India. With its magnificent Gothic Revival architecture, tall spire, and intricately carved windows with stained glass, the cathedral captivates visitors with its grandeur and tranquility. It was not just a place of worship but also a living chronicle of Kolkata’s historical, cultural, and religious journey.

HISTORY

In the 18th century, a new style of architecture was established from the colonial rulers. The rise of European business companies in India was facilitated by the business ties that these countries formed through their separate East India Companies. After the Battle of Plassey, the English East India Company became politically significant in India. A significant impression on the nation’s creative and cultural environment was left by this domination, which also extended to architecture.

In 1810, Bengal had 300 British ladies and 4,000 British men. At Francis Rawdon-Hastings‘ request, Royal Engineers commander William Nairn Forbes, who was then the Governor-General of Bengal, created a design for the cathedral in 1819. However, it was rejected because it was thought to be too costly to construct. The area of the city was proposed by Bishop Middleton as the location for the new cathedral. Prior to the development of construction blueprints, Middleton passed away in 1822. and the cathedral’s construction effort wasn’t resurrected until 1832, when Bishop Daniel Wilson took over. Major William Nairn, along with C. K. Robinson, modelled the tower and spire.

The foundation stone was laid on October 8, 1839, to begin construction. After eight years, the cathedral was finished and dedicated on October 8, 1847. Modern building components were used in the Gothic revival style of the cathedral’s construction. At that time, the building’s construction cost was Rs. 4,35,669.

The cathedral was damaged during the 1897 earthquake and underwent renovations. The spire tower of the church fell during the devastating 1934 earthquake that followed, which left Calcutta in ruins. It was rebuilt with an updated blueprint. The central Bell Harry tower of Canterbury Cathedral served as the model for the tower’s reconstruction after the 1934 earthquake in Calcutta. After it was finished, St Paul was supplanted by it.

ARCHITECTURAL STYLE

A significant landmark in Kolkata, St Paul’s Cathedral is rich in culture, history, and religious significance. The cathedral has a striking similarity to Norwich Cathedral in England and is a superb example of Gothic Revival architecture. The cathedral’s architectural style was described as “Indo-Gothic” by the Imperial Gazetteer, which refers to Gothic architecture that was adapted to India’s climate. Three windows with stained glass and two Florentine Renaissance-style frescoes are part of the cathedral’s architecture. Sir Edward Burne-Jones had designed the West Window, which was made by Morris & Co.

The aisle is 75m long and about 25m wide. It is occupied with intricate wooden pews and chairs. The square-shaped tower on which the central spire is situated is 61 meters high. Each of the five clocks that were installed in the tower weighed around three tons. On the western side, half-sunk arches supported stained-glass windows designed by pre-Raphaelite master Sir Edward Burne-Jones.

In 1964, a severe storm destroyed the east window, which contained original stained glass. In 1968, a new one took its place. The cathedral’s roof is shaped like a shallow curve that arches over iron trusses that have Gothic tracery on them. There are no aisles on either side of the cathedral’s large nave. Particular bricks that were lightweight and had a high compression strength were utilized in the cathedral’s construction. Chunar stone was utilized to make the ashlars. Fine lime mortar in the shape of stucco was used to plaster the cathedral’s exterior and interior surfaces.

There is an exhibition of various silicone art forms and mementos within the church. On the altar’s southern flank is an episcopal seat, and on its ceremonial east end is a reredos, or ornamental wall, which dates to 1879 and features carvings depicting events from St Paul’s life. Social events are held in the parish hall located on the cathedral’s grounds. The life of St Paul is depicted in paintings on the cathedral’s eastern wall. The font, which has a sculpture of Bishop Heber kneeling, is also noteworthy.

A library, measuring 19 m by 7 m and rising 11 m, is also part of the cathedral complex. It is located above the western porch. Bishop Wilson spearheaded its construction and gave 8,000 of his works of literature. Additional volumes were donated to the library by the Calcutta Bible Society and W. Gordon and Rev. J. Nath of the University of Oxford. Bishop Wilson is also featured in a marble sculpture in the library.

The entrance to the church is from the north. It is a large gate made of wrought iron. Presently, the church has been surrounded by a beautiful garden, and in 1847, 63 trees were planted in this garden. Burials have also been built around the structure. Bishop Wilson, Sir John Paxton Norman, and Arthur William Garnett were buried here.

MOTIFS AND DESIGNS

In a few religions, symbols like the cross, chalice, candle, and rosary are revered. The building’s ground layout and structure also feature a variety of symbols or symbolic patterns. From a vertical perspective, the two projections from altars that protrude on either side of the ground plan resemble a mediaeval angelic church and represent a cross. A similar ground layout may be seen in St Paul’s Cathedral. The altar is taller, and the altar’s ceiling is designed like a dome while taking into account natural lighting patterns. The podium is square in design, while the altar is rectangular.

Crosses are shown on windows, a few doors, and several archways. Instead of the typical two rectangles that resemble a cross in a combined form, a few of them feature four triangles that converge at a cross-like shape. The Maltese cross is the name given to this cross. This specific cross is linked to courage, protection, and chivalry. When interpreted as the reverse of a four-headed star, this cross also represents heavenly protection. On the ceiling of the central dome is a Latin cross. The dome has four summits, each featuring a Latin cross, and is also square in design. There weren’t many Greek crosses either.

The cathedral’s sanctum sanctorum features a lengthy spine that forms a cross and spans a beam. These kinds of different geometric shapes were evident; the upper part had an arc glass structure, but the majority were circular windows and dome holes coated in tinted glass divided into square segments.

CURRENT STATUS

The Trustees of St Paul’s Cathedral weighed the significance of preserving this national monument in 1990 in order to ensure its continued existence for many years to come. Over the years, observations have been made in the church; plastering and paintings are damaged, and cracks and damp are seen on walls. The garden surrounding the cathedral has appeared to be disjointed and ill-planned.

Additionally, a comprehensive and thorough assessment was conducted to determine the building’s level with respect to the nearby highways. The subsequent buildings, which included two porticos on the north and south sides, mild steel trusses, and an asbestos sheet roof over the original roof, seemed to have been constructed later, but no documentation was found to substantiate them.

The impacted bricks were restored, all of these rain pipes were taken out, and concrete was poured into the spaces left by the pipes’ removal. We used tiny concrete dumbbell sutures to fix the slight fractures. Using stronger concrete rings, the buttresses were sewn to the western wall. Additionally, a mock mortared brick wall was built inside, next to the western porch wall. The Cathedral’s exterior surface was plastered in two layers. The prior layer was covered with a smooth layer of thickness combined with a weatherproofing product based on polymers. This was carried out to prolong the life of the outer walls and stop water from leaking through them.

CONCLUSION

The St. Paul’s Cathedral has been serving the public and providing the general public with great advantages for the past 150 years. The price of renovating and restoring this National Monument is far outweighed by the social advantages that the people would experience from its presence, which are incalculable. For many years to come, St. Paul’s Cathedral will serve the local population and will continue to draw tourists as a magnificent historical monument and an urban icon.

REFERENCES

• https://www.hdm.lth.se/fileadmin/hdm/alumni/papers/cmhb2005/cmhb2005-33.pdf
• https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/St._Paul%27s_Cathedral,_Kolkata#Features
• https://www.studyiq.com/articles/colonial- architecture/#:~:text=Colonial%20architecture%20in%20India%2C%20shaped,a%20rich%20blend%20of%20styles.&text=Colonial%20architecture%20in%20India%20refers,Portuguese%2C%20Dutch%2C%20and%20French.