St. Thomas Cathedral Mumbai, an impressive early colonial structure and its famous memorials — 02
This early Cathedral is the final resting place of innumerable British, mostly employed by the East India Company in India and later the Raj; there are many impressive memorials within its premises.
St. Thomas Cathedral, Mumbai, belonging to the Diocese of Mumbai of the Church of North India (CNI) is named in honor of Saint Thomas, the Apostle, who landed in Cranganore Port( the present day Kodungallur), Kerala south India in AD 52 to spread Christianity among the natives. TA distinctive fact is the seven and half churches he had built belonged to the different congregations of Christianity. Standing as a testimony to the growth and history of British power in Bombay and the surrounding places in the early colonial rule this cathedral is located in the historic place of Mumbai’s Horniman Circle (formerly Elphinstone Circle), and is close to Flora Fountain and Bombay House. The cathedral stood incomplete due to the unexpected demise of East India Company’s Governor Aungier in 1676 AD who mooted the idea of building the Cathedral of St.Thomas. Thanks to Chaplain Richard Cobbe who took the steps and completed the construction work of the church between 1715 and 1718; it was opened on the Christmas day in 1718 (foundation laid in 1676).
In the early days, it served only the Europeans, but only in 1817 It became a cathedral . Surprisingly, this cathedral was within the fortified British settlement, quite secure within the four sturdy walls besides possessing a special strong roof to absorb the impact of canons fired by the enemies. It was called Church gate and the whole area towards the West of the Church is known as “ Churchgate” even today. The Church was in 1860 on a place to provide Bombay Green, under the management of the Cathedral and John Connon School which came into being in choristers to the church. Near the entrance porch, there is a highly embellished stone fountain, which was made by an eminent architect named Sir Gilbert Scott, who also designed the Mumbai University buildings. The Church with rich stained glass windows and well- decorated altar can accommodate 1200 worshipers at a time. It is a heritage site and recipient of UNESCO Asia-Pacific Heritage Conservation Award (2004).
Memorials:
A unique and significant aspect of this Cathedral is its memorial, containing many carved stone memorials from the eras of East India Company rule in India and the British Raj (under the British Crown). In order to help the descendants of those who were buried at this cathedral over 200 images of the memorials at St Thomas Cathedral, Mumbai have been uploaded to the FIBIS (Families in British India society) website along with the transcribed inscriptions. Credit goes to one Nigel Penny who photographed and transcribed the memorials. Contact: https://search.fibis.org/frontis/bin/aps_browse_sources.php?mode=browse_dataset&id=2327&s_id=1178
The following important figures are worthy of mention:
Rear-Admiral Sir Frederick Lewis Maitland KCB (7 September 1777–30 November 1839) born at Rankeilour, Fife was an officer in the Royal Navy during the French Revolutionary and Napoleonic Wars.
the Wellesley at sea, Maitland died on 30 November 1839 off the coast of Bombay (aged 62). He was buried at Bombay and a monument was built by subscription to his memory at. Thomas cathedral. His wife, Lady Maitland, died in 1865 at Lindores,
As for his Indian assignment, he worked with the EIC army during its raid from Bombay towards Afghanistan in February 1839, and over saw the landing of troops and supplies. When he came to know of disturbances at Bushehr, with the help of Marines he evacuated the resident and his staff, leaving the rioters unpunished. For this act, the Anglo-Indian press came down heavily on him for having failed to punish the trouble makers.
While on board…https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Frederick_Lewis_Maitland
Above image: Memorial to Captain George Nicholas Hardinge. John Bacon the Younger (1777–1859). Location: St Thomas Cathedral, Bombay (Mumbai). [Click on images for large
Captain George Nicholas Hardinge (11 April 1781–8 March 1808) was a distinguished officer of the Royal Navy. As a naval officer, he served well during the most important events in world history — the French Revolutionary and Napoleonic Wars. By dint of hard work and his uncanny ability to adopt himself to various war-like situations, besides his personal aura and bravery, he won the admiration of his important senior officers and naval commanders. Obviously their admiration and recognition of his ability helped him rise through the ranks. He successfully commanded HMS Terror, HMS Scorpion, HMS and St Fiorenz. However, he had his own ups and downs in his naval career and recognition and promotion came to him a bit late. His skill to take right decision and strategy helped him a lot when in 1804 he led a daring cutting-out operation against two Dutch ships. In the East Indies he had to manage with an elderly frigate he had first served on as a midshipman much earlier in his career. Once he commanded a ship and fought against a superior French opponent. The battle lasted for three grueling days and at last the British emerged victorious and the French captain surrendered. As luck ran out of him, Hardinge did not live to see the moment of victory, because he was killed by grapeshot shortly before. On 8 March 1808 aboard HMS St Fiorenzo, off Ceylon (Sri Lanka).
He was buried with full military honors and monuments to his memory were built in St. Thomas Cathedral, Bombay and St Paul’s Cathedral, London.
…..https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/George_Nicholas_Hardinge
Above image: Thomas Carr M.A., D.D. (1788–5 September 1859) was the first Bishop of Bombay and served between 1837 and 1851. His details are sketchy.
Son of Thomas Carr and Catherine Wilkinson, he had his education at St John’s College, Cambridge. Initially, Carr was Chaplain in the service of the East India Company in 1817 and was appointed to the archdeaconry of Bombay in 1833. Consecrated Bishop of Bombay at Lambeth Palace Chapel on 19 November 1837. Installed in Bombay 25 February 1838. In St Thomas Cathedral,Mumbai there is a nice monument to Carr — a recumbent effigy of Thomas Carr designed by British sculptor Matthew Noblei.
…. https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Thomas_Carr_(bishop)
Above images: Jonathan Duncan (15 May 1756–11 August 1811) was Governor of Bombay from 27 December 1795 until his death in 1811. Beginning his career in 1772, in 1788 he was appointed superintendent and resident at Benares (Varanasi in UP) by Lord Cornwallis, where he helped stamp out the practice of infanticide. In 1795, he became governor of Bombay. Fond of Sanskrit, in 1791 Duncan started the Sanskrit College at Benares for the study of Hindu law and Philosophy. (In 1958 the Sanskrit College became a university and in 1974 the name was changed to Sampurnanand Sanskrit University…. https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Jonathan_Duncan_(Governor_of_Bombay)
In order to help the descendants of those who were buried at this cathedral over 200 images of the memorials at St Thomas Cathedral, Mumbai have been uploaded to the FIBIS (Families in British India society) website along with the transcribed inscriptions. Credit goes to one Nigel Penny who photographed and transcribed the memorials. Contact: https://search.fibis.org/frontis/bin/aps_browse_sources.php?mode=browse_dataset&id=2327&s_id=1178
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/St._Thomas_Cathedral,_Mumba i
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/History_of_Mumbai
Originally published at http://navrangindia.blogspot.com (modified June 17 2020).
