St. Mungo’s Church of Scotland, Lucknow Cantonment, Lucknow

I could only get this single picture of the beautiful St. Mungo’s Church of Scotland, Lucknow Cantonment as I was not allowed to take a picture from a point within the campus. It is located within Army’s regional recruitment centre. I visited the centre this July 2012 during my Lucknow visit. I requested a ‘Jawan’ (who approached me to check the purpose of my visit) to allow me a quick round of the church building – To my surprise he kept insisting that it was not a Church. I only realised the reason later that in 1976 the Church had been deconsecrated, handed over to Army and was no more a “place of workship”.

I was asked to wait while he went in to seek some permission and I had to wait for 20 minutes in the Lucknow sun. Later I was told that I could only read the board outside the Church Building from a far of point. I was not allowed to take any pictures as well. But whatever I could see from a far off point the condition of the Church was very poor. Doors had been reduced to frames and ceiling was falling down from many places. It’s a surprise as I’ve seen other old building now handed over to Army being maintained very well.

Next time I'll try and take proper permissions from the local Army headquarters and then try. It is a beautiful church (even after all these years of neglect) and it saddens my heart to see that a monument of Lucknowi and Scottish heritage is in a danger to being lost for ever.

St. Mungo's Church of Scotland was consecrated on Sunday 31st November 1909 by the Rev. G. T. Chree (Presidency Senior Chaplain of Bengal) and ever since Indian independence it has been in dispute off and on between the Church and Local Army establishment.  I hope to get a closer view next time.

View from the main road

Sorry about the poor quality of the picture, it was taken using my mobile phone camera. I wish we could do something to restore the building into its pristine condition.

All Saints Cathedral (Church of North India, Diocese of Lucknow), Allahabad

When returning to Lucknow this morning (17/07/2012) on my way, I made it a point to visit The All Saints Cathedral (Church of North India, Diocese of Lucknow). It was designed by the English architect William Emerson who styled it in 13th Century Gothic architectural style. 

Unfortunately the Church was closed so I could not view the interiors. The guard was very hesitant to let me in the compound alone, so he accompanied me while I took a round of this magnificent building and took some pictures. It is indeed one of the most beautiful church (externally at least) that I have seen till date.

Here are some pictures of the Church and the surrounding lawns.

 View of the Church from one of the entrance gates - 1

  View of the Church from one of the entrance gates - 2

 The Church Bell hangs separately in the Church Lawn - Not sure if there is another one in the building

Behind the Bell across the road is the Bishop's house

 The Bell and a pond full of Lotus flowers on its side

 One of the Side Entrances

 The Front Main Door

 Church Building - 1

 Church Building - 2

 Church Building - 3

 Church Lawns - currently over grown due to rains 1 (Notice the Flood/Focus lights)

 Church Lawns - currently over grown due to rains 2

 Grave of Rt. Rev. George Herbert Westcott. The second Bishop of the Anglican Diocese of Lucknow, he succeeded Rev. Dr. A Clifford in 1910 and died while still in office in 1928.
Inscription:
In very loving memory of George Herbert Westcott,
S.P.G. Missionary Cawnpur 1889-1910
Bishop of Lucknow November 6th. 1910
to January 16th. 1928.

 Church Building - 4

 Church Building - 5

 Church Lawns - currently over grown due to rains 4

 Church Building - 6

Board at the entrance gate - with the name of the current Presbyter Reverend G Daud

Allahabad Bible Seminary Chapel, Stanley Road, Allahabad (Denomination: Evangelical Church of India)

I visited Allahabad Bible Seminary (Allahabad) on my return journey to Lucknow today morning (17th July, 2012). Allahabad Bible Seminary is a well-known institution and was established in July 1942. There is a beautiful Chapel on the campus and the Seminary also houses the Registered Office of the Evangelical Church of India. Here are some pictures of the Chapel and the Seminary Campus. The Website of the seminary is http://www.abseminary.org/.

The Main Gate to the Seminary Campus

The Campus also houses the office of The Evangelical Church of India

The security guard at the gate was very hesitant to let me in without permission. So we sought for the permission from the Associate Priest of the Allahabad Bible Seminary Chapel Reverend Noel to let me go around the campus and take few pictures. Reverend Noel and the ABS library behind him.

 Memorial Library in the ABS campus – 1

 

Memorial Library in the ABS campus – 2

 Side view of the Chapel – 1

 Main Entrance to the Chapel

Tablet at the entrance of the Chapel

 Chapel from Inside – 1

 Chapel from Inside – 2

 Side view of the Chapel – 2

Side view of the Chapel – 3

Side view of the Chapel – 4

View from behind the Chapel

Campus buildings – 1

 

Campus buildings – 2

 Campus buildings – 3 

 Campus buildings – 4

Please pray for the Allahabad Bible Seminary and its various ministries.

20th August 2018

Here some latest pictures of the ABS Chapel, which I've picked from Rev. Pervez Sethna's FB page (and have his kind permission to use them).

 

Chapel and the ABS grounds in monsoon - 1

 

Chapel and the ABS grounds in monsoon - 2

 

Chapel and the ABS grounds in monsoon - 3

 

Chapel and the ABS grounds in monsoon - 4

 Chapel from inside with its congregation - 1

  Chapel from inside with its congregation - 2

All Saints Garrison Church (Church of North India) Lucknow - Revisited

Visited the good old Church in Lucknow cantonment again today (9th July 2012). Met Reverend Daniel Subhan at the parsonage. Mrs. Subhan is visiting her Son in USA. It was fabulous meeting him again after few months and got to catch up on the recent activities in the CNI Diocese of Lucknow.

Here are some more pictures of the Church and the Parsonage.

View of the MG Road Crossing Entrance Gate

The Board with Church information at the Main Entrance gate to the Church (on MG Road Crossing), it is hardly used now except on bigger occasions

View of the Church Compound from the MG Road Crossing Entrance Gate

View of Church from the Main Entrance Gate 

View 2 of Church from the Main Entrance Gate

Church Compound leading to the Main Gate (pictures of the gate above) at top right

Church Compound leading to the Second Gate

Cottages in the Church Compound

View of the Church from the Cottages

On this Site Stood the altar of the first Church built in 1860(by side of the new building)

The original Stone which lay here before it broke few years back - its kept in one of the cottages now

Mr. Melando Hansda the current caretaker of the Church standing at the site of the original altar.A part time caretaker I must add - 

He is also a field missionary of a Missionary Society.

Parsonage - 1

Parsonage - 2

Parsonage - 3

Parsonage - 4

Parsonage - 5