St. Peter's Church (Church of North India), Charbagh, Lucknow

I have another blog on on themes around Colonial Lucknow, where I have recently posted about the St. Peter's Church at Charbagh in Lucknow.

It belongs to the Church of North India. Please have a look.

http://coloniallucknow.blogspot.in/2016/04/st-peters-railwaymens-church-charbagh.html

Holy Redeemer Church (Roman Catholic), Lucknow.

The Holy Redeemer Church (Roman Catholic) in Lucknow was consecrated in 1934. You can view the post on my other blog on themes around colonial Lucknow: http://coloniallucknow.blogspot.in.

Use this link to directly reach the post: http://coloniallucknow.blogspot.in/2015/04/holy-redeemer-church-roman-catholic.html.

Churches at Purandar Fort, Pune

While searching for information on churches in Pune area, Google produced a picture of a derelict church in Purandar Fort. Its unusual location caught my interest. Purandar Fort (sometimes called Purandhar and even Poorundhar) is an old Maharatta fort standing 4472 feet above the sea and is located 50 kms southeast of Pune ahead of village Saswad. In 1818 the British under General Pritzler took over the fort. Used mainly as a sanatorium for British soldiers, during World War II it became a German internment camp. Hermann M Selzer in ‘World War II in British India’ states ‘Purandhar was established as family camp for Jews and other anti-Nazis…Interment and Parole Camp’.

Purandar is a popular trekking destination for the locals who refer to the structure as the ‘abandoned’ or the ‘old’ church. On further research I found that there are not 1 but 2 places of Christian worship in this fort ‘situated on a mountain top...  far away from any major town… completely isolated’.

Note: None of the below pictures are mine. For each of the pictures I have mentioned the source. If the respective owners want me to remove any of these, please leave a note on my blog and I shall comply.

1st place of worship on Purandar Fort: The church

(Pic Source: fort-trekking.blogspot.com)

2nd place of worship on Purandar Fort: The Chapel

(Pic Source: panoramio.com)

The Fitzclarence Memorial Church

(Pic Source: team-bhp.com)

'And the little church in memory of Lord Frederick Fitzclarence (died A.D. 1856), son of King William IV, is likewise a very provincial product.’ Source: German Missions in British India – Nationalism: Case and Crisis in Missions.

Another source names it as Holy Trinity Church. 'The beautiful little garrison church of Holy Trinity was consecrated in 1865, it is an English architecture style constructed building... It is associated with the memory of Lord Frederick Fitzclarence, a cousin of queen Victoria, who was commandant of the Bombay army and died in Purandhar in 1854'.

View of the beautiful valley from the church roof

(Pic Source: www.tripoto.com)

Church as it appears from the valley beneath

(Pic Source: www.tripoto.com)

The church is located just beyond one of the main fort gates

(Pic Source: marathachronicles.blogspot.in)

'On Sunday mornings there was the possibility that at least three Protestant denominational services might be held at Purandhar Camp.  The internees had the occasion to worship with those persons of their belief and national sentiments.  Anglican, Lutheran and Presbyterian worship services - weekly, monthly or irregularly, depending upon the availability of the chaplain, the minister or the missionary-were held at the "small pretty church there" the Fitzclarence Memorial Church, just east of the main entrance gate of the camp' Source: German Missions in British India – Nationalism: Case and Crisis in Missions.

The main entrance door to the church - the picture appears to be taken before the white wash of the walls from inside

(Picture by Roopesh Kohad on flickr.com)

Side view of the Church with the buttresses and further ahead a conical roof perhaps that of the vestry

(Pic Source: team-bhp.com)

Map of India just outside the church

(Pic Source: team-bhp.com)

The chancel end of the Church - which once adorned the stained glass windows - picture taken during monsoons

(Pic Source: www.summitpost.org)

‘And with Purandhar’s magnificent flora - probably the most varied in India within this limited space, it is not difficult to imagine the beautiful setting of the Fitzclarence Memorial Church and its altar graced by the sunlight streaming through the elegant stained-glass windows. These Christian baptisms were inspirational moments...’ Source: German Missions in British India – Nationalism: Case and Crisis in Missions

The Belfry

(Pic Source: panoramio.com)

A 1945 picture complete with the bell, doors and windows

Decorated perhaps by the Army at Christmas

(Pic Source: team-bhp.com)

Decorated perhaps by the Army at Christmas - Inside the church

(Pic Source: team-bhp.com)

Inside the Church before the white wash (names scribbled all over the walls) - raised platform on the left perhaps for the pulpit

(Picture by Dinesh Valke on flickr.com)

Closer to the altar - door on right perhaps to the vestry

(Picture by raymasky on flickr.com)

'I remember how we also decorated the church altar for the baptisms, for the many which took place.  It was especially pretty.  Each one thought how attractively they could adorn the church' Source: German Missions in British India – Nationalism: Case and Crisis in Missions

The Nave before the white wash - the beautiful wooden beams supporting the roof have been very poorly white washed

(Pic Source: picasa)

The windows at the Chancel end of the church

(Pic Source: team-bhp.com)

2nd place of worship: The chapel

View of the chapel with arched windows and the potico on the right

(Picture by raymasky on flickr.com)

'The Roman Catholic fathers held their masses in the smaller chapel situated between Purandhar East and West' Source: German Missions in British India – Nationalism: Case and Crisis in Missions

Closer view of the chapel

(Pic Source: fortsandtreks.blogspot.com)

With buttresses and arched widows - chancel on the left

(Pic Source: tripoto.com)

Front of the Chapel with the portico - visitors enjoying the weather

(Pic source: tripoto.com)

The portico

(Picture by raymasky on flickr.com)

The Belfry

(Picture by Abhijit Rao on tripr.in)

Sun shine through the Belfry

(Pic Source: cyclists.in)

The chancel end of the Chapel - with perhaps the vestry on left

(Picture by Dinesh Valke on flickr.com)

A closer view of the roof

(Picture by Dinesh Valke on flickr.com)

The chapel appears to me like a scaled down version of the design used for St. Mary's Church in Belgaum, Karnataka - picture below. Notice the similarities in the belfry, the portico and the roof.

(Pic Source: industrialtour.com)

The Nave and the chancel

(Picture by Amit Rawat on flickr.com)

Please leave your comments on how you found the post. Also if you have any other information or pictures that I can add to the post.

St. Paul's Church (Roman Catholic), Lucknow Cantonment, Lucknow

You can view the post on my other blog on themes around colonial Lucknow: http://coloniallucknow.blogspot.in. 

Use this link to view the post: http://coloniallucknow.blogspot.in/2013/12/st-pauls-church-roman-catholic-lucknow.html.

Christ Church, Mahabaleshwar

Christ Church, Mahabaleshwar

I recently visited Mahabaleshwar for a short 2 days trip. I had seen few pictures of this dilapidated Church on the internet (its marked as 'Protestant Church' on the Google Maps). During my visit monsoon was at its peak and the whole city was covered in thick clouds (being at a good height) and mist all the time. Which made even the day time visibility very poor. The pictures of the Church and its compound would give you an idea of how Mahabaleshwar looks like in monsoons.

History

Sadly not much is available on the internet about this Church. The Church is no more in use (as is the case with many British Churches in India). I don't know the exact reason for disuse of the Church. Whether it is because of no worshipers left to Worship or land disputes and scandals which are ever so common now in Indian Church. The Church was built in 1842 and consecrated by the first Bishop Dr. Carr in the same year. It was enlarged and extended in 1867. Its stained glass work is worth. It is early English style design.

My Visit

During my visit I took my taxi straight inside the compound. On my way out we saw an old gentleman closing the gates. Our first reaction was that of relief that we were just in time otherwise we would have been locked inside for don't know how long. But the old fellow kept on locking the gate in spite of seeing us - which alarmed me. I got out of my taxi and requested him to open the gate to which he questioned on whose permission had I entered the compound. He said that the Church has been closed for few years now and no one was allowed without permission. I apologized for the mistake and requested him to let us go as we were just tourists to his city. After which he did let us go but after a warning. I am not surprised when such compounds at premium locations are left to squatters. This is how they stop even genuine tourists. Off course i couldn't get a peak inside.

This pictures is not taken by me - its found on www.greatmirror.com. It would give you an idea of how the church looks like on a clear bright day.

The Church compound wall - sorry for the poor quality, the picture was taken from a moving taxi window.

The gate to the church compound - you have go up a muddy inclined road to reach the Church.

View of the Front

View of the Front - 1. Notice the green moss all around.

View of the Front and the right corridor. Notice the plastic sheet covering the main door. I am not sure if it is replacing the main door (more likely) or covering the main door from moisture.

The Corridor on the right.

The Left Corridor.

Beautiful arches of the front porch.

View of the Church compound from the front porch.

A blue plastic sheet pinned to the door frame - now replaces the main door I believe.

Left corridor - with a missing window covered in blue plastic.

Perhaps the Vestry and/or the sacristy.

The Dilapidated vestry and/or the Sacristy.

The Chancel from outside and the stained glass windows (as per some websites).

A cottage beside the Church perhaps that of the caretaker or the squatters.

The compound extends at the back of the Church leading perhaps to the Parsonage. Quite an eerie picture - but that is how the whole of Mahabaleshwar looks like for most part of the Monsoons.

 View of the Church compound - go straight for the compound main gate.

Another view of the Church compound.

View of the front porch from the left side.

Gate to another Anglican Church (now Church of North India) in the nearby town of Panchgani. Didn't go in as could not risk being locked inside the compound again. :)