Church in Mumbai (3) :
1. Mount Mary Church –
Situated on a quiet hillock in suburban Bandra, Mount Mary is probably Mumbai’s best-known church for Christians and non-christians alike. As the name suggests, it is dedicated to the Mother of Christ and in September, the festival of the Virgin Mother culminates in a week long fair, popularly known as Bandra Fair, that has all the excitement of a small carnival. Stalls sell sticky Goan sweets and wax idols of the Virgin along with an assortment of candles shaped like hands, feet and various other parts of the body. The sick and suffering choose one that corresponds to their ailment and light it in Church, with the pious hope that Mother Mary will consider their appeals for help.
2. Afghan Memorial Church –
Afghan Church is situated at the southern end of the Colaba Island. The Directors of East India Company converted this part of the island into a military cantonment area with army barracks during early nineteenth century.
It was built to commemorate those who died during the first Afghan War. Few years later, the land for the building of the church was provided by the government on a condition that its steeple could be seen as a landmark at sea to guide ships navigating the Bombay Harbour. The designs were prepared by Henry Coney Beare, the City Engineer, and construction began in 1847. The church was consecrated in 1858 and the elegant steeple completed in 1865. Mr. Henry Coney Beare was the same person who laid down the great scheme for the construction of the Vihar Lake and distribution of water supply by iron pipes to nearly all parts of Bombay City.
The moment you look at the church, it gives you an impression of awesome beauty with a majestic style of Gothic architecture. The church consists of the nave and aisles, fluted columns with Doric style capitals, a tower and a spire.
3. Cathedral Church Of St. Thomas –
History
Small and simple St. Thomas’ Cathedral, is one of the oldest English buildings in Mumbai. Mumbai city’s first Anglican Church, it is situated in the heart of the commercial fort area, in Mumbai. The foundation stone was laid by Gerald Aungier( then governor) in 1672.
After his death, the work on project was stopped and the building lay abandoned for forty year until new life was infused into the project in the second decade of the eighteenth century by enthusistic Richard Cobbe, a chaplain to the East India Company. The construction was completed and the chuch was opened to the public on the Chris Ãtmas Day in 1718.
Architecture
The building is a nice blend of Classical & Gothic style of architure. Church’s tall steeple is the cynosure of many eyes. Though the bulding has undergone subsequent changes but most of these are additions with no or less subtractions. In this way the original form of the building has been preserved.
Interior
The whitewashed and polished brass-and-wood interior is the main forte of the Church. It has some exquisite art adoration. A marble plaque at the front entrance reads: “Let all who enter this church remember Richard Cobbe, chaplain to the Honorable East India Company 1715 to 1719, this church had risen to 15 feet when the building ceased and the site lay desolate for 33 years. It was consecrated in 1816 and became a cathedral in 1837.