Church of England to get its glory back

The church is in a poor state as it is decaying for the past many years and has witnessed no regular worshiping inside its premise for over a decade.

(Photo Courtesy: flickr.com)

Varanasi:  Efforts of restoration by a local community and the Indian National Trust for Art and Cultural Heritage (INTACH) might help the St. Mary’s Church in Varanasi get its lost glory back.

The church, popularly known as Church of England, is one of the oldest standing garrison church in India.

The church is in a poor state as it is decaying for the past many years and has witnessed no regular worshiping inside its premise for over a decade.

While INTACH has completed a detailed project report (DPR) for the restoration of the church, the Pastorate Committee appointed by the Lucknow Diocesan Trust Association (LDTA), Church of North India (CNI) for upkeep of the church is soon coming with a website of the church to encourage fund raising required for the conservation work.

According to Anita Pauline Day, secretary of the committee, the website will be launched by April end.

"The website will have detailed information about the church, the Christian groups and organisations will be contacted for the fund raising," she added. Ajay Ratan Banerjee, project coordinator of INTACH, informed that a budget of 20 million is estimated in the DPR for the restoration of the church.

Out of it, more than 10 million is estimated to be spent on the structure of the church, around 5 million would be required to clean and beautify the 12 acres of land in the church compound.

"INTACH is also seeking help from various communities and organizations to help the committee in fund raising. While restoring the Church, all the norms of construction set by Cantonment Board will be obeyed," he informed.

The locked church building has majestic architecture from inside.

While some of its architecture has already been damaged over the years, the members of the church have temporarily protected the remaining features like pulpit, the altar the stone structure where children were baptized to save any further damage to the marble structures as the bricks from the roof keep falling.

Cracks have also developed on the eight pillars, which support the remaining roof. The worship area, which was earlier lined up with furniture is now witnessing wild growth of vegetation.

"The damaged doors and windows of the church buildings paved way for thieves and mischief who have already stolen the valuables from the church," informed Pradeep Mallick, the guard appointed to look after the church.

The church was established by Rev. George Wheatly, an English officer, in 1810 in Cantonment area.

It was a garrison church used as a place of worship for the British army and other members of the European community at that time.

Church of India became the trustee of the church after Independence in 1947 and it was finally merged with CNI in 1970.

The church compound is spanned in 12 acres of land and has mass graves of soldiers and three graves of important officials of British army in its premises.

Despite the fact that no worshipping has been performed inside the building of the church for over a decade, there are about 30 members who are still associated with the church, and around 150 to 200 people of Christian community offer prayers in Hindi in the church compound outside the building twice a week.

Source: times of india