The First Finest Tamil Anglican Church
St.Paul’s Church had a great history behind it. That after the “ Fourth Anglo-Mysore war” in 1799, Mysorean territory was annexed by the British. Seringapatam was the First capital of Mysore. British formed a military cantonment in Seringapatam in 1803.
St.Paul’s Church had a great history behind it. That after the “ Fourth Anglo-Mysore war” in 1799, Mysorean territory was annexed by the British. Seringapatam was the First capital of Mysore. British formed a military cantonment in Seringapatam in 1803. Soon later in 1806, they moved the military cantonment to Bangalore because of the spread of Malaria in Seringapatam. The cantonment covered 13 square miles, extending from the Residency on the west to Binnamangala on the east and from the Tanneries in the north to Agram in the south. By area, it was the largest British military cantonment in South India. The British garrison stationed in the cantonment included three artillery batteries and regiments of the cavalry, infantry, sappers, miners, mounted infantry, supply, and transport corps, and the Bangalore Rifle Volunteers. The Bangalore Cantonment was directly under the administration of the British. The British found Bangalore to be a pleasant and appropriate place to station their garrison. The installation of the Bangalore Cantonment attracted a large number of migrant workers from Tamil Nadu and other neighboring states.
In 1831, the capital of the Kingdom of Mysore was moved from Mysore city to Bangalore. It is said that the heart of the Bangalore Cantonment was the Parade Ground. The Civil and Military Station (CMS) grew around the Parade Ground. Bangalore was part of the Madras Presidency, and in 1864, the city was connected to Madras by rail. Still called the Bangalore Cantonment Railway Station, it is one of many railway stations servicing the city of Bangalore. Around 1883, Richmond Town, Benson Town, Ulsoor, Shivaji Nagar, Frazer Town, Miller’s Tank, Sankey Tank, and Cleveland Town were added to the cantonment.
Shivajinagar was pretty much a wasteland. The first settlers in the area set up a small village with a mud wall around it. These people are called ‘Black Pally’. The first settlers in this area were farmers from Gingee, who set up a village and cultivated white rice. It is believed that the name Black pally for the area came from the bili akki (white rice) that they grew in their fields. Basically, groundlings like butlers, cobblers, cooks, drivers, and dobbies lived there. These people work for Britishers. In 1808, the Britishers congregated at St.Mark’s Church exclusively for them. The foundation of this cathedral was laid down in the year 1808 and the construction work was completed in 1812. However, it was only in 1816 that St. Mark's Church got consecrated by the Bishop of Calcutta. It was built in the colonial style of architecture, and it stands adorned with a semicircular chancel, having a huge, magnificent dome.
The St. Mark's Church was built on the South Parade grounds. It is the Britishers noted the groundlings were chit-chatting outside the Church, while these Britishers have their service in St.Mark’s. Only then does the problem of rights arise. Britishers thought of constructing a separate place of worship for them. Then the plan for St.Paul’s Church was sorted out and sanctified. The date of Consecration – 31st March 1840 A.D by the Lord Bishop of Madras Rt.Rev.George Trevor Spencer. This consecration was necessitated especially for the Tamil-speaking congregation who lived in and around the area. Most of the bosses, probably the Europeans, used to worship in St.Mark’s Church. It was then the Chaplain of St.Mark’s Church and the congregation of that church decided to build a small for the Tamil Speaking people. The work started soon after 1838 and on the 31st of March 1840. The church was named after the Patron Saint St.Paul and was joyfully consecrated by the Lord Bishop of Madras. St.Paul’s Church is the finest Tamil congregation till now in Bangalore.
The congregation proliferated that the church had to undergo two extensions in the years that followed. The first extension was in 1936 when the pews were extended and the vestry was constructed. The second extension took place in the year 1947, wherein the Altar and the Chancel were extended and added to the extension.
The First extension was consecrated by the Lord Bishop of Madras E.H.M. Waller.
The Second extension was consecrated by Rt.Rev.H.Pakenham-Walsh.
The Church celebrated its centenary year in a very grand and solemn manner in the year 1940. The Church entered its 150th year on the 31st of March in 1990. To mark this occasion several social and Charitable programs were conducted. The Church still continues to grow in leaps and bounds. The organizers are planning for a third extension to accommodate the growing crowd. On the 1st of May 2014, the Church stepped into its 175th year.
The Church has majestic features, especially the choir and the musical accompaniment. It seems, there is no age limit to be in part of the choir. They have attached nearly four LG LCD TVs for the comfort of the people who seats a little distant from the Altar. There is a fixed camera through which the whole service is broadcasted. Also, a proper man is allotted to remote the camera in his controller room. The Pulpit is made of wood and steel which gives us a royal look. The Church has its own decorum and manners by the touch of Britishers.
Near the Altar, on the right side there kept the portrait of Jesus Christ suffering on the Cross and a metal Cross below it. I am sure, no church will fail to have this. People coming from various backgrounds will always be reminded of Christ's sufferings upon seeing this portrait and naturally, there comes humbleness and a broken heart within them. And the main part of British architecture is the glass paintings placed above every window. There were nearly ten glass paintings I noticed. It was like every single glass painting is trying to convey something to me. I was reminded of several Bible verses when I tend to see those paintings.
Jesus carrying the Cross to Calvary – John 19:17. The sufferings and pains that he underwent pierced my heart whenever I looked at this image. Also, I get a repeated question in my mind, What have I done to this great man (of course, He lived as a human being in this world like us)other than saying Jesus I love you??
Saul falls off his horse when exposed to sudden bright light which came from Heaven – Acts 9:3,4. After this incident, Saul turned into Paul, who became a great preacher and writer. Thereafter he lived his entire life as an apostle, who taught the Gospel of Christ to the first-century people.
Jesus knocking at the door – Revelation 3:20. It is that one who opens the door for Him shall dine with Him. That was the promise given by the Lord.
The Calvary Cross. It is symbolized in red color. It reminds me that Jesus shed his last drop of blood for us. One cannot show any pure love beyond Him!
Cross with Heavenly crown in its midst – I am reminded of whoever suffers for Him in this physical world, shall be rewarded in Heaven. Also, it provokes my mind to think about Judgement Day, where all people are gathered together to be judged for their deeds by Heavenly Father.
The Holy Bible which was in an open state – Looked as if the painting was asking me the question, Did you read the Bible today? I got stuck for a minute and then I said to myself - Yes, I did!
This painting moved me really. It is like many hands are stretching out for help and One hand from Heaven is about to touch those hands. It is said in the Bible that He is our Helper, Comforter, Rescuer, Protector, and All in All.
The most captured painting to me is Jesus sitting with children – Matthew 19:14. He loves little kids and He remarked that one cannot enter Heaven unless he got converted and becomes like children ( Matthew 18:3)
Finally, I saw the painting of Jesus holding a sheep. This painting gives me two references in the Bible. One is ‘The Lost Sheep’ proposed in Luke's 15th chapter. Jesus told many parables to the crowd. In ‘The Lost Sheep’ tells us of the importance of one soul. Through this parable, He says that Heaven will be more rejoicing over one sinner who repents than over ninety-nine righteous persons who do not need to repent. The other reference is “Jesus as our great Shepherd”. The Psalmist King David sings in his famous Psalm 23, ‘The Lord is the Shepherd that I shall not be in want.
The Church Secretary Mr.JeyaKumar witnessed that for 8 years, Bowring Hospital management was about to take over the land of the Church. But it is he who rescued the Church by showing the ‘Cross’ which was continuously marked on the compound walls of the Church. And I found there is no space given between the Credence table and the Reredos. It is the Anglican belief that the Priest does everything facing the East. Also, I get to know that the tradition they follow in St.Paul’s Church draws more people towards it. The church follows a traditional systematic service that attracts the nearby people. The proud thing is that St.Paul’s Church is the First Tamil Anglican church in Bangalore.
