St. Thomas Cathedral, Mumbai Facts for Kids

Quick facts for kids St Thomas Cathedral
Cathedral Church of St Thomas the Apostle

18°55′54″N 72°50′1″E / 18.93167°N 72.83361°E / 18.93167; 72.83361
Location	Horniman Circle, Fort, South Mumbai, Maharashtra
Country	India
Denomination	Church of North India
History
Consecrated	1718 (300 years ago) & 1837 (renovation & expansion) Bombay, British India
Architecture
Heritage designation	UNESCO Asia-Pacific Heritage Conservation Award
Groundbreaking	1676 (340 years ago)
Completed	1718 1837 (Enlarged)
Specifications
Capacity	1200+

St. Thomas Cathedral in Mumbai is a very old church, about 300 years old! It is the main church for the Diocese of Mumbai in the Church of North India. The church is named after Saint Thomas, who many believe first brought Christianity to India.

You can find this beautiful cathedral in Horniman Circle, which is a historic part of Mumbai. It's close to famous spots like Flora Fountain and Bombay House. This makes it a well-known landmark in South Mumbai. It is also the oldest church in Mumbai.

The foundation stone for the church was laid in 1676. But it took a long time to build! The church was finally ready for services in 1718. It was the first Anglican church in Mumbai (which was then called Bombay). It was built inside the walls of the old British settlement.

The Cathedral and John Connon School was started in 1860. It was created to provide singers for the church choir. Today, the school still uses the cathedral for special events. These include its Founder's Day Service and a Carol Service before Christmas.

The Churchgate railway station got its name from St. Thomas Cathedral. A road from one of the old city gates led straight to the church. This gate was called Churchgate. Later, in 1862, the city walls were taken down. The gate was replaced by the Flora Fountain in 1864.

Discovering the History of St. Thomas Cathedral
Honoring Heroes: Memorials in the Cathedral
Mumbai's Zero Point
St. Thomas Cathedral Today
Gallery
See also

Discovering the History of St. Thomas Cathedral

St. Thomas Church before 1838

St. Thomas Cathedral around 1905

The original plan of St. Thomas Church, finished in 1718

The Zero Point Plaque of Mumbai at St. Thomas Cathedral

The name of the nearby Churchgate Station comes from this church. One of the gates in the old fort, built by the British East India Company, led to St. Thomas Church. This gate was known as Churchgate. That's why the area to the west of the church is still called "Churchgate" today. The street leading to the church was first called Churchgate Street. It was later renamed Veer Nariman Road.

How Bombay Became British

The island of Bombay used to belong to Portugal. In 1661, it became part of the wedding gift for the Portuguese princess, Infanta Catherine of Braganza. She married Charles II of England. In 1668, King Charles gave Bombay to the British East India Company. He loaned them money and charged a small yearly rent.

Gerald Aungier was put in charge of the East India Company's new places in Surat and Bombay. He was the governor of Bombay from 1672 to 1677. Aungier built many important things, like a church, a hospital, and a court. He also made the company's trading area stronger with defenses.

Building the Church

The first stone for the church was laid in 1676. This was on a place called Bombay Green, where the cathedral stands today. But it took more than 40 years for the building to be finished! Richard Cobbe, a chaplain, helped complete the church between 1715 and 1718.

The church opened for services on Christmas Day in 1718. Since then, it has always been a place of worship for Anglicans. In 1816, the church was officially named St. Thomas. This was done by Thomas Middleton, the first Bishop of Kolkata.

Becoming a Cathedral

The church became a cathedral in July 1837. This happened when Thomas Carr was appointed as the first Bishop of Bombay. The tall tower and the clock on the western side were added in 1838. About 25 years later, the church was made even bigger. The front part of the church, called the chancel, was enlarged. This work was finished by 1865.

Royal Visit and Special Features

In 1911, King George V and Queen Mary visited the church. They attended a service before going to a big event in Delhi. The chairs they sat on are still kept in the church today. Brass plates on the chairs show their names.

At the entrance of the church, there is a fountain. A kind businessman named Cowasji Jehangir Readymoney paid for it. It was designed by George Gilbert Scott and put in place in the 1870s.

Honoring Heroes: Memorials in the Cathedral

The cathedral has many stone memorials carved into its walls. These memorials remember important people from the time of Company rule in India and the British Raj. Here are some of the notable ones:

Memorial to Thomas Carr: This memorial shows a statue of Thomas Carr, who was the first Bishop of Bombay. It was made by a British sculptor named Matthew Noble.
Memorial to Officers of the Steam Ship Cleopatra: This memorial remembers the officers and crew of a ship called the Cleopatra. The ship sank off the coast of Malabar in 1847. The plaque lists the names of the nine officers.
Memorial to Frederick Lewis Maitland: This memorial is for Frederick Lewis Maitland, a Royal Navy officer. He passed away at sea near Bombay in 1839 and was buried in Mumbai.
Memorial to Captain Hardinge: Captain George Nicholas Hardinge was a brave naval captain. He died in a sea battle against a French ship in 1808. His detailed memorial was created by John Bacon.
Memorial to John Campbell: John Campbell was a British army officer. He was part of important battles and conflicts. He died in Mumbai in 1784 from exhaustion. His marble memorial shows figures of Death and Hope. It was designed by Charles Peart.

Mumbai's Zero Point

The cathedral marks the "zero point" of old Bombay. This means it was considered the exact center of the city. From the church, 16 milestones were placed leading north. These stones were about 4 feet tall. However, many are now hidden because the road levels have risen over time. So far, 11 of these 16 milestones have been found.

St. Thomas Cathedral Today

The cathedral went through a big restoration project. After this work was finished, it won a UNESCO Asia-Pacific heritage conservation award in 2004. This award recognized the great effort to preserve its history.

Today, the church continues to be an active place of worship. Rev. Avinash Rangayya leads the current church community at St. Thomas Cathedral.