Gandhi Jayanti of 2015 which obviously was a holiday was used
for some chronicling. That day, the Swains decided to make it to a small and
surely non-descript chapel i.e. the Hastings Chapel.
It finds mention in Calcutta: A cultural and Literary History
by Krishna Dutta. As per this version, it was built in 1855. Today it is overshadowed
by a flyover which is basically a feeder to the second Howrah bridge and is
placed at the intersection of Strand and Clyde Road.
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| The entrance |
That day, a meeting of YMCA and YWCA was on and hence the
chapel was full of young people.
Unlike the voluminous constructions of other churches (which
I have seen and been), this one seemed to be petty simple in construction. I
came across a nice architectural term (probably) called pediment. It was there
over 8 Doric columns. There is a distinct Cross on the pediment.
What surprised me was the frugal and simple hall. Unlike all
the other old churches, this one did not have any teak or mahogany chairs.
Since all churches of its vintage have old wooden chairs, I suspect that they
would have been removed with time. As of now, it is filled with simple, movable
blue steel chairs. The columns of the hall were very thin in contrast to the structure
that it supported.
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| The interior of the chapel |
The altar was a raised platform as frugal as the hall. There
was a wooden pulpit with the words, “The word of the Lord endureth forever”
inscribed on the same. To the right of the hall is an old piano.
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| An old piano and Sambhab besides it |
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| The altar |
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| The pulpit |
There were exactly 4 tablets in the memory of people who were
members and associated with the Church. They were of Rev. John Henry Parker (d 09 Sep 1858), Mary Sophia (d 11 Aug. 1870), James
Edward Payn and Mrs Mullens (d
21 Nov 1861).
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| The 4 tablets |
The chapel is now being run by the United Missionary Church.
Given the historical importance, I was expecting the lawn to
be a more maintained one and the garden a more beautiful one.
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| The gateway to the chapel |
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| As has always been, my accomplices |
