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{{Use dmy dates|date=February 2017}}
{{Use Indian English|date=February 2017}}
{{Infobox church
| name = St. Paul's Cathedral
| fullname =
| image = St Paul's Cathedral.jpg
| imagesize = 
| caption = North [[façade]] of the St. Paul's Cathedral, Kolkata
| coordinates = {{coord|22|32|39|N|88|20|48|E|type:landmark_source:kolossus-frwiki|display=inline,title}}
| location = 1A, Cathedral Road, [[Kolkata]] – 71
| country = India
| pushpin map = India West Bengal
| denomination = [[Anglicanism|Anglican]]
| previous denomination =
| churchmanship =
| membership =
| attendance =
| website =
| former name =
| bull date =
| founded date =
| founder =
| dedication = [[Paul the Apostle]]
| dedicated date =
| consecrated date =
| cult =
| relics =
| events =
| past bishop =
| people =
| status = [[Cathedral]]
| functional status = Active
| heritage designation =
| designated date = 1847
| architect = [[William Nairn Forbes]], C.{{nbsp}}K.{{nbsp}}Robinson
| architectural type = [[Aisleless church]]
| style = [[Indo-Gothic]], [[Gothic Revival]]
| groundbreaking = 1839
| completed date = 1847
| construction cost = Rs. 4,35,669
| closed date =
| demolished date =
| capacity =
| length = {{Convert|247|ft|m|0}}
| width = {{Convert|81|ft|m|0}}
| width nave =
| height =
| diameter =
| other dimensions =
| floor count =
| floor area =
| spire quantity =
| spire height = {{Convert|201|ft|m|0}}
| materials = Special bricks, steel trusses, and fine lime plaster
| parish =
| deanery =
| archdeaconry =
| archdiocese =
| diocese = [[Diocese of Calcutta (Church of North India)|Diocese of Calcutta]]
| province =
| presbytery =
| synod =
| circuit =
| district =
| division =
| subdivision =
| bishop = The Rt. Revd. Dr. Paritosh Canning
| dean =
| subdean =
| provost =
| provost-rector =
| viceprovost =
| canon =
| canonpastor =
| precentor =
| archdeacon =
| prebendary =
| rector =
| vicar =
| curate =
| priestincharge =
| priest = Reverend Abir Adhikari (February 2018- present)
| asstpriest = Revd. Nirod Stephen Nag (February 2018- present)
| minister =
| honpriest =
| deacon =
| deaconness =
| seniorpastor =
| pastor =
| abbot =
| chaplain =
| reader =
| organistdom =
| director =
| organist =
| organscholar =
| chapterclerk =
| laychapter =
| warden =
| flowerguild =
| musicgroup =
| parishadmin =
| serversguild =
| logo =
| logosize =
}}

'''St. Paul's Cathedral''' is a [[Church of North India]] (CNI) [[cathedral]] of [[Anglican]] background in [[Kolkata, West Bengal]], India, noted for its [[Gothic Revival architecture|Gothic architecture]] and dedicated to [[Paul the Apostle]]. It is the seat of the [[Diocese of Calcutta (Church of North India)|Diocese of Calcutta]]. The [[cornerstone]] was laid in 1839; the building was completed in 1847.<ref name="cnicalcutta.org bishops">{{cite web| url=http://cnicalcutta.org/bishops.html| title=Bishops of our Diocese| work=Ashoke Biswas (Bishop of Calcutta), CNI 2008 – till date| publisher=Diocese of Calcutta CNI| access-date=8 January 2016}}{{dead link|date=August 2020}}</ref> It is said to be the largest church in Kolkata and the first Anglican cathedral in Asia.<ref>{{cite web| url=http://www.oursamyatra.com/st-pauls-cathedral-asias-first-episcopal-church/| title=St. Paul's Cathedral- Asia's First Episcopal Church| date=2017-07-30| website=Oursamyatra| language=en| access-date=2019-12-30}}</ref><ref>{{cite web| url=https://episcopalchurch.org/anglican-province/church-province-south-east-asia| title=Church of the Province of South East Asia| website=Episcopal Church| language=en| access-date=2019-12-30}}</ref> It was also the first new-built cathedral in the overseas territory of the [[British Empire]]. The edifice stands on Cathedral Road on the "island of attractions" to provide for more space for the growing population of the European community in Calcutta in the 1800s.

The architectural design of the cathedral is "[[Indo-Gothic]]", a [[Gothic architecture|Gothic architectural]] style designed to meet the [[climate of India]]. Following the 1897 earthquake and the subsequent massive [[1934 Nepal–Bihar earthquake|earthquake of 1934]], when Calcutta suffered substantial damage, the cathedral was reconstructed to a revised design. The cathedral complex has a library, situated over the western porch, and a display of [[plastic art]] forms and memorabilia.

Apart from that of Bishop [[Daniel Wilson (bishop)|Daniel Wilson]], the founder of the cathedral, the other notable burial in the church is that of [[John Paxton Norman]], an acting [[Chief Justice]] who was assassinated on the steps of [[Kolkata Town Hall]] in 1871.

==Location==

The cathedral is across from the Bishop's House at 51, [[Chowringhee Road]], in a direct line of sight from the [[Victoria Memorial (India)|Victoria Memorial]].<ref name= Chakraborti>{{cite web| last=Chakraborti| first=Manish| url=https://www.buildingconservation.com/articles/kolkata-churches/kolkata-churches.htm| title=The Historic Anglican Churches of Kolkata| website=BuildingConservation.com| access-date=August 2, 2020}}</ref> The cathedral is located to the east of the Victoria Memorial and at the southern edge of the [[Maidan (Kolkata)|maidan]], the largest open space in the city.<ref name="Govt">{{cite web| url=https://wbtourismgov.in/destination/place/st__paul_s_cathedral| title=St. Pauls Cathedral| access-date=2 August 2020| website=Department of Tourism; Government of West Bengal}}</ref>

The building stands on Cathedral Road,<ref name="Victorian" /> on the "island of attractions" in Kolkata, along with the Victoria Memorial, [[Nandan (Kolkata)|Nandan]], [[Rabindra Sadan]] theatre complex and the [[Birla Planetarium, Kolkata|Birla Planetarium]].<ref name="Kendra">{{cite web| url=http://kvfortwilliam.org/place.html| title=St. Paul's Cathedral| publisher=Kednriya Vidya Sangathan: An autonomous organization of the Government of India}}</ref>

==History==

The cathedral was built to replace [[St. John's Church, Kolkata|St. John's Church]], which had become too small for Calcutta's growing European community; by 1810 there were 4,000 British men and 300 British women in Bengal.<ref name="Victorian">{{cite web| last=Banerjee| first=Jacqueline| url=http://www.victorianweb.org/history/empire/india/30.html| title=St Paul's Cathedral, Kolkata, India, by William Nairn Forbes: The First Victorian Cathedral| date=27 September 2014| website=The Victorian Web}}</ref>

In 1819, at the request of [[Francis Rawdon-Hastings, 1st Marquess of Hastings]] {{En dash}} then [[Governor-General of Bengal]] {{En dash}} [[Royal Engineers]] officer [[William Nairn Forbes]] produced a design for the proposed cathedral; however, it was not accepted as it was deemed too expensive to build.<ref name="Victorian" /> [[Thomas Middleton (bishop)|Bishop Middleton]] suggested as a site for the new cathedral the part of the city now known as "Fives Court", where the cathedral now stands. In 1762 the area had been described as a forest so wild that it harbored [[Bengal tiger|tigers]] and at first it was regarded as "too far south" to serve as a location for the cathedral.<ref name="Dio">{{cite web| url=http://cnicalcutta.org/church_st_pauls_cathedral.html| title=St. Pauls Cathedral| access-date=23 August 2015| publisher=The Diocese of Calcutta, CNI}}{{dead link|date=August 2020}}</ref> Middleton died in 1822 before building plans took shape. The next three bishops {{En dash}} [[Reginald Heber]], [[Thomas James (bishop)|Thomas James]] and [[John Turner (bishop)|John Turner]] {{En dash}} all died after brief tenures, and it was not until 1832, under Bishop [[Daniel Wilson (bishop)|Daniel Wilson]], that the project to build the cathedral was revived.<ref name="Dio" />

Following acquisition of {{Convert|7|acre|ha|0}} of land to build the cathedral, a Cathedral Committee was set up to build it.<ref name="Victorian" /> The [[military engineer]], [[Major]] William Nairn Forbes (1796{{ndash}}1855) (who later became a [[Major-General (British Army)|Major-General]] in the [[Bengal Engineers]]), at the request of Bishop Wilson, designed the cathedral with the assistance of architect [[C. K. Robinson]], modelling the tower and [[spire]] on [[Norwich Cathedral]]. On 8{{nbsp}}October 1839, construction was initiated by laying the cornerstone. The cathedral was completed after eight years and consecrated on 8{{nbsp}}October 1847.<ref name="cnicalcutta.org bishops" /><ref name="Victorian" /><ref name="Dio" /> The [[consecration]] ceremony, to mark which [[Queen Victoria]] had sent "ten pieces of [[silver-gilt]] plate" for the cathedral, was largely attended by Europeans and local people.<ref name="Victorian" /> The cathedral was built in [[Gothic Revival architecture|Gothic revival]] style, but with modern construction elements, including an iron framework. It was built with a [[chancel]], a [[Sanctuary (around altar)|sanctuary]], [[chapel]]s and a {{Convert|201|ft|m|0}} tall spire; the cost of construction of the edifice was then Rs.{{nbsp}}4,35,669. The cathedral can accommodate 800 to 1,000 people.<ref name="cnicalcutta.org bishops" /><ref name="Chakraborti" /><ref name="Victorian" /><ref name="Dio" />{{Sfn|Riddick|2006|p=175}}{{Sfn|Earth|2011|p=64}}<ref>{{cite book| title=100 Cities of the World| url=https://books.google.com/books?id=QjLsLjgXuDcC&pg=PA57| year=2010| publisher=Parragon Publishing India| isbn=978-1-4454-0665-7| pages=57–}}</ref>

In the 1897 earthquake the cathedral suffered damage and was refurbished. In the subsequent massive [[1934 Nepal–Bihar earthquake|earthquake of 1934]], when Calcutta was devastated, the cathedral's [[steeple]] tower collapsed.<ref name="Chakraborti" /><ref>{{cite web| url=http://www.kolkata.org.uk/religious-places/st-pauls-cathedral.html| title=Saint Paul's Cathedral| access-date=2 December 2015| work=Kolkata Guide}}</ref> It was reconstructed to a revised design. Following the 1934 Calcutta earthquake, the tower was rebuilt along the lines of the central Bell Harry tower of [[Canterbury Cathedral]]. On its completion, St.{{nbsp}}Paul's replaced [[St. John's Church, Kolkata|St.{{nbsp}}John's Church]] as the cathedral.<ref name="Govt" /> The cathedral also has a statue of Bishop Heber (1783{{ndash}}1826), Second Bishop of Calcutta; the statue was sculpted by [[Francis Leggatt Chantrey]]. The Bishop's House across the street is also architecturally notable.{{Sfn|Riddick|2006|p=175}}

The cathedral is well maintained in a serene and peaceful atmosphere. People of all religious denominations can visit the church. Service is held regularly. [[Christmas]] is a special occasion when a large number of people assemble to participate in the festivities.

==Features==

[[File:St John's Church - Kolkata 2011-12-18 0277.JPG|thumb|St. Paul's church replaced [[St. John's Church, Kolkata]] (shown above) as the cathedral]]
[[File:St. Paul's Cathedral in Kolkata.jpg|thumb|St. Paul's Cathedral, north façade]]

The [[The Imperial Gazetteer of India|Imperial Gazetteer]] defined the architectural design of the cathedral as "Indo-Gothic", to mean a Gothic architectural style built to meet the climatic conditions of India.{{Sfn|Earth|2011|p=64}} It was also called a "spurious gothic adapted to the [[Exigent circumstance|exigencies]] of the Indian climate."<ref name="Victorian" /> The cathedral's design, otherwise known as [[Gothic Revival architecture|Gothic Revival style]], includes three stained-glass windows and two [[fresco]]es in the [[Italian Renaissance|Florentine Renaissance]] style; the West Window was created by [[Morris & Co.]] to a design by Sir [[Edward Burne-Jones]]. The [[nave]] of the cathedral is very long at {{Convert|247|ft|m|0}}, and its width is {{Convert|81|ft|m|0}}. The nave is fitted with well-crafted wooden [[pews]] and chairs. The central spire rises to a height of {{Convert|201|ft|m|0}}, and the tower on which it stands is square in shape and was patterned on the lines of the 12th-century [[Canterbury Cathedral]], England. The tower was fitted with five clocks, each of which weighed about three tons. The stained-glass windows on the western side were the creation of Sir Edward Burne-Jones, a [[Pre-Raphaelite Brotherhood|pre-Raphaelite master]], which were fitted in half-sunk arches; these were designed in 1880 in memory of [[Lord Mayo]] who was assassinated in the [[Andaman Islands]].<ref name="Chakraborti" /><ref name="Victorian" /><ref name="Dio" /><ref name="Planet">{{cite journal| url=http://www.lonelyplanet.com/india/kolkata-calcutta/sights/religious/st-pauls-cathedral| title=St Paul's Cathedral| access-date=23 August 2015| journal=[[Lonely Planet]]}}</ref> When completed in 1847, the cathedral as a whole was compared to [[Norwich Cathedral]] in England.{{Sfn|Earth|2011|p=64}} The East window, which had original stained glass, was destroyed by a cyclone in 1964. It was replaced with a new one in 1968.{{Sfn|Betts|McCulloch|2013|p=145}} The roof of the cathedral (it was the largest span when built) is in the shape of a shallow curve arching over iron trusses decorated with Gothic [[tracery]]. The [[nave]] of the cathedral is built spaciously without any [[aisle]]s on its flanks.<ref name="Victorian" /> The materials used in the construction of the cathedral consisted of special bricks, light in weight and with good compression strength. The [[ashlar]]s used were of [[Chunar stone]]. The external and internal surfaces of the cathedral were plastered with fine ''[[chunam]]'' (lime plaster) in the form of [[stucco]].<ref name="Victorian" />

The cathedral's interior has a display of many [[plastic art]] forms and memorabilia. There is an [[episcopal throne]] on the southern flank of the [[altar]] and a [[reredos]] or decorative wall on its [[liturgical]] east end dated to 1879; it has carvings of episodes related to the life of St.{{nbsp}}Paul, the [[Annunciation]], the [[Adoration of the Magi]], and the [[Flight into Egypt]], all the work of Sir [[Arthur Blomfield]]. The [[parish hall]] within the premises of the cathedral is the venue for holding social functions.{{Sfn|Earth|2011|p=63-64}}<ref name="Victorian" /> The eastern wall in the cathedral has paintings of the life of St.{{nbsp}}Paul, painted by Blomfield in 1886. Also notable is the [[Baptismal font|font]], with its sculpture of Bishop Heber in a kneeling posture.<ref name="Victorian" /> The cathedral's [[Organ (music)|organ]], with 41 [[Organ stop|stops]], made by Henry Willis and Sons of London, is still in use.{{Sfn|Dutta|2011|p=90}}

The cathedral complex also has a library, situated over the western porch, to dimensions of {{Convert|61|x|22|ft|m|0}} with a height of {{Convert|35|ft|m|0}}. It was built at the initiative of Bishop Wilson, who donated 8,000 of his books and [[manuscript]]s. Further donations of books to the library were from W.{{nbsp}}Gordon and Rev.{{nbsp}}J.{{nbsp}}Nath of the [[University of Oxford]] and the [[Calcutta Bible Society]]. The library also has a sculpture of Bishop Wilson made in marble.<ref name="Dio" />{{Sfn|Earth|2011|pp=63–64}}

Entry to the cathedral is from the north through a large gate made of [[wrought iron]] called the Sir William Prentice Memorial Gate, which is named after Sir William Prentice,{{Clarify|reason=|date=June 2020}} who was a member of cathedral's congregation for many years. The cathedral is surrounded by a well-tended garden.<ref name="Dio" />{{Sfn|Earth|2011|p=64}} In 1847, 63 species of trees had been planted in this garden.<ref name="Dio" />

==Burials==

Bishop [[Daniel Wilson (bishop)|Daniel Wilson]], who had requested burial in the cathedral and also that memorial tablets be placed at St.{{nbsp}}Pauls' Cathedral, in Bishop's College Chapel at Calcutta, and in the [[St Mary's Church, Islington]],{{Sfn|Bateman|1860|p=727}} lies in an underground chamber of the cathedral, where a plaque conferred on him by Queen Victoria is also on display.<ref name="art galleries">{{cite web| url=https://www.kmcgov.in/KMCPortal/jsp/KMCRegionalArcPlaces.jsp| title=Art Galleries / Museums / Libraries| website=About Kolkata}}{{failed verification|date=August 2020}}</ref> [[Sir John Paxton Norman]], an acting Chief Justice who was assassinated, is memorialized by a large, decorated plaque, surmounted by a cross, with an engraving depicting Justice with her scales against a background of tilework flowers evoking Judge Norman's interest in botany.<ref name="Victorian" /> [[Arthur William Garnett]], an English engineer who died in India in 1861, was buried here.<ref name="dnb">{{cite DNB| wstitle=Garnett, Arthur William| last=Garnett| first=Frederick Brooksbank| volume=21}}</ref>

==Picture Gallery==
<gallery>
Image:St. Paul's Cathedral - Calcutta (Kolkata) - 1865.jpg|St.Paul's from the southwest in 1865
Image:St._Paul's_Cathedral,_Calcutta_(Second_view)_by_Francis_Frith.jpg|South façade between 1850 and the 1870s
Image:St. Paul's Cathedral, Chowringhee.jpg|St. Paul's c. 1905
Image:StPaul's2.jpg|Detail of crossing and tower
Image:St. Paul's Cathedral, Kolkata 01.jpg|Church tower of St. Paul's
Image:St_Paul's_Cathedral.jpg|St Paul's from the northeast
File:StPaulCalcutta.jpg|St.Paul's in 1906
</gallery>

<ref>{{cite web |title=Web Bengal Government - Department of Tourism - St. Paul's Cathedral |url=https://wbtourismgov.in/destination/place/st__paul_s_cathedral |publisher=Department of Tourism, Government of West Bengal |access-date=29 June 2019}}</ref>

==References==
{{reflist}}

==Bibliography==
* {{cite book |last=Bateman |first=Josiah |title=The Life of Daniel Wilson, D. D. Bishop of Calcutta and Metropolitan of India |url=https://books.google.com/books?id=FjMLAAAAYAAJ&pg=PA727 |year=1860 |publisher=Gould and Lincoln }}
* {{cite book |last=Dutta |first=Krishna |title=Calcutta: A Cultural and Literary History |url=https://books.google.com/books?id=SZq_BAAAQBAJ&pg=PT90 |date=3 June 2011 |publisher=Andrews UK Limited |isbn=978-1-904955-87-0 }}
* {{cite book |last=Riddick |first=John F. |title=The History of British India: A Chronology |url=https://books.google.com/books?id=Es6x4u_g19UC&pg=PA175 |date=1 January 2006 |publisher=Greenwood Publishing Group |isbn=978-0-313-32280-8 }}
* {{cite book |last1=Betts |first1=Vanessa |last2= McCulloch |first2=Victoria |title=Delhi to Kolkata Footprint Focus Guide |url=https://books.google.com/books?id=acT9AgAAQBAJ&pg=PA145 |date=30 October 2013 |publisher=Footprint Travel Guides |isbn=978-1-909268-40-1 }}
* {{cite book |title=Kolkata: City Guide |url=https://books.google.com/books?id=eUq9heKpjEIC&pg=PA64 |year=2011 |publisher=Goodearth Publications |isbn=978-93-80262-15-4 }}

==External links==
{{commons category-inline}}

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{{DEFAULTSORT:Saint Pauls Cathedral, Kolkata}}
[[Category:1839 establishments in British India]]
[[Category:Church of North India cathedrals]]
[[Category:Churches in Kolkata]]
[[Category:Gothic Revival church buildings in India]]
[[Category:Tourist attractions in Kolkata]]
[[Category:Churches completed in 1847]]
[[Category:19th-century churches in India]]

St. Paul's Cathedral, Kolkata - Revision history

212.139.90.237: small improve lead as per guidelines and updated info

CleanupBot II: Removed empty portal template using script

imported>Spokoyni: −Category:Gothic Revival church buildings; ±Category:Gothic Revival architecture in India→Category:Gothic Revival church buildings in India using HotCat