St. Paul's Cathedral, Calcutta
| St. Paul's Cathedral | |
|---|---|
 |
|
| Location | 1A, Cathedral Road, Kolkata – 71 |
| Country | India |
| Denomination | Church of North India (Anglican) |
| History | |
| Dedication | St. Paul |
| Architecture | |
| Status | Cathedral |
| Functional status | Active |
| Designated | 1847 |
| Architect(s) | Major William Nairn Forbes, C. K. Robinson |
| Architectural type | Indo-Gothic |
| Style | Gothic Revival |
| Groundbreaking | 1839 |
| Completed | 1847 |
| Construction cost | Rs. 4,35,669 |
| Specifications | |
| Length | 247 feet (75 m) |
| Width | 81 feet (25 m) |
| Spire height | 201 feet (61 m) |
| Materials | Special bricks, steel trusses, and fine lime plaster |
| Administration | |
| Diocese | Calcutta |
| Clergy | |
| Bishop(s) | Rt. Rev. Ashoke Biswas |
| Priest(s) | Reverend Nigel Pope |
| Assistant priest(s) | Reverend James Gomez |
St. Paul's Cathedral is an Anglican cathedral in Kolkata, West Bengal, India, noted for its Gothic architecture. It is the seat of the Diocese of Calcutta. The cornerstone was laid in 1839; the building was completed in 1847. It is said to be the largest cathedral in Kolkata and the first Episcopal Church in Asia. It was also the first cathedral built 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.
Following the 1897 earthquake and the subsequent massive earthquake of 1934, when Calcutta suffered substantial damage, the cathedral was reconstructed to a revised design. The architectural design of the cathedral is "Indo-Gothic", a Gothic architectural style designed to meet the climatic conditions of India. 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, 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 in 1871.
The cathedral is across from the Bishop's Palace on Chowringhee Road, in a direct line of sight from the Victoria Memorial. The cathedral is located to the east of the Victoria Memorial and at the southern edge of the maidan, a park.
The building stands on Cathedral Road, on the "island of attractions" in Kolkata, along with the Victoria Memorial, Nandan, Rabindra Sadan theatre complex, and the Birla Planetarium.
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