St. Thomas Cathedral, Mumbai
| St Thomas Cathedral | |
|---|---|
| Cathedral Church of St Thomas the Apostle | |
 |
|
| Coordinates: 18°55′54″N 72°50′1″E / 18.93167°N 72.83361°E | |
| Location |
Horniman Circle, Fort, South Mumbai, Maharashtra |
| Country | India |
| Denomination | Church of North India |
| History | |
| Consecrated | 1718 (298 years ago) & 1837 (renovation & expansion) Bombay, British India |
| Associated people |
British East India Company Monarchy of Great Britain |
| Architecture | |
| Heritage designation | UNESCO Asia-Pacific Heritage Conservation Award |
| Groundbreaking | 1676 (340 years ago) |
| Completed | 1718 1837 (Enlarged) |
| Specifications | |
| Capacity | 1200+ |
| Number of towers | 1 |
| Administration | |
| Deanery | The Cathedral & John Connon School |
| Diocese | Diocese of Mumbai of the Church of North India |
St. Thomas Cathedral, Mumbai, is the cathedral church of the Diocese of Mumbai of the Church of North India. Named in honour of Saint Thomas the Apostle, the Cathedral is located in the historic centre of Mumbai - Horniman Circle and is close to Flora Fountain and Bombay House.
The 298-year-old church is controlled by The Cathedral & John Connon School.
The foundation stone of the church was first laid in 1676, although the church was only finally consecrated for divine service 1718 as the first Anglican church in Mumbai (then called Bombay), within the walls of the fortified British settlement. The Cathedral then lead to the creation of The Cathedral & John Connon School in 1860; in order to provide choristers to the church. The Cathedral is a landmark in South Mumbai and is one of the oldest churches in India. It is used by the school for its Founder's Day Service on 14 November every year, Carol Service on the last day before the school's Christmas vacation and other special occasions.
The name of nearby Churchgate station refers to this church. One of the gates in the Fort which the East India Company had built to protect their settlement was the entrance to the St. Thomas Church. It was called Churchgate. That is why the whole area towards the West of the Church is called "Churchgate" even today. The street leading to the Church was originally called Churchgate Street and has been more recently renamed (like many streets in Bombay) and is now known as Veer Nariman Road.
The island of Bombay which was a Portuguese possession became a part of the dowry of the Portuguese princess Infanta Catherine of Braganza on her marriage to Charles II of England under the Anglo Portuguese treaty of June 1661. In 1668 King Charles transferred it to the East India Company for a loan of pounds Sterling 50,000 at 6% interest and with a rental of pounds Sterling 10 per annum.
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