One of the popular tourist attractions of Bangalore is the St. Mark’s Cathedral located amidst happening and eventful surroundings of the M.G Road. This Church has been named after St.Mark, who is one of the 12 disciples of Jesus Christ. It is also believed that he was the very first Gospel Writer.
The foundation of this cathedral was laid down in the year 1808 and the construction work was completed in 1812. However, it was only in 1816 that St. Marks Cathedral got consecrated by the Bishop of Calcutta. The cathedral was first expanded in the year 1901 and then reconstructed in 1927. The architecture of St. Marks Cathedral is inspired, to quite an extent, by the 17th century St Paul’s Cathedral.
History
After the fall of Tipu Sultan, the British made Bangalore their headquarters in South India. Obviously, there was need for a chapel in the cantonment and in 1807, a spot was chosen midway between the fort and the farthest barracks in the Cantonment for it. This spot of land also happened to be the highest spot of the table land of Mysore. In 1808, work on St Mark’s Cathedral started and it was completed in 1811. The church was opened for worship in 1812 (this accounts for the confusion over 1811 and 1812 as the date for the inauguration of the church). It was consecrated by the Bishop of Calcutta in 1816.
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Named after St Mark, believed to be the first gospel writer, the church was built to accommodate about 400 persons. It was 100 feet in length, 53 feet in width and 20 feet in height. The first building was a simple one. It was a plain, rectangular, low-roofed structure with the font placed in the west verandah to maximize space inside. Reverend Frank Penny, historian of the period, described it as “one of the ugliest buildings ever erected, looking for all purposes like a Bryant and Mays matchbox.”
The initial years of St. Mark’s Church were beset with problems; the building needed extensive repairs within a few years. By 1836, the worshipping population shot up to about 2000. There were several structural damages to the old building as well — the font built of brick and lime in the western verandah cracked. The congregation demanded a better church; worshippers were eager to have a belfry in which a bell could be hung and rung.
Additional funds were demanded from England and it was reported that ‘the church was saved from the unredeemed ugliness by getting additional funds from the church society in England for a tower or a belfry’. This was completed in 1856. In 1859, the St Mark’s Church committee wanted another extension of the building. It was proposed to raise the roof and add a chancel. Work started in 1863 but had to be abandoned as the government needed funds for new barracks. By this time, the church had fallen into a state of disrepair in anticipation of a further enlargement.
There was a further expansion in 1902. The garrison Anglican Church was enlarged and the seating capacity rose to 700 because of a new building which was constructed in August 1902. The renovated church was dedicated on August 26, 1902, by Bishop Whitehead of Madras. However, this new church building collapsed, and had to be rebuilt in 1906.
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On February 17, 1923, the church building was ravaged by fire caused by a short circuit. Restoration began to take place. However, as the renovation works were about to be completed in February 1924, the church building collapsed again. Reconstruction of the church started in 1926 and was completed in 1927.
Architecure
The church has beautiful colonial style architecture. Its architecture is inspired by the 17th century St Paul’s Cathedral. It is modeled on the lines of St Paul’s cathedral in London. The church has a dome, a semi-circular chancel and roman arches. The entrance of the cathedral has intricate woodwork with elaborate carvings. The bell one of the best maintained in India. The stained glass in the wondows was made by Sreenivasulu Naidu and Sons of Madras.
Built in the colonial style of architecture, it stands adorned with a semicircular chancel, having a huge, magnificent dome. The Roman arches embellishing the walls of the cathedral add to its splendor. Saint Mark’s Cathedral boasts of having one of the best-maintained external bells amongst all the churches in the Bangalore city of India. The exquisite woodwork as well as the intricate carving merges beautifully with its elegant ceilings and domes. Even the stained glasswork of the cathedral adds to its beauty.
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