Saint Thomas Cathedral: A History Tour

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Tucked between Mumbai’s iconic Churchgate Station and Horniman Circle, Saint Thomas Cathedral church in Mumbai stands tall and speaks volumes about its history and grandeur. This church in Mumbai has a lot of history and has influenced the history of the city as well. As we pass through these simple wooden doors let me take you back in time and share its history.

Saint Thomas Cathedral church in Mumbai is dedicated to Saint Thomas, the Apostle, who was responsible for spreading Christianity in these parts of the world.

Why is Saint Thomas Cathedral in Mumbai famous?

• It is the oldest standing building of the British Era in Bombay (now Mumbai). Hence, Saint Thomas Cathedral is one of the oldest church in Mumbai.
• It is Bombay’s first Anglican Church.
• The nearest railway station ‘Churchgate’ is named after this church as it was the gateway to the East India Company’s fort.
• It was once considered the Zero Point of the city. Most roads in the city were measured from this church.
• It is one of the biggest church in Mumbai with a capacity to accommodate 1200 plus attendees.
• Famous personalities among the visitors include King George V, Queen Mary and Mother Teresa.
• It is also among the most popular churches in Mumbai like the Mount Mary Church Bandra

A Brief History of the Church

Bombay, the city as we know it today, was once a group of seven islands. The Portuguese colonized it. However, it went to the British upon the marriage of Portuguese princess Catherine of Braganza to Charles II of England.

In 1668, Charles II of England transferred the island to the East India Company for a loan.

Sir John Oxinden was the East India Company’s first Governor of Bombay in 1668. It was his idea to build a church in Bombay. In 1669, Gerald Aungier succeeded him and he continued to pursue Oxinden’s wish. Around 50K Indian Rupees were raised through voluntary contributions.

Most of these contributions came from the servants of the East India Company. In 1676, the foundation of the church was laid and 15 feet of walls were raised. However, after Aungier died in 1677 the project came to a standstill for nearly three decades.

In 1714, Richard Cobbe became the Chaplain to the factory of Bombay to the Merchants of England. He campaigned aggressively for the resumption of the building and completion of the church.

A year later (1715), the foundation stone was laid once again at the same site. In the next three years, the church was ready. Charles Boone, the then Governor of Bombay, inaugurated the church on Christmas Day in 1718.

However, if you are interested in something older, this famous church in Mumbai is older than the Taj Mahal.

How Saint Thomas Cathedral Got Its Name?

After the completion of the church, Richard Cobbe wrote to Dr Robinson (Bishop of London) in December of 1718. The request was to consecrate and to suggest a name for the church. That, unfortunately, never happened. Hence, from 1718 to 1838, the church was known as the Church of Bombay.

In 1837, the Bombay Diocesan Council took over the administration of the Church. It was then that Archdeacon Thomas Carr became the first Bishop of Bombay. The following year (1838), the church got its name, Saint Thomas Cathedral Mumbai and became the Seat of the Bishop of Bombay.

A Virtual Tour of the Church

In terms of architecture, Saint Thomas Cathedral church in Mumbai offers a sublime experience. The moment you walk into the main gate the Minton floor tiles capture your attention. As per my research, these tiles were made in Staffordshire, England.

You can see the chancel gate which divides the lobby from the main hall. This was designed to accommodate those who are not eligible to be a part of the general congregation. However, they can still attend the service from a distance.

The tall white columns on either side instantly capture your attention. Also, these black wrought iron brackets were introduced in 1907 to hang fans and light fixtures. This ensured enough light and air to the congregation assembled in the church hall.

However, it is the walls of this church in Mumbai which have tons of memorials. Probably the busiest church walls in Mumbai and these sculpted memorials have so much information and history on them. If you go through each of them it can easily take an hour, more or less. Some memorials are way too high up to read.

These wall sculptures share stories of battles won and lost. They tell some heart-touching tales of naval officers who died on duty, of amiable wives and unsung heroes.

On the right of the altar area, is the memorial of the First Bishop of Bombay Rev. Thomas Carr.

Inside the church, you will find a memorial which has the name of one of his sons J.T. Carr. He was a surgeon serving the Indian Medical Service. However, he was lost at sea along with 300 passengers and crew as a cyclone hit their ship called Cleopatra.

When you look up the altar you see some exquisite stained glass windows that add to the architecture. Charles Eamer Kempe designed all the stained glass windows in the Saint Thomas Cathedral in Mumbai. He was a Victorian designer and manufacturer of stained glass.

In one of the stained glass windows, we see Saint Thomas with a T-square instrument and a Bible. It indicates that he was a builder as well. On his left is Saint Gabriel holding a lily which symbolizes purity. Similarly, on the right we see Saint Michael holding a double-edged sword that stands for truth and justice.

In the year 2004, Saint Thomas Cathedral Mumbai received the UNESCO Asia-Pacific Heritage Conservation Award. In 2018, Saint Thomas Cathedral Mumbai turned 300 years old on Christmas Day.

This famous church in Mumbai welcomes people of all religions and from all walks of life. However, it is always a good thing to ask for permission before taking images. Also, kindly avoid taking selfies and respect the privacy of other people praying in the Saint Thomas Cathedral.

While you are here you can also take a tour of Don Bosco Church in Matunga.