Comments on: Garrison Churches

By: Joseph Thomas

Joseph Thomas — Mon, 17 Jul 2023 16:19:23 +0000

Thanks Conrad.

I don’t recall any chapel in AF Station Agra. The airfield and the old area was built in 1942 by the US Army Air Force. The New Project was built around 1957 when the Canberras arrived.

There was definitely a chapel at AF Station, Tambaram.

By: Gp Capt Conrad Dalton

Gp Capt Conrad Dalton — Mon, 17 Jul 2023 12:48:44 +0000

Tommy Sir,

If I remember there used to be a chapel in the No 2 Area of AF Stn Agra. It was in the vicinity of the 2 VIP cottages & the AF school. Ant info on that?

I very much appreciate your article on the Garrison churches. Found it very interesting. Very informative too.
I have circulated it among the members of the Pune Legion, an Assoc of retired servicemen in Pune.

Keep up the praise-worthy effort.
Conrad

By: Joseph Thomas

Joseph Thomas — Mon, 10 Jul 2023 01:22:26 +0000

Thanks, Kulwant Sharma, for a thoughtful comment. Agreed that the idea is utopian but then all philosophy is utopian.

Granted that there is a case for not disturbing churches that have a large congregation. Yes, the decision making should be amicable and by consensus. We should focus on the disused, neglected churches.

By: ABS Sidhu

ABS Sidhu — Sat, 08 Jul 2023 13:35:43 +0000

Hello Surjit ,
Thanks for sharing very informative history
of Churches in India .
With best wishes .
ABS Sidhu

By: kulwant sharma

kulwant sharma — Sat, 08 Jul 2023 13:34:58 +0000

Dear Sir,

Thanks for sharing a rather flawed blog. My reply given on the blog as under.

With best regards
KK Sharma

The article is a good collation of historical importance but suffers from a typical Indian-ness mindset or Atam-nirbharata catch-phrase. Firstly, a correction – the Britishers built two types of churches in most places (Shimla for instance). The officer cadre was from a Protestant community while the soldiers from Scotland or Ireland were Catholicism followers. Therefore to club both churches is like clubbing Shiva temple with Durga temple…or Vaishvanites with Shaivites.

Secondly, these churches are a part of the heritage. Imagine, Chandigarh barely 70 years old, has been running around like a headless chicken to UNESCO to be declared a heritage city!! They must remain in the hands of their diocese, as are all temples or Gurudwaras or Mosques. Most of these are on government land and hence the government has to honour their existence. Even by law, if one is occupying a piece of land for a certain period, they become the owner. Try evicting illegal occupants of Ambala cantt bungalows or elsewhere.

The idea of making them a prayer hall is noble but utopian for a country like India. It can only happen inside a cantonment. Why only churches, try that with all the religious places!!

By: Amrolia J.N

Amrolia J.N — Sat, 08 Jul 2023 13:33:18 +0000

Thank you so much for sharing this.
Really a treasure trove of historical information!
Regards and hoping that all are well at home.
JNA

By: D.S Madan

D.S Madan — Sat, 08 Jul 2023 13:32:33 +0000

Dear 2997,

Very interesting compilation by friend Thomas .Enjoyed going through.

Regards,

3000

By: salim thomas

salim thomas — Sat, 08 Jul 2023 13:31:59 +0000

very informative article by Joseph,
All churches inIndia come under the theological hierarchy of the catholic or protestant church. Garrison churches are all Protestant as they were set up by the anglican ruling dispensation.
They will now come under either the church of North india ( CNI) or the Church of South India ( CSI). the congregations are almost entirely from the local civil population with a smattering of service personnel.and will vary from place to place..
Even in the UK many churches have been turned into hotels , bars, bingo halls , beauty parlours etc as the number of worshippers diminish and the expenses mount. The ,maintenance
costs for old buildings , particularly those not in use can be prohibitive.

One garrison church omitted is St Johns Church , Colaba, Mumbai, locally known as the Afghan church. If you have read MM Kayes book ” The Far Pavilions” about the afghan wars , you will find many of the names of the dramatis personae and the battle honours often regiments concerned on the walls of this church. It is in a good state of repair.

salim

By: Vivek Bopiah

Vivek Bopiah — Sat, 08 Jul 2023 13:31:17 +0000

Dear General,
Thank you for a most interesting link.
When I was Group Adjutant of Bombay Sappers in Kirkee I had seen some Regimental Flags of Bombay Pioneers inthe All Saints Church in Kirkee. Bombay Pioneers were disbanded by the British in the 1930s.
On its disbandment most of the personnel were absorbed in the Bombay Engr Group. I felt that the Flags must be kept in our Museum which already had artifacts of Bombay Pioneers.
I met the priest in charge and showed him our Museum. He was impressed and convinced to present it to us. Accordingly we collected the Flags and have kept them in our Pioneers part of the Museum.
I was involved in the authentication and publication of the Post Independence history of BEG which was written by now late Maj Gen Muddy Rao. I wrote the chapter on the achievement of Sports and Adventure.

Warm regards

Vivek

By: Zal Kabraji

Zal Kabraji — Sat, 08 Jul 2023 13:30:44 +0000

My dear General,
Thanks for sharing—brings back some nostalgic memories of my father’s service days when we visted some of these fine,— ancient & well maintained churches—-in particular I remember the Lovedale one from our stay at Wellington in the mid 1950s—–I hope we will be able to preserve all this for many more years to come.
Warm regards,
Zal Kabraji.