25 Comments

  1. I really enjoyed this post. A most comprehensive guide, thank you.
    My 7th great uncle, Patrick Johnston(e) (1737-1756) is one of those mentioned on the Black Hole Monument.

  2. An endeavour well worth the reading! Thank you to all who have contributed to this piece. I have been researching my ancestors for well over 25+ years. I have ancestors (LUCAS, DORIN and HENRIQUES families) who have been baptized, married and buried here. Who would one see for information on records? Thanks. Great Job!!

    1. All records of St Johns Church have been digitized so the church authorities can be approached for that.

      Among the cemeteries only Scottish Cemetery has managed to digitize their records with the others still ongoing.

  3. Excellent tour, Subhadip, especially the non-public areas, which are new to me. In the 30+ years that I have visited St. John’s, it has never looked so good as now. I’m delighted that it is being properly treated as the treasure that it is, and you do it justice. I would add that Sir George Gilbert Scott, one of the leading architects of the Victorian Era, designed both monuments to Lady Canning, and that the St. John’s memorial used to be near the altar in St. Paul’s. Scott also designed the core buildings of Bombay University, but these are his only works in Bengal. Also, while St. Martin-in-the-Fields bears conspicuous resemblances to St. John’s, many other churches were built in that era with similar architectural elements, as championed by Wren, Gibbs, Hawksmoor, et al. Great job! – Brian (author, ‘Calcutta’s Edifice: The Buildings of a Great City’ Rupa, 2006).

    1. This is by far the best comment that I have ever received on my blog as a whole. Especially coming from an author with your repute. Blogging is just a passion for me and it’s never the end when the blog gets posted rather its just the beginning to improve one self. I am thankful for the additional inputs which I shall update by tonight.

      I tried my best to find more information about the architect but failed neither could find his photo ot portrait any help in this matter would be much appreciated.

      Thanks once again… Really privileged….

  4. My mother belonging to the Gardner family spent most of her childhood in Barrackpore. She told me a lot about the life of the then residents and I long to come to calcutta and see for myself both the great buildings, the church here St. John´s and breathe the air which has such a history. Thank you for the great descriptions and the pictures you have painstakingly included in this fantastic internet page.
    Margaret Joyce

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