CHRIST CHURCH CATHEDRAL, JABALPUR (1844 – 2005)


In January 1841, a very important event took place at Jabalpur. It was the visit of the Bishop of Cal­cutta, Bishop Wilson who was also the Bishop of In­dia, East Indies and Aus­tralia. He was accompanied by the Archdeacon the Hon'ble Pratt. This Bishop laid the first stone which came to be known as "The Christ Church”.

The church building progressed in such advanced stage that from April 1844 divine services were started. The main building and tower cost Rs. 2500 while the bricks were made with the labour of prisoners. The Lt. Governor of the North West province by an order dated 2nd January 1844, appointed the Rev. F.A. Dawson as the first Chaplain of this church. After his ar­rival Rev. Dawson added to the church building the Vestry costing Rs. 749 in 1845. The first Holy Communion Chalice and Patten were or­dered from L.M. Lattery of Calcutta costing Rs. 102.08 annas. The first church committee was formed in March 1844 to help the chaplain in the discharge of his-duties. The first Sunday school class was held in the church Vestry. In 1851, the pulpit and lectern were made under the direc­tion of Mr. Williams, designed by Capt. Kittoe costing Rs. 280 which Mrs. Dawson raised through a fancy fair and mission box. The first choir practice was held in the church in the evening of February the 4th, 1852. There after, from 1853-1856 there was no resident chaplain posted to the church but the pastoral care was provided by officiating and visiting, clergy men. The Bishop of Calcutta came to Jabalpur again on 14th December 1862 and consecrated the extended church body which was according to the same plan as at the time when the first stone was laid in 1841. The only difference was the chancel and roof which had been greatly im­proved. Besides this a silver flagon, furniture and fittings were included with ten new benches with arms to seat 60 people.


A remarkable man named The Rev. WB. Drawbridge was appointed as the next Chaplain and he was in office from 1869-1873. He in­stalled the lectern and brass altar desk and made plans to purchase a bell for the church. He was responsible for the consecration and opening of the present Mandla road Cemetery. He provided a new organ and added pews ca­pable of seating 78 per­sons. It was he who started the Christ Church Schools with the help of Mr. G.P. Thomas, the resident engineer and also planned to extend the church.


The lady chapel was dedicated to Saint Mary the ,Virgin on 17th March 1897 (St. Patrick's Day) as a thanks offering for the long­est and happiest reign in the English history. This chapel has been used by the Tamil Parish since that time.

 During the period of Rev. B. Kitchin (1900-1905) there was a proposal to make this church a Cathedral, but because of the new An­glican Diocese of Nagpur it had the status of pro-Cathedral. Rev. Kitchin took great interest in the work of the church of England Tamil Mission in trying to start a school in Tamil language and also securing a Tamil priest for evangelistic and school work, but his efforts did not bear fruit. It was during the period of Rev, Kitchin that the Metropolitan of India and Bishop of Cal­cutta The Rt. Rev. Dr. Coplestone visited Jabalpur and held a Confirmation Service on 15th November 1902. He also celebrated Holy Communion in Tamil on 17th November 1902 in this church. It was during his visit that the instal­lation of the existing marble altar designed by superintending Engineer of Jaipur State' was approved.

This marble alter was made of white Jaipur marble with shafts of other colours and with the' inscription "AGNUS DE1" in the middle executed' in green fade. It is considered one of the finest altars in India. This altar was solemnly conse­crated and dedicated to the service of God by the Bishop of Nagpur on Sunday the 20th December 1903. The organ was also dedicated at the same time. The new organ being the third (other two were out of order) was heard for the first time in church on Sunday the 6th December 1903

The 24th day of October 1904 saw the wooden screen on the, north side of the chan­cel. Altar Candlesticks, brass lamp and a brass pulpit on a marble base were also added. This new pulpit was dedicated on the Palm Sunday of 1905 by the Bishop and the Bishop's Chair was presented in the church on, Christmas Day 1905. In January 1906 marble paving was laid around the font and in May 1907 the marble steps and lectern stands were erected in memory of Nora Kunbandt. In June 1907, three new star hanging lamps were placed in the centre aisle and two on the walls by the side screen. May 1910 was the time .when the pavement of the choir sac­risty was laid by Mrs. Mc Guire in memory of her late husband Mr. J.D. M Guire. From 1st April 1926, the Christ Church Parish took up the re­sponsibility of maintaining their own chaplain. The chaplain at that time was The Rev. Can. E.R. Clough. In .the year 1928 steps were taken to get the electrification of the church done through the contributions made by the congre­gation and government grant.

On May 7th 1920 the church house bun­galow was converted temporarily into the Par­sonage for the Chaplain. The foundation for the Parsonage was laid on 6th August 1935 and was dedicated on 31st May 1936 (White Sunday) after it was built by contractor Mr. Dal Singh; The Chaplain at that time was Rev, D.E.J. Earle. The chaplaincies in the succeeding period (1937-1987) were occupied by the Rev. W S. Wheeler, Rev. J.M.R. Bagley, Rev. Can. W.H. Johnson, Rev. Can. W.N. Mategaonker, Rev. Can. N.C. Chelvem, Rev. Can. R.A. Kurian, Rev. Can. J.E. Robinson, Rev. A.D. Ince, Rev. J. Dela Hoyde, Rev. Can. J.E. Robinson for the second term for 1962-87 when he of was called home to rest from' his years' of faithful service.

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