First Anglican St. Thomas Cathedral , Mumbai and its memorials

First Anglican church (St. Thomas cathedral, Mumbai.tourmyindia.com

Mumbai (Bombay). St.Thomas Cathedral, interior wikipedia.or

St. Thomas Cathedral, c.1905 Bombay, India. en.wikipedia.org

Controlled by the Cathedral and John Connon School, the 300 year St. Thomas cathedral, now located near Flora Fountain in Mumbai (Bombay) is the first Anglican church in this western part of India. It was established in a small place. by the 2nd Governor Gerald Aungier within the walls of fortified British settlement. The foundation for the proposed neo-Gothic styled church was laid in 1676 in a place called Bombay Green but the consecration for the church services was held only in 1718 after a lapse of some decades for various reasons, one being the unexpected death of Gov. Aungier.

Between 1716 and 1718 Chaplain Richard Cobbe completed the construction work of the church and since then it h been functioning as an Anglican church. In 1816, however, it was dedicated to the apostle St. Thomas by the Bishop of Calcutta Thomas Middleton. Only in July 1837, it became a cathedral with the concurrent appointment of Thomas Carr as the Bishop of Bombay. A UNESCO (Asia-Pacific) recognized heritage site, it is a beautiful cathedral with well embellished interior containing eye-catching brass, glass work, plaster of Paris with arch shaped windows and 'cannon-ball-proof' terrace. The colorful stained glass windows depict St. Thomas, portraying him and reminding visitors of his great contribution to Christianity. In 1838 the tall tower and the clock at the western end of the church were add3d to the existing structure.

Tablet at the entrance Image: The Bombay ProjectCulture Trip

St.Thomas Cathedral Mumbai, Marble memorial stone. alamy.com

A significant feature of this historical Cathedral that grew with Bombay from the earliest colonial time under the English company is its memorial, containing many carved stone memorials from the eras of East India Company rule in India and to the British Raj (under the British Crown). The following important figures are worthy of mention. Inside are found dozens of poignant eulogies engraved on the marble tablets of the departed souls and the numerous tombstones of military generals, clerks and young maids in the cemetery who died here thousands of miles away from their country of birth and who were part of the British society centuries ago.

01. Sir Frederick Lewis Maitland :

Capt. Frederick Lewis Maitland (1815)en.wikipedia.org

Rear-Admiral Sir Frederick Lewis Maitland KCB (7 September 1777 – 30 November 1839) born at Rankeilour, Fife was an officer in the Royal Navy during the French Revolutionary and Napoleonic Wars. His father Frederick Lewis Maitland (1730–1786), himself was a distinguished naval officer. He had his education at the Royal High School, Edinburgh, and later joined the Royal Navy. That he rose to the rank of rear admiral and held a number of commands proves his immense ability in naval command. leadership and tactical naval strategy. For this brave naval officer the most famous event of his career was when Napoleon Bonaparte surrendered to him on 15 July, 1815 aboard HMS Bellerophon, marking the final end of the Napoleonic Wars.

As for his Indian assignment, he worked with the EIC army during its raid from Bombay towards Afghanistan in February 1839, and over saw the landing of troops and supplies. When he came to know of disturbances at Bushehr, with the help of Marines he evacuated the resident and his staff, leaving the rioters unpunished. For this act, the Anglo-Indian press came down heavily on him for having failed to punish the trouble makers.

While on board the Wellesley at sea, Maitland died on 30 November 1839 off the coast of Bombay (aged 62). He was buried at Bombay and a monument was built by subscription to his memory at. Thomas cathedral. His wife, Lady Maitland, died in 1865 at Lindores,

Captain George Nicholas Hardinge:

Capt George Nicholas Hardinge. en.wikipedia.org

Above image: Capt George Nicholas Hardinge, British Naval Officer. Engraved by H.R. Cook, from an Original Miniature by Lethbridgeen.............

Captain George Nicholas Hardinge (11 April 1781 – 8 March 1808) was a distinguished officer of the Royal Navy. As a naval officer, he served well during the most important events in world history - the French Revolutionary and Napoleonic Wars. By dint of hard work and his uncanny ability to adopt himself to various war-like situations, besides his personal aura and bravery, he won the admiration of his important senior officers and naval commanders. Obviously their admiration and recognition of his ability helped him rise through the ranks. He successfully commanded HMS Terror, HMS Scorpion, HMS and St Fiorenz. However, he had his own ups and downs in his naval career and recognition and promotion came to him a bit late. His skill to take right decision and strategy helped him a lot when in 1804 he led a daring cutting-out operation against two Dutch ships. In the East Indies he had to manage with an elderly frigate he had first served on as a midshipman much earlier in his career. Once he commanded a ship and fought against a superior French opponent. The battle lasted for three grueling days and at last the British emerged victorious and the French captain surrendered. As luck ran out of him, Hardinge did not live to see the moment of victory, because he was killed by grapeshot shortly before. On 8 March 1808 aboard HMS St Fiorenzo, off Ceylon (Sri Lanka).

He was buried with full military honors and monuments to his memory were built in St. Thomas Cathedral, Bombay and St Paul's Cathedral, London.

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/History_of_Mumbai

Bishop Thomas Carr:

Memorial, Bishop Thomas Carr. St.Thomas Cathedral,Mumbai en.wikipedia.org

Thomas Carr M.A., D.D. (1788 - 5 September 1859) was the first Bishop of Bombay and served between 1837 and 1851. His details are sketchy.

Son of Thomas Carr and Catherine Wilkinson, he had his education at St John's College, Cambridge. Initially, Carr was Chaplain in the service of the East India Company in 1817 and was appointed to the archdeaconry of Bombay in 1833. Consecrated by the Bishop at Lambeth Palace Chapel on 19 November 1837. Installed in Bombay on 25 February 1838. In St Thomas Cathedral, Mumbai there is a nice monument to Carr - a recumbent effigy of Thomas Carr designed by British sculptor Matthew Noble. Memorial,

Memorial to officers and crew of steam ship Cleopatra:

Cleopatra steam ship. victorianweb.org

Cleopatra was a steam operated wooden paddle sloop launched in 1839 (weight 760 ton; its rated engine capacity 220hp.). Commanded by lieut. Young, it sank off the Malabar coast on 15 April 1847 facing the powerful SW Monsoon. The ship was transporting 100 convicts from Bombay to Singapore. with a crew of 15 including 9 officers. The plaque contains the names of nine officers and mentions about the 142 other crew members, but there is no mention of the 100 odd convicts.

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/St._Thomas_Cathedral,_Mumbai

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Thomas_Carr_(bishop

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Frederick_Lewis_Maitland

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/George_Nicholas_Hardingei

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/History_of_Mumbai