Samipya 2007 Vol 24 Ank 01 02

Author(s): R P Mehta, R T Savalia
Publisher: Bholabhai Jeshingbhai Adhyayan Sanshodhan Vidyabhavan

Page 23

The Churches of Ahmedabad built during the British Period
Thomas B. Parmar
The church architecture began to construct in Gujarat with the spread of christianity. The word 'church' is derived from a Greek root Küptakóv properly adjective of the Lord, dominicum, dominical means 'house of the Lord', as a name of the Christian house of worship.' In short the Christian house of worship is called church. The word 'church' is also used for the Christian Soceity. But here it is used. for the Christian house of worship.
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The Churches built in Ahmedabad during the British Period (1818 to 1947) are six in numbers. Three of them belong to Roman Catholic and three to Protestant. In historical order they are as under:
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Church of Our Lady of Mount Carmel, 1842 (?)
Christ Church, 1848.
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Church of Immaculate Conception, 1866 (?)
St. Georges Church, 1882
St. Paul's Church, 1882 (?)
I.P. Mission Church, 1900
Church No. 1, 3 and 5 belong to Roman Catholic while church No. 2, 4 and 6 belong to Protestant. Most of them are built in Gothic Style. They can be described as under :
1. The Church of Our Lady of Mount Carmel :
This Roman Catholic church is situated about 130 yards to the South-East of Rani Rupamati mosque on Mirzapur road. In Ahmedabad the first Roam Catholic chaplain was appointed in 1830 and first small church was built in 1842. The original chapel was small plain building. In 1864 it was enlarged. The other source tells that Fr. Peter d'Oliveira from Mahim built it in 1856 which stood up to 1969. The Original Structure can not be traced at present.
2. The Christ Church :
This Protestant church is situated on Mirzapur road near R.C. Highschool. This church is named 'English Church' in Bombay Gazetteer. In present it is known ast Christ Church. It was conscerated by Bishop Carr on 6th January, 1848.
Lecturer, H. K. Arts College, Dept. of Indian Culture, Ahmedabad-9
The Paper was read in 32nd All India Oriental Conference, 1984, Ahmedabad.
સામીપ્ય : પુ. ૨૪, અંક ૧-૨, એપ્રિલ – સપ્ટે, ૨૦૦૭