CHRIST CHURCH CATHEDRAL JABALPUR HISTORY OF 150 YEARS SINCE 1844.

The Christ Church began with the visit of the Bishop from Calcutta and the Archdeacon to Jabalpur in January 1841. Bishop Wilson, was also Bishop of India, East Indies, and Australia, and the Archdeacon was the Hon’ble Pratt. The Bishop laid the first stone for the Church which came to be called, “Christ Church”.

The building progressed in leaps and bounds and was so advanced that by March 1843 it had begun to be used. Divine services started from April 1844. The main building and tower cost Rs. 2,500/-. The bricks were made with labour of the prisoners.

The first Chaplain, The Revd. F.A. Dawson, was appointed by the Lt. Governor of North West Province, by an Order dated 2^nd January 1844. The Revd. Dawson arrived at Jabalpur on 26^th February 1844. After his arrival the Vestry costing 749/- was added to the Church building in 1845. The first Church Holy Communion Chalice and patten was ordered from L.M. Lattery of Calcutta, costing Rs.102.8 annas. The first Church Committee was formed in March 1844 to help the Chaplain in the discharge of his duties. Sunday School was held in the Church Vestry.

In 1869, the Revd. W.B. Drawbridge was appointed as Chaplain. The Revd. Drawbridge was a remarkable man, for in the 4 years of his Chaplaincy, he installed the lectern and brass alter desk at a cost of Rs. 320/-. He also 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.

In 1870, the Revd. W.B. Drawbridge started the Christ Church Schools with the help of Mr. G.P. Thomas, the Resident Engineer. He also planned to extend the Church.

The Lady Chapel was dedicated on the 17^th March 1897 as a Thanks offering.This Chapel was dedicated to St Mary, the virgin. The Tamil Parish, under the Church Missionary Society donated Rs 500/ for its erection and was using it for Sunday Services.

The Next milestone in the history of Christ Church was the visit of the Metropolitan of India and the Bishop of Calcutta, the Rt Rev Dr Coplestone in November 1902. He was approached about the installation of a marble altar for the church. He gave his consent for the Project. The altar was designed by the superintending Engineer Jeypore State.

The altar was made of white Jeypore marble with shafts of other colours. In the center with the AGNUS DEL is executed in green jade. The altar is 7 ft.6 ‘’long, 3 ft.3’’ high and 3ft.wide and is extremely beautiful in appearance.

On 15^th November 1902, the Metropolitan , Dr.Coplestone held a confirmation service at 8:00 am and on Monday,17^th November 1902,he celebrated Holy Communion in Tamil for the members of the Christ Church Tamil Mission.

The Revd.Kitchin was concerned about the Church of England Tamil Mission, and tried to get a worker to instruct the children in their own mother tongue ( Tamil ), since this instruction was not available in the Government and mission School. The Chaplain corresponded with the Bishop of Madras through the Metropolitan with a view of securing the services of a Tamil Priest and his wife for evangelistic and School work, but his efforts did not bear fruit.

In May 1910, the pavement of the Choir sacristy was laid by Mrs. McGuire in memory of her late husband, J. D. McGuire, and a small brass tablet records this fact.

A new organ was heard for the first time in the Church on Sunday 6^th December 1903.This was the third organ to find a place in the Church, the earlier two being out of order.

The new pulpit was designed by M/s P. Orr and Sons of Madras. The new pulpit was dedicated on Palm Sunday 1905, by the Bishop. The Bishop’s chair was presented by Rev C. J. Palmer and placed 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 Kunhandt.

From 1^st 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. The Rev. Clough seeing the condition of the Parish funds said that economy measurer should be taken and also a drive for raising member’s contribution should be undertaken.

On May 7^th 1920 the Church house bungalow was converted temporarily into the Parsonage for the Chaplain.

The first meeting of the Mothers Union held on 18^th July 1934 at the Church House. Mrs. Barton was elected President, Mrs. Churchill was elected Treasurer and Vice President, and Mrs. Walton and Mrs.French were elected Joint Secretaries.

The Rev. G. C. Rogers was invested with Kaiser-e-Hind by the Governor on his visit to Jabalpur in December 1934.

In September, 1935 a small chapel was built in the Christ Church Boys’ School by Revd.D.E.J.Earle, as the Christ Church was out of bounds for the boarders during the week. This Chapel still stands today near the entrance of the Christ Church Boys’ School.

On 6^th August 1935, the foundation was laid for the Parsonage and the contract for the building was given to Mr.Dal Singh. The Parsonage was dedicated on May 31^st, 1936. On Whitsunday. The bungalow was occupied by the Chaplain on 1^st September 1936.The Chaplain at that time was Revd.D.E.J.Earle. The total cost of the Parsonage was Rs.6000/-.

The Rev S. Wheeler took over as Chaplain on 1^st May 1937 and handed over to the Rev J .M. E. Bagley in 1938.The Rev E.H. Ward was Assistant Chaplain from 1942 to 1943.The Rev Canon J.W.H. Johnson was Chaplain from 1944-1951. During this period the Rev G.S. Salisbury and the Rev N. C. Chelvem were Assistant Chaplains.

The Lima Memorial fund was started on 9^th May 1939 for POOR WIDOWS AND POOR ORPHANS out of the proceeds of the late Miss Edith Lima’s will.

The Rev Can. W. N. Mategaonker took over as Chaplain in 1951 until 1955. During this period he was assisted by Deacon J.Clements in 1952 and later on by the Rev Can. N .C .Chelvum in 1955. From 1956-1957 the Ven R.A. Kurian, the Metropolitan’s Commissary looked after the Parish, assisted by the Rev N. Whittam. In 1957, the Rev Can. R. Jacob was appointed with special responsibility for outstation areas like Itarsi etc. Rev J.E. Robinson was Chaplain from 1957 to 1958. In 1959, the Chaplain was the Rev A.D. Ince and from 1960 to 1962 the Chaplain was the Rev J. Dela Hoyde. The Rev Can. J.E. Robinson again assumed charge as Chaplain from 1962, which position he held till 1987 when he was called home to rest from his years of faithful service.

In August 1958, the parish received notification from the Bishop about Church Union proposals in North India. In November 1958, the Lima Memorial Building Project was sanctioned, costing approximately Rs.9,000/-. This building was for Anglican widows of Christ Church Parish. The Lima Memorial was blessed on 28^th December 1959.

On 18^th April 1970, farewell was given to Bishop and Mrs. J. Sadiq.

The next historic event was the formation of the Church of North India on 29^th November 1970, and Christ Church became a Cathedral in 1970 with the formation of the new Jabalpur Diocese, Church of North India. The Bishop S. K. Patro was installed as First Bishop of Jabalpur Diocese, Church of North India on 20^th December 1970 at very solemn and impressive service.

On 6^th April, 1975 the parish bid farewell to Bishop and Mrs S. K.  Patro. On 12^th September 1976, the Rt.Rev Franklin.C.Jonathan, was installed as the Second Bishop of Jabalpur Diocese,Church of North India at a very impressive service .

In 1984, Dr.E.C.Daniel took over as Lay Reader from Dr.B.F.Woods. After the Death of Rev Can J. E. Robinson, in 1987, the Rev.E.F.Albert was looking after the parish till a new priest could be found.

On 1^st June 1988, the Rev.Marshal Hereford took over as Presbyter in charge of the Christ Church Cathedral. In 1991 a new Yamaha organ was installed from the fund raised by youth, choir and women’s Fellowship.

In June 1991 Mr.Pushparaj Daniel Thangadurai was ordained as Deacon and appointed to Christ Church Cathedral with special responsibility for the Tamil Parish. After the retirement of Bishop F.C.Jonathan, in the year 1996 Rt.Rev.Sunil Cak was installed as the Third Bishop of Jabalpur Diocese, Church of North India at a very impressive service held at New Delhi. He Served from 1996 to 2004. In April ,2004 Rt Rev Dr P. C Singh took charge as the 4^th Bishop of the Jabalpur Diocese Church of North India ,  an office which he still occupies.

  When Rev Marshall Hereford left Jabalpur in the year 1995 Rev.P.D.Thangadurai was  given the charge of the Christ Church Cathedral he was the presbyter in charge from 1995-2005. In the year 2005 Rev.Joel Patrick took charge and served as Presbyter in charge from 2005-2008. When Rev Joel Patrick went for his further studies to Chennai, Rev.Arvind Peter took the charge and served from 2008-2012.In the year 2013 Rev.Bruce Thangadurai was appointed as Presbyter in charge.

CHAPLIANS OF CHRIST CHURCH CATHEDRAL

JABALPUR ( M.P.) INDIA