PilgrimstaysPopularly known as Patthar Girja or Church of Stones, the All Saints Cathedral is a magnificent Anglican Cathedral that lies in heart of Allahabad, now known officially as Prayagraj. Allahabad is a major city in Uttar Pradesh, India and is located close to the Triveni Sangam , or the confluence of three rivers- the Ganga, Yamuna and Saraswati rivers. Also called Prayag, a place of sacrifice or offering, this populous city of 1.11 million people plays a central role in Hindu scriptures. The history of the All Saints Cathedral, Allahabad dates back to the days of the British Raj. Land for erecting the Cathedral was granted by Sir William Muir, the lieutenant governor of the North Western Provinces. Originally intended to be the main cathedral of the North-Western Provinces, it was however decided to have the main cathedral at Lahore instead. The foundation stone was laid by his wife, Mrs Elizabeth Huntly Wemyss, on 10 April 1871. Considering the importance of the Cathedral, the services of Sir William Emerson, a prominent British architect, were engaged. Sir William Emerson is well known for his other masterpieces like the Crawford Market in Mumbai, the Muir Central College, Allahabad and the Victoria Memorial in Kolkata. Work though proceeded at a leisurely pace- while the cathedral was consecrated in 1887 it was finally completed another four years later. All Saints Cathedral is built in the Gothic Revival style, an architectural form that was very popular in the 19th century. In view of the warm climate prevailing in the city for much of the year, porches are provided for carriages, as also low windows that can be easily covered with mats to protect against hot winds and dust. The local moniker Patthar Girja probably alludes to the cream white stone that the exterior is built with, and then tastefully finished with red sandstone dressing. The inside of the cathedral has impressive vaulted ceilings, Greco-Roman columns and archways, and stained glass windows of an exceedingly high order of craftsmanship. The beautiful altar of mosaic inlaid with marble has a pulpit with three panels. While most of the cathedral follows European architectural styles, it is the altar with its fine marble latticework, no doubt with a strong Mughal influence, which brings the whole place to life. Centrally located in a large open space at the crossing of two arterial roads of Allahabad, M G Road and S N Marg, this is one of the largest and most impressive churches in North India. Today the cathedral is part of the Church of North India. The best time to visit is on Sundays, preferably before the services begin. One can experience the essence of multi-cultural India at this cathedral which co-exists in one of Hinduism’s holiest cities.
Popularly known as Patthar Girja or Church of Stones, the All Saints Cathedral is a magnificent Anglican Cathedral that lies in heart of Allahabad, now known officially as Prayagraj
Also called Prayag, a place of sacrifice or offering, this populous city of 1.11 million people plays a central role in Hindu scriptures
The history of the All Saints Cathedral, Allahabad dates back to the days of the British Raj
Originally intended to be the main cathedral of the North-Western Provinces, it was however decided to have the main cathedral at Lahore instead
Work though proceeded at a leisurely pace- while the cathedral was consecrated in 1887 it was finally completed another four years later
The cathedral seen from Church Lane — the full Gothic facade with its central tower, pointed arches, and flying buttresses — is one of the great architectural views in north India. The Chunar stone, which weathers to a warm amber-grey, gives the building a particularly dignified presence in the flat Civil Lines streetscape.
The stained glass, imported from England and installed between the 1870s and early 1900s, includes narrative scenes from both Testaments. The east window above the high altar is the finest — depicting the Ascension with the apostles looking up from Olivet. In the morning light it fills the chancel with colour.
The carved stone reredos behind the high altar — depicting the Last Supper flanked by figures of saints — is an exceptional example of Victorian ecclesiastical stone carving. Its fine detail is rarely noticed by visitors who stand too far back; approaching the altar to look closely reveals craftsmanship of the highest order.
The interior walls carry memorial tablets to British officers, officials, and missionaries who died in the United Provinces in the 19th and early 20th centuries. The inscriptions are a compressed social history of the British Raj in north India — judges, soldiers, railway engineers, and missionaries all memorialised in the same stone.
Walking around the exterior to the north side reveals the flying buttresses supporting the nave walls — a full-scale deployment of Gothic structural engineering in 1870s Allahabad. From the cathedral garden, the combination of buttresses, lancet windows, and tower against the north Indian sky is architecturally extraordinary.
William Emerson designed the Victoria Memorial as a monument to empire. He also designed this cathedral. The Victoria Memorial is visited by millions; All Saints Cathedral by thousands. But the cathedral is still in use for what it was built for — prayer. The Memorial is a museum. That difference says something about what endures.
Popularly known as Patthar Girja, or Church of Stones, the All Saints Cathedral is a magnificent Anglican cathedral that lies in the heart of Allahabad, now known officially as Prayagraj. Allahabad is a major city in Uttar Pradesh, India, located close to the Triveni Sangam, the confluence of three rivers — the Ganga, Yamuna and Saraswati. Also called Prayag, a place of sacrifice or offering, this populous city of 1.11 million people plays a central role in Hindu scriptures.
The history of the All Saints Cathedral dates back to the days of the British Raj. Land for erecting the cathedral was granted by Sir William Muir, the Lieutenant Governor of the North-Western Provinces. Originally intended to be the main cathedral of the North-Western Provinces, it was however decided to have the main cathedral at Lahore instead. The foundation stone was laid by his wife, Mrs Elizabeth Huntly Wemyss, on 10 April 1871.
Considering the importance of the cathedral, the services of Sir William Emerson, a prominent British architect, were engaged. Sir William Emerson is well known for his other masterpieces, such as the Crawford Market in Mumbai, the Muir Central College in Allahabad and the Victoria Memorial in Kolkata. Work proceeded at a leisurely pace — while the cathedral was consecrated in 1887, it was finally completed another four years later.
All Saints Cathedral is built in the Gothic Revival style, an architectural form that was very popular in the 19th century. In view of the warm climate prevailing in the city for much of the year, porches are provided for carriages, as also low windows that can be easily covered with mats to protect against hot winds and dust. The local moniker Patthar Girja probably alludes to the cream-white stone the exterior is built with, then tastefully finished with red sandstone dressing.
The inside of the cathedral has impressive vaulted ceilings, Greco-Roman columns and archways, and stained glass windows of an exceedingly high order of craftsmanship. The beautiful altar of mosaic inlaid with marble has a pulpit with three panels. While most of the cathedral follows European architectural styles, it is the altar with its fine marble latticework, no doubt with a strong Mughal influence, which brings the whole place to life.
Centrally located in a large open space at the crossing of two arterial roads of Allahabad, M G Road and S N Marg, this is one of the largest and most impressive churches in North India. Today the cathedral is part of the Church of North India. The best time to visit is on Sundays, preferably before the services begin. One can experience the essence of multi-cultural India at this cathedral, which co-exists in one of Hinduism’s holiest cities.
