St. James' Church (জোড়া গীর্জা) in Kolkata (Calcutta), India, is a historic church built in 1862.[1] The present church was built to replace an older one of the same name which was situated in Nebutolla Lane, near Amherst Street. This Church, built very much after the style and plan of “St. Thomas’” Church, Free School Street, appears to have got into a state of disrepair, due chiefly to white ants having eaten into the beams, and was declared unsafe for divine worship. An attempt was, however, made to repair the building, but while the work was in progress, the roof fell in with a crash during the early hours of the morning of the 23rd August, 1858, and the Church, lay a desolate pile of ruins. It was than decided to abandon any further attempts to repair the Church as it was found to be very much out of the way, and in many ways inconvenient for those attending it. The Church authorities, therefore, resolved to build a new Church in a more convenient locality and with it to build a school for the children in the neighbourhood.[2]
The project for building the new Church and school had the full support and backing of Archdeacon Pratt, a keen educationist, who, with his influence, was able to acquire the garden house of Mr. Coates together with its spacious grounds for the purpose. At the same time, a smaller house in the grounds was also acquired for the residence of the Chaplain. This property was situated opposite the Female European Orphan Asylum, across the road, which had been founded during July 1815 by Mrs. Thompson, the wife of the Rev. T Thompson.
The foundation stone of the new Church was laid on 7th June, 1862, by the Hon’ble John Peter Grant, acting Lt. Governor of Bengal, at the south-east corner of the foundations. A marble tablet placed on the eastern wall of the south transept reads – “ The first stone of this Church dedicated to St. James, was laid June 7th, 1862. Consecrated by Bishop Cotton 25th July, 1864. The Revd. Dr. Jarbo, Chaplain ”. [3]
167, Acharya Jagadish Chandra Bose Road, Kolkata (formerly Calcutta) - 700 0014. West Bengal. India.