Holy Rosary Cathedral, Kolkata

Cathedral of the Most Holy Rosary
Cathedral of the Most Holy Rosary
22°34′43″N 88°21′10″E / 22.578664°N 88.352721°E / 22.578664; 88.352721Coordinates: 22°34′43″N 88°21′10″E / 22.578664°N 88.352721°E / 22.578664; 88.352721
Location Kolkata
Country India
Denomination Roman Catholic
Membership 800
Website www.archdioceseofcalcutta.in
History
Founded 1797
Architecture
Status Cathedral
Functional status Active
Architect(s) James Driver
Groundbreaking 1797
Completed 27 Nov. 1799
Construction cost Rs 90,000
Specifications
Number of towers 2
Administration
Archdiocese Archdiocese of Calcutta
Province Archdiocese of Calcutta
Clergy
Archbishop Thomas D’Souza
Stations of the cross in Portuguese Church

The Cathedral of the Most Holy Rosary, commonly known as the Portuguese Church, in Kolkata, is the cathedral of the Roman Catholic Archdiocese of Calcutta. It is also known as the known as the Murgihata Church and was founded in 1799.[1]

The cathedral has a decorated pediment, flanked on either side by two domed towers and an extended portico with arched entrance way. The interior contains beautiful sculptures including 14 Stations of the Cross. Behind the altar, there are the figures of Madonna and Child. The remains of the first Archbishop of Calcutta lie below the altar.

History

Job Charnock founded the city of Kolkata in 1690. Portuguese from Hooghly settled in the new town. They constructed a chapel and were attended by Augustinian priests. The Cathedral was founded in 1797. In 1799, the chapel was replaced by the church which is used today as the cathedral. It was the main Church of the Padroado in Kolkata till 1834, when it became the first parish Church of the newly erected Vicariate Apostolic of Bengal. The Salesians took over charge from the Jesuits in 1921 and they, in turn, handed it over to the diocesan clergy in 1972. In 1979, the cathedral annexe was constructed.

References

  1. ↑ Das Gupta, Prosenjit (2000). 10 Walks in Calcutta. Kolkata: Harper Collins. pp. 41–42. ISBN 81-7223-383-3.
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