St. John’s Church

About this monument

The Church, the first Anglican Cathedral of Kolkata, stands at the crossing of the Hastings Street and Council House Street. On 6th April, 1784 the foundation of the Church was laid. Its construction was completed in 1787. The architect was James Agg who had come to India in 1779 with William Hickey. He copied St. Martin-in-the-Fields but with certain changes. Thus it has no portico, the entrance designed as a verandah was placed at the back of the building. The tower on the opposite side raises much above the roof-parapet. Agg’s Church was altered several times, first by Edward Tirelta in 1797 and again in 1811 and 1863. The entrance was moved to the west side, an apse was added at the east and a pair of galleries was built in the longer side. In the interior, Doric columns were changed to Corinthian. Soon after its construction, Thomas Daniel had done an engraving on it. In the interior of the Church has a painting by Sir John Zoffany reproducing the ‘Last Supper’. Originally, it was placed over the alter.

Site plan

Site plan from the ASI Inventory of Monuments and Sites of National Importance, Vol. VII Part IV, Kolkata Circle (2015).

Photographs