It was by chance that I stumbled into Afghan church while going driving around Colaba. I had seen this beautiful Church while going towards the army cantonment before and always wondered about it. As I decided to check it out, on a sudden whim, I realised that I was just plain lucky that the church was opened by its caretaker after working hours (as it was around dusk) for a foreign tourist. As I walked into the church, I was transported into a by-gone pre-independence era.What a feeling it was!
First things first- Why was the Church called Afghan church I wondered? I found out that the church was built as a memorial by the British for the martyrs of the First Afghan War.The entire church was built with stone with beautiful Gothic arches and stained glass work done by artisans brought down from Britain, as was told by the caretaker.Below is a picture of the facade of the church:
A picture of the inside of the church with ornate work on the walls and beautiful stone carvings.On the wall were erected memorials of soldiers who had died at the war.
One of the most interesting things that I saw was that the pews had round holders to erect rifles!
A picture of the shrine:
A picture of a marble engraved Baptism Front:
A view of the inside of the church with beautiful stained glass work::
An ornate brass lectern used to address the service:
Marble plaque inside the church, dedicating it to the martyrs of the war.
Woodwork and ornate carving inside the monument:
A picture of the long benches of pews, made in beautiful wood:
Afghan Church was a beautiful experience. the irony is that such a beautiful monument which is a heritage structure, is not preserved and maintained well. The premises outside have got overgrown shrubbery and unkept gardens around. I hope it is decorated with a beautiful garden to make it one of the tourist attractions of Mumbai.
