Description of the attraction
Mumbai is a huge city, crowded and bustling. It has very few quiet corners where you can hide from the hustle and bustle. This very quiet place is the church of St. Evangelista John, located in the southern part of the city of Mumbai. It was built by the British in 1847, after the defeat of their army in the First Afghan War of 1838-1943, as a tribute to the fallen soldiers, which is why it is also called the Afghan Memorial Church. It is designed in the Gothic style and is a beautiful building with sharp spiers and tall narrow windows decorated with intricate stained-glass windows. Inside, the church is quite dark, with many Gothic arches and secluded spots. But at the same time, the influence of the culture of India can also be noticed in the design - on the walls there are patterns and ornaments in the national Indian style.
For the construction of the temple, local limestone and basalt were used, but the tiles, which are lined with mosaic patterns on the floor, were specially delivered from Britain. The bells that are installed in the bell tower were also brought from England, and at that time were considered among the best in all of western India. The height of the bell tower together with the spire is almost 60 meters and earlier, when there were no skyscrapers and high-rise buildings in the city, it could be seen for many kilometers around. Therefore, the church served as a kind of landmark for ships in the harbor.
Today, the Afghan Memorial Church is under government protection, it is open to tourists and holds services every week.
