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St George’s Cathedral Madras – Old Postcard 1915
This is an old 1915 postcard of the St George’s Cathedral in Madras, now Chennai. This magnificent neo-classical style Cathedral is situated in the heart of Chennai. Designed by Col. J L Caldwell, a senior engineer with the British East India Co. Caldwell’s assistant, Captain De Havilland, who completed the construction of the church in 1815.
By the 1800s the grip of war and skirmishes with the French, Dutch, and local chieftains for the control of Madras had abated. Encouraging many Englishmen to stay outside the confines of Fort St George. The place in and around Mount Road was called the Great Choultry Plains, and many of them built spacious homes there.
The residents yearned for a place of worship. The construction of a church took fruition in all earnestness, by 1815 it was completed. Named after the patron saint of England. Just as it was with the name of Fort St George. By 1835 the church would be upgraded to a cathedral. Today the Cathedral looks well maintained and splendid. Unlike what we see in the Postcard, where a painting was much needed.
Read more- St. George’s Cathedral, Chennai. See my post- St Andrews Church In Bangalore – Old Postcard 1906.
Did you know- there is a statue of the Rt. Rev. Daniel Corrie, at this house of worship who was the first Bishop of Madras (1835–1837).
From the collection- Vintage Print Indian National Congress Bombay 1905., Raja Ravi Varma’s “Birth of Shakuntala” Oleograph c1894., Viceroy Of India Lord Irwin – Old Photo 1930., City of Cowlang or Kollam In South India – Antique Map 1750
