St Mark’s Church Burnt Down In Colonial Bangalore, 2 Photos 1923
Two contrasting photographs from 1923 capture the history of St Mark’s Church in British-era Bangalore (now Bengaluru). One photo shows the church after a devastating fire, and the other shows it during its grander days.
A group of British soldiers and civilians can be seen standing inside the burnt-down church. The church stands on St Mark’s Road, bordered by South Parade Road (now M G Road) on one side and the Bowring Institute, a heritage recreational club, on the other. In its proximity is Cubbon Park, one of Bangalore’s most famous green spaces.
St Mark’s began in 1808 as a small garrison church under the Madras Presidency of the East India Company. As Bangalore grew into a major military cantonment town, the congregation steadily increased. A larger structure was planned, and by 1902, a new church building was completed. However, tragedy struck when the building collapsed shortly after completion. By 1906, it was rebuilt to its former glory.
Disaster struck again in 1923 when a fire, caused by a short circuit, gutted the church. During renovation in 1924, the structure collapsed once more. Finally, reconstruction commenced in 1926, and by 1927, St Mark’s Church rose again, restored as one of Bangalore’s most enduring colonial landmarks.
Did you know – it was the only church under the control of the East India Company’s Madras Presidency, with part of its construction funded by the Company.
Past posts – Vintage Raja Ravi Varma “Shivaji” Oleograph Print., First Line Beach In British Era Madras, 1900 Postcard., Anglo-Mysore War, Last Effort And Fall of Tipu Sultan, 1877 Print., Our Journey Around The World – 1894 Book.
