Hastings Chapel

Hastings Chapel. A beacon of faith amidst the bustling streets of Kolkata. It stands as a testament to a bygone era, a time when the British East India Company held sway over this land. Hastings Chapel isn’t just a building. It’s a repository of stories. It whispers tales of seafaring souls seeking solace on distant shores. It echoes with hymns sung by officers of the Raj, their voices mingling with the clang of ships in the nearby docks. Constructed around the 1840s, Hastings Chapel was initially intended as a spiritual haven for the seafaring community frequenting the Kidderpore and Garden Reach docks. The chapel’s foundation stone may have been laid by Lady Bentinck herself. Hastings Chapel originally boasted expansive grounds. Sadly, much of this land was later appropriated by the Ordinance Factory Housing Estate. Eight Doric columns stand sentinel at the entrance, supporting a simple pediment crowned by a cross. Inside, the chapel exudes a spartan elegance, a stark contrast to the ornate grandeur of many other historic churches. Four marble plaques adorn the walls. They commemorate individuals connected to the church’s history: Rev. John Henry Parker, Mary Sophia, wife of Rev. T.E. Slate, James Edward Payne, and Mrs. Mullens. The simple altar and the wooden pulpit, inscribed with “The word of the Lord endureth forever,” stand as reminders of the chapel’s enduring purpose. An old piano rests quietly, a silent witness to countless services and hymns. Originally under the stewardship of the London Missionary Society, Hastings Chapel now serves the United Missionary Church, having passed through the hands of the United Church of North India in 1956. Look closely. Notice the modern steel chairs replacing the historic wooden benches. The original marble floor has also been replaced with cement. These changes hint at a complex and perhaps turbulent past, raising questions about the journey of this historical gem. Hastings Chapel has weathered storms both literal and metaphorical. It has witnessed Kolkata’s transformation from a colonial outpost to a vibrant metropolis. It stands as a quiet reminder of the city’s multifaceted history, inviting you to delve deeper into its intriguing past.