Rising From The Rubble

A real vintage gem, Christ Church, located near Nehru Park, has been around since 1844

We are all well aware that, back in the day, many British officers explored Northeast India, the reason having mostly to do with tea. Many officers settled in this part of the country for more than a century, and so it is not surprising to find traces of colonial rule across the region, especially in Guwahati, that served as an important hub. Christ Church in Guwahati, nestled close to Nehru Park, is one such gem that dates back to 1844. In fact, the very first building of the church was photographed by Oscar Jean Baptiste Mallitte in the 1860s; the architecture was different to the present renovated building.

Then and Now ‘

On May 9, 1844, Reverend Robert James Bland was appointed as the Chaplain of Assam. During that period, the need for a church in Guwahati was raised as there were none in the region. So, Reverend Bland took the initiative and formed a committee, which laid the foundation stone of Christ Church in 1844 itself,’ shared the current caretaker. However, the current facade bears a different look to the original building as it went through many facelifts over the years. ‘The church was destroyed twice by two powerful earthquakes in the middle of the 19th century. Earlier, the structure of the church was huge and extended till the present day Judges’ Field. In the 1856 earthquake, the walls of the building were severely damaged, but the church was somehow functioning. In the earthquake of 1897, the church was shattered and the building needed an immediate overhaul.’