বাংলায় পড়ুন
The twin spires of the St. James Church earned it the name ‘Jora Girja’ by the locals and it is popularly known by that name only. The original Church dates back to 1823 which was located at the Nebutolla lane near Amherst Street. But due to some construction error the church was falling apart. The old church was closed down by 1855. The foundation stone of the present church was laid down in 1862. The new St. James Church is situated at the 165A Acharya Jagadish Chandra Bose Rd.
East Bengal Railway Architect Walter B. Granville designed the new St. James Church who also designed the Kolkata High Court, GPO, and the Calcutta University’s Senate Hall. It is considered as one of Kolkata’s most elegant churches. The church is built in Gothic Style with pointed Gothic arches on both its interiors and exteriors. The ceiling of the church is adorned with beautiful mahogany woodworks and it has resisted the termites’ attack for years. The floor of the church is also made of wood which couldn’t pass the test of time and started withering. The church was restored to its full glory in 2011.
The St. James Church or the Jora Girja is the largest protestant church and has the capacity of about 600 accommodations in its prayer hall. There are several other churches in the city and each of it has a different story to tell; see what St James has to offer if you are a seeker of peace with elegance then pay a visit to this church.
