Afghan Church – The War Memorial

Note: The Conservation & Restoration work of the Afghan War Memorial Church is in progress. The project duration is till 2024. The restoration work is undertaken by World Monuments Fund India in partnership with the Afghan Church Pastorate Committee, funded by Citibank.

Afghan Church which is located in Navy Nagar, Colaba, Mumbai. It is an Anglican Church is the Church of St. John, the Evangelist. It is an isolated church with no much activity accept for some film shootings. The purpose of Britishers to built this church was to commemorate the dead of the First Afghan War.

Sir George Russell Clerk laid the foundation stone of the church on the 4 December 1847 by . Bishop of Bombay, John Harding consecrated the church on January 7, 1858.

The spire cost a sum of Rs 5,65,000 and was finished on June 10, 1865. Sir Cowasji Jehangir who contributed a sum of Rs 7,500 to help complete the building.

Short History about Afghan  Church:

The retreat of the British forces from Kabul in 1842 was described at the time as the worst disaster suffered by the British in India. Many of the casualties of the conflict came from the East India Company’s Bombay Army and military establishments located in proximity to the present church site.

In the war British army lost 4,500 troops, along with about 12,000 civilians which included both the families of Indian and British soldiers, plus workmen, servants and other Indian camp-followers.

Around 2,000 of the Indians, many of whom were maimed by frostbite, survived and returned to Kabul. They had to beg or to be sold into slavery. Some at least returned to India after another British invasion of Kabul several months later, but others remained behind in Afghanistan.

The church is located in the Colaba area of South Mumbai.

How To Reach:

Bus no. 123, 106, 137 from Churchgate station
Bus no. 103, 1 from CST

Distance: 4.5 kms from CST to Afghan Church
4 kms from Churchgate to Afghan Church

Source of article: Wikipedia

Read more:
Wikipedia
1842 Kabul Retreat (or Massacre of Elphinstone’s army)