‘Sigappu Koil’ or red church

‘Sigappu Koil’ or red church
Deccan Herald

The whole of the cantonment of Bangalore is dotted with churches. The legacy of the British, these churches were built in typical Gothic style, almost like a piece of England that has been transferred here. Infact on one’s first visit to the UK, on seeing a church there, one has to hold back from exclaiming, “ Hey! They’ve not only stolen our jewels, they’ve transplanted our churches as well!

St John’s Church in Cleveland Town is one such edifice, which stands out immediately with its massive spire and bright red exterior. Going into the quaint old Church office, which still stands the test of time one is met by more modernised interiors including snazzy computers and swing doors.

“It was called Sigappu Koil or red church,” explains the Presbyter–in-charge, Rev P K Samuel. “This locality was called Mootoocherry,” explains Samuel, ”in the neighbourhood of Haines road, a small chapel was built in 1853 by Rev R Posnett for the Indo- British descendants of the British soldiers, who could not worship at St Mark’s Cathedral and were unwelcome at the cantonment schools. The services were celebrated on Wednesday and Sunday evenings.

“In 1858 the new Mootoocherry church was dedicated to St John the Baptist, the evangelist by Bishop T Dealtry, the bishop of Madras and the name Mootoocherry was changed to St. John’s church. A cenotaph was erected in front of the church, in memory of the soldiers who died during the wars. In 1947 with the union of the Anglican, Congregationalist and the Wesleyan Methodist, St John’s Church came under the aegis of the Church of South India. Today the church is a part of the Karnataka Central Diocese,” he adds.

The interiors of the church remain the same and have been maintained in pristine condition. Gleaming teak paneling greets the eye as a back drop to the altar and a pipe organ, which dates back to the church’s inception is still in use. ”The Clock Tower has a clock in perfect working condition and initially there was a family of traditional watch maker who kept it in order. Today we are lucky to have a local man for that,” reveals Pastor Samuel.

Initially according to history, the church just started with 100 members. Today the congregation consists of over 900 families, which meet every Sunday for worship and fellowship at 6.30am, 8.30am and 6.00 pm services. The church also has several key ministries run under its aegis including Asha Nivas, which is a home for senior citizens, which was started in 1978 in the compound of the church.

Besides the choir and Sunday school the church has a Teen’s club, a Youth Fellowship and a Golden Age Fellowship where the members meet, interact with one another.