THE FAMOUS FIVE

Churches, which predate the creation of Pakistan, form an integral part of the cityscape of Lahore. Be it their sprawling compounds or their magnificent arches, these awe-inspiring architectural marvels stand as testimony to coexistence. Some of them have interesting stories of how they were designed and built and the role they are playing in our society today. A comprehensive study by the University of Alberta on the churches in Lahore tries to cover the historical and social role of churches in the city. Presented here are brief stories and details about five of them.
Cathedral Church of the Resurrection

Seen across the Shaharah-Quaid-e-Azam (the Upper Mall) from the High Court, is a contemporary stained glass tower which marks the entrance to one of the most important neo-Gothic buildings of the city—the impressive Cathedral Church of the Resurrection.
The sprawling compound, containing the looming towers of the cathedral, provides a haven in the middle of the bustle of downtown Lahore.
The story of the establishment of the Anglican Church in the Punjab can be traced to the first chapel that was set up in Lahore Fort, in the once sumptuous Diwan-e-Khass of Emperor Shah Jahan with the altar occupying the eminent position once reserved for the most celebrated of the Great Mughals.
Once the Punjab had been brought fully under subjugation, a church was established in another historic building, the Tomb of Anarkali. However, soon a site was chosen on high ground that lay between the Upper Mall and Mcleod Road. Although the foundations of the cathedral had been sunk, the work was stopped in December 1867 when the Punjab was constituted a separate diocese. It was decided to enlarge the building into a “larger church fitted as a cathedral, with library, chapter house, etc.” Oldrid Scott, the son of the celebrated architect Gilbert Scott whose neo-Gothic exploits had become the rage of London and Bombay, was commissioned to design the new cathedral. The work was carried out in an unusual combination of fine brickwork and grey stone which was procured from the Taraki quarries beyond Jheulm. The church designed in “decorated early English style” has a footprint 226’ in length and 152’ in breadth. Although it was only partially completed, it began to be used in 1885, while its two large saddleback western towers, were completed much later. Both the weathercock and the lantern tower that it topped are no longer extant; however, the name Kukkar Girja (Rooster Cathedral) that it is referred to in local parlance survives. The ringing bells are in the southwest tower. The Cathedral guide-book says ‘Originally the frame for the bells was made to accommodate eight, but only six of them arrived from England. The largest bell is about 1 ton in weight and when in use, the foundations used to vibrate.’
Sacred Heart Cathedral

Also known as the Roman Catholic Cathedral, it is located on the Upper Mall Road and is accessed from Hall Road, a street that branches out to the south from Regal Chowk. Situated in sprawling grounds, landscaped with large trees, plantation and shrubbery, the cathedral is an interesting combination of spires, towers, and a large cupola juxtaposed against each other.
This magnificent edifice was constructed by the Belgian Capuchins in a prominent place in the heart of the city and consecrated on November 19, 1907 as the mother Church of the diocese of Lahore. It replaced the historic old
Pro-Cathedral of the Immaculate Conception built in 1861 near the famous Anarkali bazaar, outside the Old City. The cathedral was founded by Bishop Godfrey Pelkmans. In 1893 he took charge as the third Bishop of Lahore at the young age of 39. Bishop Pelckmans gathered money from benefactors in Belgium and bought the land in a prominent place in the heart of the city. The building was started in 1902 and he had the joy of blessing the foundation stone on October 4, 1903. But he was not destined to see his dream become a reality. He passed away on August 3, 1904. The total length of the building is about 200 feet. The belfry steeple stands 165 feet high, while the magnificent dome, 120 feet high, is flanked by four elegant turrets.
St Joseph’s Church

St. Joseph’s Church, Sarfaraz Rafiqui Road, is the oldest church of the Roman Catholic Archdiocese of Lahore in Pakistan. It was blessed on October 31, 1853. St Joseph’s was originally built to serve Catholics in the British Army. The parish priests were Fathers Nasir Gulfam and Frans Labeeuw (OFM Cap) in 2003. The parish of 5,000 families consists of approximately 25,000 Christians. The parish also has a church in Batapur which was rebuilt through the help of a local benefactor. The Parish Franciscan Youth Group established a book bank to help deserving students. Graduating students give their old books and some are bought by the Parish, helping nearly 300 students. The members also visit the sick in hospitals and in their homes. A Christian and Muslim Peace Committee helps to keep the peace and harmony among the communities. Special days, festivals and other holidays are celebrated together. The committee arranges medical camps, social programmes and awareness programmes. This group also helps to find jobs for unemployed Christians. Schools in St Joseph’s parish currently educate 3,500 in an effort to reduce the estimated 30-40 percent of parish children who receive no schooling at all.
St Andrew’s Church

Located on Empress Road, St Andrew’s Church with its calm and quiet compound is a little further north of the Railway Headquarters and set back from the road. It is an attractive church built with mellow red Lahori brick. In contrast to its neighbour St. Anthony’s across the road, St Andrew’s relies on Roman arched openings on the ground, while twin Romanesque windows adorn the belfry tower.
This octagonal tower punctured by Roman arch openings ends in a decorative flourish and a cupola. The pitched roofs of the nave and side ambulatory covered with simple metallic covering point towards an economical construction. Although originally the church came about as a result of a makeshift arrangement, the building is impressive in its simplicity and unadorned, unpretentious architectural character. Before the current structure was built, the church was housed in the adjacent tomb of Muhammad Saleh Kamboh, the court chronicler of Emperor Shah Jahan, and his brother Inayatullah.
St Anthony’s Church

It is located on Empress Road, close to its junction with the famous Shimla (Simla) Hill. The neo-Gothic building is dominated by its tall octagonal tower which marks the entrance vestibule as well. Other predominant architectural features include the recurring solid masonry buttresses and tiled pitched roofs which lend the church a special character. Although comparatively simple in plan, and carrying little flourish of ornamentation, the church is striking in its unaffected demeanour and a lofty nave of handsome proportions. You might like to walk to the rear of the compound where you will find a white-washed single-storey structure with massive brick walls and cusped arched verandas, reminiscent of 19th century bungalows of the city. Opposite the church on the east is the impressive North Western Railway Headquarters. It is a brick structure, echoing the transparent air of veranda arcading seen in several other buildings of the period.