In Thane, St John the Baptist Church stands tall as one of the most valuable structures in the state. So, it's no surprise that it echoes the phrase "Ex caelis ad terram", which is Latin for "from the heavens to the Earth." Tomorrow, a talk titled Heaven to Earth by historian Fleur D'souza and Vikas Dilawari, as part of the exhibition Icons of Faith at Chhatrapatti Shivaji Maharaj Vastu Sangrahalaya will shed light on its lesser-known history and the process of restoring it.

D'souza says that sculptural art is common in Goa and Vasai. However, on the Island of Bombay, such art at various structures has either been removed, refurbished or redone. She adds, "Not everyone may know that this church was part of the Friary de Santo Antonio and not originally a parish. That's part of the reason why it survived. It was not a destination for parishioners as it was too far."