How this Mumbai church is connected to Afghanistan

Back in the early 19th century the Lord Bishop of Calcutta was keen to build a lsquochapelrsquo for the East India Company troops stationed in Bombay As the troops and the population increased the need was felt for a bigger church The proposed church was given an impetus owing to the wars or campaigns in Afghanistan and Sindh in the mid1800s and was to be a fitting memorial for the Indian and British soldiers who lost their livesSwati ChandgadkarThe Afghan Church consecrated as St John The Evangelist opened for service in 1858 At the time Gothic Revival architecture was the prominent style in England and its influence was seen in the buildings in Bombay The Afghan Church became the first church to be built in this NeoGothic styleWindows of artldquoThe Afghan Church is unique in that this religious building is also a commemorative of a military event and holds army memorabilia In churches and cathedrals it is commonplace that apart from the main Altar Window most stained glass windows are added as and when donations are made and sometimes they take years to fill the church In the case of the Afghan Church all the stained glass windows were a part of the architectural plan and were commissioned to reputed English studios at the time of inceptionrdquo shares Swati Chandgadkar a wellknown stained glass conservator Sir Henry Conybeare the Engineer whose building plan was selected had estimated for the West Window and for the Clerestory windows in 1847Afghan Churchrsquos Barr Memorial Window Crucifixion with original paintwork soft and in the Revivalist style with the Barr CoatofArms belowChandgadkar mentions that stained glass windows are intrinsic to NeoGothic architecture and the Afghan Church subscribes to this definition ldquoAll the significant sections of the church have stained glass windows with themes aligned with their orientation The Great East Window geographical West or the Altar Window is a splendid representative of early English Gothic style and mainly depicts the Gospel Saints in the New Testament with the figure of Jesus Christ looming large in the centreAfghan Church PicWiki CommonsMemorials for allldquoThe West Window or the OpAltar Window at the main entrance is designed in a 13th century French style composed of straddling medallions that resemble the stained glass in Chartres Cathedral Francerdquo she says The themes are tales from the Old Testament in The BibleAfghan Church Barr Memorial Window mdash Adoration of the Magi mdash Later addition by students of Sir JJ School of Art Pics courtesySwati ChandgadkarThe window at the Baptistery Font or the Anderson Memorial Window carries themes of Baptism including Jesus Christrsquos and the beautiful narrow lancet lights at the Lady Chapel corner have stories from Christrsquos life starting with Nativity This is also a Memorial Window mdash a gift from Colonel Barr in memory of his brother General David Barr of the Bombay Army Contingent The window bears the family CoatofArms with the motto Prasto et Presto Hence the name Barr Memorial WindowldquoA big reason for building a church of this stature was to add one more jewel in the Crown mdash to replicate London in Bombay and make the city look familiar to its English residentsrdquo she summarises1865The year in which the churchrsquos tower and steeple 60 metres 198 feet was completedIndian meets NeoGothicMy favourite panel is the Adoration of the Magi panel within the Barr Memorial Window Lady Chapel Window 1864 The lower section of this window was damaged about 70 years later and the then church chaplain proposed to the dean of Sir JJ School of Art to lsquoreplicatersquo the damaged area The missing section was designed in the style of the Arts amp Crafts Movement that was the prevalent artistic phase in England The painting was undertaken by students of the Arts school and instead of simply reconstructing the original paintwork as conservation demands today they moved away from the medieval revivalist style of the window An Indian sensibility is seen in the paintwork in this section that sets it apart from the rest of the Window The three Magi represent the three Indian communities ndash Hindu Muslim and Parsi and are shown wearing Indian costumes with their respective turbans and chappals Compared to the delicate soft palette of the paintwork in the full window this small panel shows vigour skill and boldness but is cohesive with the entire window Swati C