A cathedral that's a keeper of Bombay's story

Its time to write an archival report of the city and this repository of information that has been lying quiet for long is going to be useful says Anupam Sah head of art conservation research and training at Chhatrapati Shivaji Maharaj Vastu Sangrahalayas CSMVSs quickly adding I havent come across anything like this beforeHe is referring to the treasure that Mumbais famous cathedral St Thomas Cathedral has held in its collection for hundreds of years We are with Sah in the inner sanctuary of the museum the lab where artefacts are given a new lease of life and made exhibitionreadyNandini Sampat curator of the exhibition Pics Pradeep DhivarToday the staff is working on objects of religious and historic significance including silverware seals royal decrees maps birth and death registers and photographs from the cathedrals archive before they make their debut before the public at Living Cathedral a monthlong exhibition that kicks off on December 15 The display of nearly 50exhibits is being as part of the cathedrals tercentenary celebrationsSah is studying the health of a detailed map outlining the Diocese of Bombay In front of us is a fine example of Great Britains obsession with cartography We discover locations in western India that Geography textbooks never came close to One of his assistants is gently cleaning the maps surface with cotton tissue while a second sizes up its edges for any obvious damage At another table an assistant turns the pages of a baptism records register from the late 1860s with a pincerlike device Rudyard Kiplings birth record should be in here he says to us Its going to be a crowdpuller at the exhibitionA silver cup from 1675 mentions Governor Gerald Aungiers namePics Pradeep DhivarNot too far away at the office of Somaya amp Kalappa Consultants in Ballard Estate another cog in this mammoth collaboration is working in full steam Veteran architect Brinda Somayas daughter and the firms director Nandini Somaya Sampat is curactor and designer of the exhibition It was Ms Meera Isaacs who approached us she says of the principal of Cathedral amp John Connon schoolThe insitution and St Thomas Cathedral have a long historic association We the family are all Cathedralites and were honoured to be associated with this project We pored over archival material at the cathedral with Reverend Rangayya its presbyterincharge In the process it struck us that what if we found a famous person or historic milestone It was an ahha moment Sampat recallsAs they began to weave a story around the city they realised that this wasnt just about the history of a cathedral but of Bombay as a whole We wanted to explore this strong link she adds reminding us how the early plan for St Thomas included just a church in 1676 Work was stalled due to lack of funds Years later the efforts of Chaplain Richard Cobbe witnessed a surge in funding spires were added to the plan and it was opened as a cathedral in 1718 becoming the seat of the Anglican Church in western IndiaA closeup of the register showing Rudyard Kiplings birth records Born December 30 1865 Baptised January 22 1866 It also reveals details like his parentsrsquo names John Lockwood and Alice his fatherrsquos profession Architectural Sculptor Abode Esplanade This page will be on display at the exhibitionPic Pradeep DhivarThis evolution is symbolic of Bombays rise from a small town to a large city she adds The exhibition will go beyond objects to graphics quotes and photos In the final section the sanctum sanatorium the zero marker of the cathedral will be introduced to the publicBack in the lab Sah takes us to the centre of the activity mdash the piecederesistance We are staring at a silver cup with Governor Gerald Aungiers name inscribed on it Isnt it gorgeous Look at the craftsmanship he remarks Once open the exhibition will include guided tours conducted by students of Cathedral and other programmes by CSMVSs Education teamThe conservation team polishes silverware including chalices cups and flagons by using basic mild solvents to remove the tarnishPic Pradeep DhivarPeople behindthe exhibitionMeera IsaacsPrincipal Cathedral and John Connon SchoolThe exhibition has taken shape because of countless people Brinda Somaya suggested that we present it as an exhibition Mr Mukherjee was enthusiastic about organising it at CSMVS while historian Dr Vijaya Gupchup was a guiding force For us it has been tremendous to work closely on an exhibition of this scaleDr Sabyasachi MukherjeeDirectorGeneral CSMVSBeing a part of the tercentenary celebrations of St Thomas Cathedral was organic for us as the museum has been built by the people of Mumbai for the people of Mumbai Just like the museum the cathedral is an important landmark and this exhibition provides a glimpse into the citys historic past and its citizens several of whom changed its face from a small forttown into a vibrant hub of cultural and economic growthThis parchment paper mentions the appointment of John Harding as the Bishop of BombayPic Pradeep DhivarRev Avinash RangayyaPresbyter in charge St Thomas CathedralWe felt these relics and objects should be shared with the city Ms Isaacs and Mr Mukherjee played a key role in ensuring that the association reached an ideal conclusionDr Kamal JadhavHead Tercentenary Celebrations St Thomas CathedralAs a congregation we are eagerly awaiting the exhibition since it will be the first time that well see tangible evidence of the history of our beloved cathedralThe wax seal reveals a mould outlining the reigning Queen Victoria in whose name this royal decree was issuedPic Pradeep DhivarCatch up on all the latest Mumbai news crime news current affairs and also a complete guide on Mumbai from food to things to do and events across the city here Also download the new midday Android and iOS apps to get latest updates