In the year 1892, the wife of Rev. William Burgess, along with her son and a missionary set sail from London to reach India. They had with them a bell which was to be fitted in Garrison Wesley Church, situated at Lal Bazaar in Trimulgherry. However, their journey ended tragically when their ship sank off the coast of Portugal.
And since then the Garrison Wesley Church’s belfry has remained without a bell, and it is believed that it has been kept that way in memory of the lives lost back then. But, apart from that, the 162-year-old structure, which was completely restored and renovated last year, is surely an edifice that will make anyone wonder why it is not in the State government’s list of protected heritage structures.
Entering the premises, the first thing to catch one’s attention about the stunning white structure would be its ‘Carpenter Gothic’ architecture; with a tall pointed arch welcoming the faithful. Ornamentation, which is a feature in Gothic churches, is absent in the Garrison Wesley Church.
Undoubtedly, the most arresting thing in the prayer hall is the huge stained-glass window, depicting Jesus Christ embracing little children.
“That stained-glass in the prayer hall has not been touched even once after the church was built. It has remained as it was installed back then,” said B. Samuel Kumar, who is the ‘bhajan in-charge’ for the prayers that take place every Sunday.
After the Garrison Wesley church was renovated, the old wooden ceiling was also replaced with Burma teakwood, giving the structure, a simple yet classy finish.
INTACH award
The church’s foundation was laid in the year 1853, and the construction was completed later in 1881 at the initiative of Rev. Willam Burgess, who moved to Secunderabad from Madras in 1878.
The Garrison Wesley Church also was one among the six structures which recently won the Indian National Trust for Art and Cultural Heritage (INTACH) award.
B. Sunder Rao, Pastor-steward, said that the wooden pulpit, from where sermons are delivered, and the flooring of the altar have never been changed. A brass plaque telling the story of the family of Rev. Burgess is also fitted in the prayer hall.
Apart from the main building, other structures in its premises also give us a glimpse of history.
There are ceremonial gateways of the two cemeteries attached to the Church memorials, apart from tombstones, including a few which are designated as ‘Commonwealth War Graves’ on the church premises.
The latter indicating that some of those martyred in the two World Wars were laid to rest there.
Rev. Jyothi Sunder, who is in-charge of the Garrison Wesley Church, said that the building was restored using materials which were originally used to construct it.
Before the restoration works were taken up between 2013 and 14, the rafters of the church had come off during the monsoon season.
Stained-glass in the prayer hall has not been touched even once after the church was built
B. Samuel Kumar
