St.

John's Church, Mcleodganj

Sitting in the midst of wilderness, is a structure that has battled with the forces of time and nature.
St. John's Church has been standing upright for more than one and a half centuries, yet the structure
never fails to mesmerize. The location of the church presents a stark contrast from the tumultuous
streets of Mcleodganj. It proves to be an escape from the monotonous and clamouring routine of
everyday life and offers a gateway to a quiet and serene world. Located at a mere 8 kilometres
from the heart of Mcleodganj, St. John's Church m

anifests the
natural beauty of Dharamshala.

Site Plan of St. John’s Church

 Plan of St.John’s Church built in Neo-Gothic style.

Rear elevation of St. John’s Church.

The church appears to be an amalgam of nature and the surroundings. It seems as if the church has
always been a part of the landscape. How the church camouflages itself within the realm of nature
is a proof of unspoken beauty. Maintaining a symbiotic relationship with the nature; the patiently
waiting church, certainly has many tales to tell. The original bell of the church was gravely
damaged during the devastating earthquake of 1905, as a consequence of which, a new bell was
built in 1915 in the Great Britain. The Church is brimming up with historical tales and facts. It was
constructed in 1852 using hand cut local granite. Originally built to serve the British troops and
their families stationed at Dharamshala, the Church reflects Anglican beliefs i.e. it relates to or
denotes the Church of England or any Church in communion with it.
Like old wine, St. John's church has been getting better with time. A marvel to be remembered for
ages, a feast for the eyes and tranquillity for the heart.

Side view of St. John’s Church depicted through a sketch.

HISTORY
The Burial Ground of James Bruce, the Eighth Earl of Elgin.
Lord Elgin, drew his final breath in Dharamshala. He had conjured up immense love for the place
during the last month of his life. His fondness of the place was so immense that he had sent back
three Dharamshala deodar trees to his family home in Edinburgh.
Lady Elgin, with the accord of Lord Elgin decided to look for a burial site that would commemorate
her husband's death. She was already aware of Lord Elgin's love for the natural ambience of the
place and hence she rode up to the cemetery at Dharamshala. The spot she chose overlooked the
wide hills and plains below, and had a picturesque background with snow-capped mountains.
Lord Elgin was delighted with the serenity of his burial place as he had already expressed a desire
to be laid to rest there. He died on 20th November, 1863 and was buried within the churchyard. A
lover of nature rests in peace within the love of nature.
On 4th April 1905, the Earth trembled with a ferocious intensity. The damage that followed was
catastrophic. The deadly Kangra earthquake had reduced countless building to rubble. The Church
itself had taken a painful blow. The upper part of the church, including its spire and roof were
severely damaged. The bell had also been damaged as well. The bruised church had been repaired
in 1911 following an appeal for funds to rebuild the church, as all the temples throughout the
district had been rebuilt. This imposing edifice did not succumb to the forces of nature and still
stands as tall and as majestic as ever.

View of St. John’s Church which seems to camouflage in the surroundings.

ARCHITECTURAL STYLE
The church has been built according to the principles of Neo Gothic architecture, A revival of
Gothic Architecture. The most common feature of Gothic Revival that can be seen in the church
is its abundance in the use of pointed arches, used for windows and doors. All the doors and
windows have been recessed. The roof is steeply pitched. Buttresses have been extensively used
to provide further support to the structure. The use of Lancet windows can also be seen throughout
the church. Locally available granite stone has been used as the primary building material. Most
of the stone facade has been left in its native form in order to cement the church's association with
the nature. Fine, polished stones have also been used for detailing in buttresses as well as around
the windows.

THE INTERIORS
The interiors are cool and quiet. The imposing structure from the outside is welcoming and amiable
from the inside. Minimum artificial lighting is required as the windows light up the church
magnificently. All the building materials have been left in their natural state which relates the
church more towards nature than religion. The stone walls have been left bare and the trusses have
been left exposed. The main attraction undoubtedly has to be the Belgian stained glass windows
donated by Lady Elgin. These stained glass windows seem to become the focal point as soon as
one enters the church. When light penetrates though the stained windows, the colours diversify,
Jesus and John the Baptist become visible and everything seems to be divine.

Interior of the St. John’s Church with Visible wooden truss and pointed windows.

THE STREETS OF MCLEODGANJ

It is believed that one can truly get to know a place only when he walks through its alleys and
gets a taste of the local market. And the streets of Mcleodganj are undeniably beautiful. They are
an ocean of colours, a torrent of aromas and a reflection of culture and warmth of its people. The
streets paved the way to the bustling colourful ‘bazars’ of this fine Tibetan Settlement which had
in them the mellifluous tones emanating from the souvenir’s shops…”

Sketch of the street of Mcleodganj

with typical Tibetan style Buildings in
the backdrop.

Sketch of the Regional Mountaineering Institute, Mcleodganj.

The Regional Mountaineering Institute spoke of its age through the sturdy stone walls, wooden
posts, high bay windows with doors, the fabric of rooms closing into ‘boxes’ with small opening
windows, the cylindrical ventilators of wire mesh, spacious rooms, all given a final form by the
Britishers during 1880’s. Wooden posts, thin but strong, were built upright to witness the
strength of various mountaineers who'd come in quest for adventure. The dormer windows
resting over the slope looked like a nature watcher.
Sketch of the streets of Mcleodganj, with Deodar covered hilltop in the background.