[From the Calcutta Review, Vol. XVIII, p. 299, December 1852]

CALCUTT A IN THE OLDEN TIME - its Localities. By Rev. J. Long.

To the west of Writers' Buildings, thirty yards east of the fort, stood the first church of Calcutta. called St. John's at the suggestions of the Free Masons, who were liberal contributors to it.* It was built in 1716, days when "gold was plenty and labor cheap," by the piety of seafaring men. The Christian Knowledge Society took an active part in its establishment, and the Gospel Propagation Society sent a handsome silver cup in commemoration of its opening. As they were sometimes without a chaplain owing to death, the service was performed by merchants, who were allowed Rs. 600 annually for reading the prayers and a sermon on Sunday, - the oldest chaplain we have notice of, is Samuel Brereton, in 1709 . . .

(* We have accounts of a Free Mason's Lodge in Calcutta in 1744; in 1789, they gave at the Old Court House a ball and supper to the members of the Company's service in Calcutta; and they seem to have had a local habitation and a name there from the days of Charnock - their institution tended to mitigate the exclusiveness of European .caste in former times.)

(ibid. p. 301)

St. John's Church, alias the old Cathedral, was opened on Easter Sunday, 1787. Previous to Bishop Middleton's arrival it was called the New Church, to distinguish it from the Old Church, which is the oldest Anglo-episcopal Church in Calcutta. With this building may be dated the commencement of the era of church-building. . . . A Hindu, Nabakissen, presented, in addition to assigning over burying ground, a piece of ground valued at 30,000 rupees; the Company gave 3 percent from their revenues; the rest was raised by voluntary contributions. We have never had in India such an inauguration of a church. . . .

(ibid. p. 288)

Park-street, so called, because it led to Sir E. Impets park, is mentioned in Upjohn's map of Calcutta, 1794, by the name of Burial-ground road. Being out of town last century, it was the route for burials from town (i.e. the part north of Tank Square) to the Circular-road burial ground; hence it was dreaded as a residence. "All funeral processions are concealed as much as possible from the sight of the ladies, that the vivacity of their tempers may not be wounded," - death and dancing did not harmonise together. . . .

(ibid. p. 295)

. . . the Old Court House, or Town Hall, which stood at the northern extremity of the street (Old Court House Street), On the site of the St. Andrew's Church. The charity boys were lodged and fed here previous to the battle of Plassey - this was the first charity school, - feeding and educating twenty children for Rs. 2,400 annually. It was erected about 1727, by Mr. Bourchier, of a merchant, who was afterwards appointed Governor of Bombay. In 1734 he gave it to Government . . . In 1765, it was considerably enlarged by public subscription . . . "Over the Court House are two handsome assembly rooms. . . ." These assembly rooms were used, as the Town Hall is now, for holding balls, meetings, &c. . . .

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