Built
in 1836, Saint James Church is the oldest surviving church in the city.
It was built in a western classical design with a Greek cross plan. It
was strategically located near Delhi's once best European shopping area.
The beautiful church was said to be an imitation of St Paul's Cathedral
in London but according to Percival Spear the church was actually
modeled on a church in Venice. Robert Smith and De Bude were the
architects of this classical Renaissance style church. The Church was
badly damaged during the revolt of 1857. Bullets shots resulted in the
formation of many holes in the dome and spoiled the ball and the cross
on top of the dome.Location
St. James Church is located at the intersection of Church Road and Lothian Road, just half a km away from Kashmiri Gate in Old Delhi.
The Man behind the Thought
St. James Church was built by James Skinner, a soldier in the Marathi Army. He was the son of a Scottish army officer and a Rajput mother. a mixed blood, making him the object of ridicule when he went to join the British Army. He then fought for the Marathas valiantly in many wars. In one such war he was badly wounded with no hopes of survival. He resolved to make a church if he lived. He did and completed his promise of making a church to commemorate his faith in God. Later, Skinner raised a cavalry regiment known as Skinner's Horse or the Yellow Boys and won many battles. His courage in battle earned him and his regiment a place in the regular British army and he was made a Lieutenant Colonel.
He died in mid 19th century but a regiment of the same name still serves the Indian Army. Hence the Indian Army is attached to the church in some way. The grave of James Skinner is located in the complex of St James Church just in front of the altar. As far as his personal life is concerned, he married fourteen times and his family is also buried with him to the north of the church. The church complex also contains the grave of one of the finest British Commissioners of Delhi, William Fraser near the large Memorial Cross erected in memory of the 1857 revolt victims.