St. Paul's Church, Manora
Encyclopedia
St. Paul's Church is a protestant church, built in 1864 on Manora, Karachi
in Sindh
, Pakistan
. It is situated beside the Manora lighthouse and is managed by the Karachi Port Trust
. St. Paul's was erected as a memorial to Sir Charles James Napier
, the British general who lead forces to conquer the Sindh in 1843. The building was recently restored in 2008.
The British forces under General Charles James Napier captured Manora in 1839, as part of their Sindh campaign making it their military base of operations. St. Paul's, among other buildings, was erected as a memorial to the British General. When the church was built it was constructed from limestone
from the Hands' Hill Quarries (located 3 miles from Karachi and 5 from Kiamari
) and the lower-grade but cheaper Manora conglomerate
. It features an Early English architectural style, and consists of a nave
, without aisles, a vestry
and a small assembly hall. The nave is 43 feet in length and 20 feet wide, with a height up to the tie beam
of 20 feet. Despite the church's simple and traditional exterior, the interior features a cathedral style ceiling of wooden truss
es. Further references to a gothic style
of architecture include the church's four lancet window
s, as well as the three-light stained glass
windows at its eastern end. The building was completed within the year and consecrated in the following one (1865). Construction costs totalled 15,000 rupee
s, of which 4,000 rupees were contributed by the Government.
In the early years of St. Paul's church, the congregation was mostly made up of area residents as well as by the crews of the harbour vessels. It was designed to seat 50 persons with services conducted by one of the Government chaplain
s of the Karachi station every Sunday.
Throughout the church's long history, alterations have been made to the church, including the original exterior of the church being completely cemented over.
Manora, Karachi
Manora or Manoro is a small peninsula located just south of the Port of Karachi, Sindh, Pakistan. Manora is connected to the mainland by a 12 kilometer long causeway called the Sandspit. Manora and neighboring islands form a protective barrier between Karachi harbor to the north and the Arabian...
in Sindh
Sindh
Sindh historically referred to as Ba'ab-ul-Islam , is one of the four provinces of Pakistan and historically is home to the Sindhi people. It is also locally known as the "Mehran". Though Muslims form the largest religious group in Sindh, a good number of Christians, Zoroastrians and Hindus can...
, Pakistan
Pakistan
Pakistan , officially the Islamic Republic of Pakistan is a sovereign state in South Asia. It has a coastline along the Arabian Sea and the Gulf of Oman in the south and is bordered by Afghanistan and Iran in the west, India in the east and China in the far northeast. In the north, Tajikistan...
. It is situated beside the Manora lighthouse and is managed by the Karachi Port Trust
Karachi Port Trust
Karachi Port Trust is a Pakistani federal government agency that oversees the operations of the Port of Karachi in Karachi, Sindh, Pakistan.-History:...
. St. Paul's was erected as a memorial to Sir Charles James Napier
Charles James Napier
General Sir Charles James Napier, GCB , was a general of the British Empire and the British Army's Commander-in-Chief in India, notable for conquering the Sindh Province in what is now Pakistan.- His genealogy :...
, the British general who lead forces to conquer the Sindh in 1843. The building was recently restored in 2008.
History
Limestone
Limestone is a sedimentary rock composed largely of the minerals calcite and aragonite, which are different crystal forms of calcium carbonate . Many limestones are composed from skeletal fragments of marine organisms such as coral or foraminifera....
from the Hands' Hill Quarries (located 3 miles from Karachi and 5 from Kiamari
Kiamari
Kiamari is one of the neighbourhood of Kiamari Town in Karachi, Sindh, Pakistan.There are several ethnic groups in Kiamari including Muhajirs, Punjabis, Sindhis, Kashmiris, Seraikis, Pakhtuns, Balochis, Memons, Bohras, Ismailis, etc. Over 99% of the population is Muslim. The population of Kiamari...
) and the lower-grade but cheaper Manora conglomerate
Conglomerate (geology)
A conglomerate is a rock consisting of individual clasts within a finer-grained matrix that have become cemented together. Conglomerates are sedimentary rocks consisting of rounded fragments and are thus differentiated from breccias, which consist of angular clasts...
. It features an Early English architectural style, and consists of a nave
Nave
In Romanesque and Gothic Christian abbey, cathedral basilica and church architecture, the nave is the central approach to the high altar, the main body of the church. "Nave" was probably suggested by the keel shape of its vaulting...
, without aisles, a vestry
Vestry
A vestry is a room in or attached to a church or synagogue in which the vestments, vessels, records, etc., are kept , and in which the clergy and choir robe or don their vestments for divine service....
and a small assembly hall. The nave is 43 feet in length and 20 feet wide, with a height up to the tie beam
Tie (engineering)
A tie, structural tie, connector, or structural connector is a structural component designed to resist tension. It is the opposite of a strut, which is designed to resist compression. Ties are generally made of galvanized steel...
of 20 feet. Despite the church's simple and traditional exterior, the interior features a cathedral style ceiling of wooden truss
Truss
In architecture and structural engineering, a truss is a structure comprising one or more triangular units constructed with straight members whose ends are connected at joints referred to as nodes. External forces and reactions to those forces are considered to act only at the nodes and result in...
es. Further references to a gothic style
Gothic architecture
Gothic architecture is a style of architecture that flourished during the high and late medieval period. It evolved from Romanesque architecture and was succeeded by Renaissance architecture....
of architecture include the church's four lancet window
Lancet window
A lancet window is a tall narrow window with a pointed arch at its top. It acquired the "lancet" name from its resemblance to a lance. Instances of this architectural motif are most often found in Gothic and ecclesiastical structures, where they are often placed singly or in pairs.The motif first...
s, as well as the three-light stained glass
Stained glass
The term stained glass can refer to coloured glass as a material or to works produced from it. Throughout its thousand-year history, the term has been applied almost exclusively to the windows of churches and other significant buildings...
windows at its eastern end. The building was completed within the year and consecrated in the following one (1865). Construction costs totalled 15,000 rupee
Rupee
The rupee is the common name for the monetary unit of account in India, Sri Lanka, Nepal, Pakistan, Mauritius, Seychelles, Maldives, and formerly in Burma, and Afghanistan. Historically, the first currency called "rupee" was introduced in the 16th century...
s, of which 4,000 rupees were contributed by the Government.
In the early years of St. Paul's church, the congregation was mostly made up of area residents as well as by the crews of the harbour vessels. It was designed to seat 50 persons with services conducted by one of the Government chaplain
Chaplain
Traditionally, a chaplain is a minister in a specialized setting such as a priest, pastor, rabbi, or imam or lay representative of a religion attached to a secular institution such as a hospital, prison, military unit, police department, university, or private chapel...
s of the Karachi station every Sunday.
Throughout the church's long history, alterations have been made to the church, including the original exterior of the church being completely cemented over.