16TH CENTURY CHURCH OF ST BONAVENTURE

AT ERANGEL BEACH IN NORTH BOMBAY MADE BY PORTUGESE ON MADH ISLAND

BOMBAY 1540 -THE STORY OF TWO ANCIENT PORTUGUESE CHURCHES ; St. John The Baptist Church AND St Bonaventure church

History

When the Portuguese took possession of Bombay, the seven small islands out of which it had formed had by then partly coalesced. Colaba and Al-Omanis still remained to the South separated by narrow channels. But between the islands of Bombay, Mazagoan and Parel the creeks had silted up. 






A broad but shallow lagoon occupied the center, invaded by higher tides. But for the most part consisting of salty marsh. The sea flowed in by a narrow channel between Mahim and Worli, while the deep gulf between Mahim and Sion, while the deep gulf at Breach Kandy :-

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James Wales (1747-1795) was a noted Scottish portrait painter and draughtsman. He was a contemporary of Lachlan Macquarie in Bombay in the last decade of the C18th. In the period between Wales' arrival in Bombay in July 1791 and his tragic death in November 1795 he executed a number of important and evocative views of the settlement and its environs. This selection of images has been made available (with permission) from the Peter Anker Collection held in the Kulturhistorisk Museum at the University of Oslo, Norway. They were originally published posthumously in 1800 in the work Twelve Views of the Island of Bombay and Its Vicinity: taken in the years 1791 and 1792. They provide a unique perspective on the landscape and daily life of Bombay in the last decade of the C18th.

View from Malabar Hill View of Breach from Love Grove. View of Breach Causeway View From Belmont. View From Belmont. View from Sion Fort. View from Sion Fort. View from Island of Elephanta. 1 | 2 | 3 | 4 |

WALES, James (1747-1795)
View From the Island of Elephanta

Used with permission from the Peter Anker Collection held in the Kulturhistorisk Museum at the University of Oslo, Norway.

Plate 12: View From the Island of Elephanta, 1791-1792.

Plate 12 is the final view in the posthumous series of works by James Wales. In this scene Bombay and its adjoining islands are barely discernible. They float in the middle distance, almost invisible, upon a smooth calm sea, under a high canopy of cloud and blue sky. The foreground is dominated by the well-known black rock elephant sculpture at that time located outside the entrance to the namesake Elephanta cave-temple. This massive elephant towers over the scene, though intriguingly, along with the temple pagoda depicted in Plate 11, it represents the only other example of Indian antiquity depicted by Wales in his perspectives of Bombay and its islands. This absence, or artistic restraint, is noteworthy when compared to other contemporary artists who often embellished their landscapes with exotic cultural examples to enhance their works. The number and variety of monuments and artefacts available throughout the region was quite significant so we must assume that Wales' interest was directed towards other modes of representation. It was not a case that he lacked interest in architectural drawings, for he spent the years 1793-1794 visiting and sketching monumental sites of interest throughout the Poona and Ellora districts, as well as on the island of Salsette. And it was on a visit to the caves and antiquities of Salsette in October 1795 that Wales caught the fever from which he eventually died on 18 November 1795.

The caves and rock-cut temple are the focal point of Gharapuri Island, and subsequently renamed Elephanta Island by the Portuguese. The island is located in the inlet formed between the original outer islands of Bombay and the mainland. It is approximately five miles in circumference and the smallest, but also purportedly, the oldest of the cave-temples of western India. [see: de Almeida and Gilpin, G. Indian Renaissance pp.47-55 and Note 32]. The temple site covers an area of approximately 60,000 sq ft (5,600 sq. m.) and contains reliefs, sculptures, and a sanctuary dedicated to the Hindu god Siva, and dated to the sixth century AD. It consists of a main chamber, two lateral ones, courtyards and subsidiary shrines. However none of this is visible in this work by James Wales. It is the remoteness, antiquity, and the spiritual richness of the sculptures at Elephanta, compared to those visible at Kanheri on Salsette island and at Ellora on the mainland, that drew Wales back here on regular field trips.

Although the large sculpture of an elephant with a tiger on its back was located near the main portico of the temple complex and Wales' depiction does not include this detail in his rendering of the scene. Even in the time of his artistic predecessor, James Forbes (1745-1819), the sculpture had suffered from exposure and damage, and in 1864 it was relocated to Victoria Gardens, Bombay.

The figure of the elephant was an important artistic as well as archaeological object and an important account was recorded by historian and orientalist William Erskine (1773-1852) in the Transactions of the Bombay Literary Society in 1819. The description replicates almost exactly the viewpoint presented in the engraving by James Wales:

"...The celebrated caves of Elephanta are situated in the beautiful island of that name, which is called by the natives Gara-pori: it lies in the bay of Bombay, about seven miles from Bombay Castle and five miles from the Mahratta shore. It is nearly six miles in circumference, and is composed of two long hills with a narrow valley between them. The usual landing-place is towards the south, where the valley is broadest.

About two hundred and fifty yards to the right of the landing-place, on the rising side of one of the hills not far from a ruined Portuguese edifice, stands a large and clumsy elephant cut out of an insulated black rock; –– from this the island has taken its present name. The elephant has a fissure running through its back, which is separated so that the back has sunk a little downward upon the fore-flank. Captain Pyke, in his account of the Caves, written in 1712,* [see: Archaeologia Vol. vii. p.323] mentions that this elephant had a smaller one on its back. An engraving of both as they stood at that time may be found in Archaeologia; from which it appears that even then the fissure had begun to appear, and had nearly reached upwards to the top of the back. Anquetil ** [see: Zendavesta, Ouvrage de Zoroastre &c. Vol. i. p.423] describes the young elephant as existing in 1760, when he visited Elephanta. Niebuhr [see: Voyages de Niebuhr. Vol. ii. p.33] observes, that the large elephant had on its back something which age had worn so much that it was impossible to distinguish what it was, and that the large elephant was split, and even then (1764) expected to fall to pieces. The figure is poorly sculptured but at a distance and seen through the brushwood may easily be mistaken for a real elephant.

In September 1814 (after the above was written) the head and neck of the elephant at last dropped off, and the body of the elephant has since sunk down and threatens to fall. I had however, in the November preceding, taken an accurate measurement of all its dimensions in company with Captain Basil Hall of the Royal Navy, to whose friendship I owe the annexed very accurate drawing of its appearance at that time (Plate I). It seems to have been formed of a detached mass of blackish rock, which is unconnected with any stratum below. By applying a ladder we mounted the back of the elephant, for the purpose of observing if any traces remained of the young elephant, said by Pyke and Anquetil to have been placed on it. The remains of its four paws, as well as the marks of the juncture of its belly with the back of a larger animal, were perfectly distinct; and the appearance it offered in the annexed drawing made by Captain Hall (Plate II), who from its present appearance conjectures that it must have been a tiger rather than a young elephant; an idea in which I feel disposed to agree … as well on account of the sprawling appearance of the animal, as because the back of the mother is a very unnatural situation for a young elephant; and because the supposition of its being a tiger would correspond much better with the popular legends of the Hindus..."

Erskine, William. 'Account of the Cave-Temple of Elephanta, with a Plan and Drawings of the Principal Figures'. Transactions of the Bombay Literary Society. pp. 198-250 [see: pp.207-208].

A second point of interest in the engraving by Wales appears in the centre of the picture where there is a mixed group of European visitors and a large company of Indian servants. A military officer in a red jacket, accompanied by a European woman and a small child are walking towards the Caves, sheltering from the sun under a large parasol held over them by an Indian attendant. The possibility has been raised by Dorothea Hysing [2002] that these figures are in fact Major-General Peter Anker (1744-1832), the Danish governor of Tranquebar, accompanied by his companion, the British widow Mrs Mallard and her son. Anker remained at this post from 1788 until 1805. The engraving may have been produced by Wales as a tribute to their relationship. Mrs. Mallard died in May 1791 two months prior to the arrival of Wales in Bombay; however Hysing speculates that Wales may have known Mrs. Mallard in London and/or alternatively Anker during the time when he was the Danish Consul-General for Britain [1783-1786]. (See: p.88) Wales and his wife and children had moved to London by 1783, where he is known to have exhibited two portraits at the Society of Artists.

Behind the trio of Europeans can be seen two palanquins whose bearers are standing and squatting on the ground, relaxing from their recent labours. Near the shoreline a boat has recently disembarked more visitors. They can be seen walking along a rocky promontory, assisted by local Indians who carry various chairs and accoutrements for their outing to Elephanta. As with the other views by Wales the scene is punctuated in the foreground and middle distance by an assortment of native vegetation and coconut palms. Wales wrote that this image was: "Taken from the Landing-Place of this celebrated Island, exhibiting the colossal statue of the Elephant whence it is named, including the little island of Butcher on the right." The rock-cut temples dating to some 6th century AD on this island are dedicated to the Hindu deity Shiva in the form of Mahadeva.

Macquarie Connection
Macquarie visited the island of Elephanta on 9 October 1790, ten months prior to Wales' arrival in India, though it is unclear whether this was his first visit to the island:

Saturday. I spent a very pleasant Day on an Excursion to Elephanta Caves, along with Col. Balfour and some other Brother Officers.

Source:
Twelve Views of Bombay and its Vicinity. London: R. Cribb, 1800.

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WALES, James (1747-1795)
View of the Breach from Love Grove

Used with permission from the Peter Anker Collection held in the Kulturhistorisk Museum at the University of Oslo, Norway.

Plate 6: View of the Breach from Love Grove.

The island of Worli was connected to the main island of Bombay in 1784, with the completion of the Hornby Vellard. Prior to this, Worli is known to have contained a mosque, the Haji Ali dargah, on a rock in the sea, connected at low-tide to the island by a natural causeway. There was also a fort and a fishing village to the north, close to the island of Mahim. This view shows the perspective from Love Grove Hill on the southern extremity of Worli looking towards the pinnacled Hindu temple at Mahalaksmi. This area became known as the Byculla Flats.

There is a romantic Muslim legend attached to Love Grove, on the right of the view. It concerns two drowned lovers, who today are commemorated in Hadji Ali's mosque.

Source:
Twelve Views of Bombay and its Vicinity. London: R. Cribb, 1800.

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The Hornby Vellard was a project to build a causeway uniting all seven islands of Bombay into a single island with a deep natural harbour. The project was started by the governor William Hornby in 1782 and all islands were linked by 1838. The word vellard appears to be a local corruption of the Portuguese word vallado meaning fence or embankment.^[1]

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WALES, James (1747-1795)
View from Malabar Hill

Used with permission from the Peter Anker Collection held in the Kulturhistorisk Museum at the University of Oslo, Norway.

Plate 3: View from Malabar Hill

[Bombay: part of panorama with Plate 4].

This image forms the left hand side of a two-part panorama. The foreground is dominated by the rocky outcrop at the top of Malabar Hill. In the middle distance can seen the outline of Bombay Fort and the associated town. The islands of Karanja and Elephanta are pictured in the distance, with the Mahratta Mountains in the background.

The sweep of the shoreline of Back Bay and the tidal flats are just visible, though there is no indication of the European burial ground at Sonapur or the recently completed Belassis Road that linked Malabar Hill to Bombay. The buildings in the foreground may include 'Randall Lodge', the country residence of Major-General John Bellasis (1744-1808) HEIC, Commander of the Forces and Colonel of Artillery at Bombay. It was located on the promontory leading to Malabar Point.

What is intriguing about this version is that the thick vegetation overhanging the rock on the left, and the palm leaves on the right, do not appear in the completed two-plate version held in the British Library, or elsewhere. These are embellishments or adornments added by the colourist of this individual Plate, possibly Peter Anker.

Source:
Twelve Views of Bombay and its Vicinity. London: R. Cribb, 1800.
Note: Plate 4: View from Malabar Hill [Bombay, part panorama with 3] is not held in the University of Oslo, Kulturhistorisk Museum, Peter Anker Collection]. The remainder of the panoramic view extends across the western half of Back Bay, and includes Old Woman's Island, the lighthouse, Mendham's Point, and the Flag Staff at Malabar Point.

WALES, James (1747-1795)
View from Sion Fort

Used with permission from the Peter Anker Collection held in the Kulturhistorisk Museum at the University of Oslo, Norway.

Plate 10: View from Sion Fort, 1791-1792.

James Wales prepared two views of Bombay and its environs from within the walls of Sion Fort. In this first Plate [No. 10] there is a panoramic view over the islands and saltpans of the Bombay archipelago. The view looks down from the Sion Fort gate to Bombay and the Neat's Tongue, bounded by the Mahratta Mountains. James Wales infuses the scene with strong domestic setting, depicting a squatting Indian sepoy (possibly smoking a bhang pipe), with his wife nursing a baby, a small child, dog, and two bullocks (for pulling a two-wheel carriage) in a courtyard outside their modest dwelling beside the fort ramparts. The coastline and horizon are barely distinguishable in the suffused light, though in the middle distance the scene is punctured by the distinctive silhouettes of the coconut palms.

The original Sion Fort was built between 1669 and 1677 by the second British governor of Bombay, Gerard Aungier (c1635-1677), on top of a conical hillock, and it marked the northeast boundary between the British-held Parel Island and Portuguese-held Salsette Island.

Macquarie Connection
Lachlan Macquarie recorded in his journal on 5 October 1789 that he had visited Sion:

I went upon a very pleasant Party today, along with Col. and Mrs. Stirling, and Mr. and Mrs. Herring, and a number of Gentlemen, to Meham, [sic] and Sion Fort, where we dined and spent a very agreeable day; From the Fort on Sion Hill, which commands a most extensive view, we had a most charming Prospect of every part of the Island of Bombay, the neighbouring Islands, and Continent, which along with the variety of breaks of water intervening, forms a most beautiful and very Picturesque Scene; Sion Fort is Nine Measured Miles from Bombay Fort and is one of the Extremities of the Island, – being divided only by a very narrow channel from the large Island of Salcet, [sic] belonging also to the Presidency of Bombay. —

I travelled to Sion in a Palanquin, having Eight Bearers – a very easy and comfortable mode of Travelling in this Country. — We all returned in the Evening to Bombay. —"

Source:
Twelve Views of Bombay and its Vicinity. London: R. Cribb, 1800.

 

WALES, James (1747-1795)
View from Belmont

Used with permission from the Peter Anker Collection held in the Kulturhistorisk Museum at the University of Oslo, Norway.

Plate 8: View from Belmont, 1791-1792.

[Mazagaon, Bombay, to the south]

In the distance can be seen the flagstaff at Bombay Fort. The dockyard and Harbour are barely discernible, though ships can be seen moored in the Harbour. The view shows the islands of Bombay, part of the village of Mazagaon, and the Mahratta mountains in the background. The top of Belvidere House and Cross Island are on the left, to the right is Fort George, and across the water lay Chaul and Kanheri.

Source:
Twelve Views of Bombay and its Vicinity. London: R. Cribb, 1800.

Unfortunately, the related Plate 9. View from Belmont, 1791-1792. [Mazagaon, Bombay, to the north] is NOT held in the University of Oslo. Kulturhistorisk Museum. Peter Anker Collection.

WALES, James (1747-1795)
View of the Breach Causeway

Used with permission from the Peter Anker Collection held in the Kulturhistorisk Museum at the University of Oslo, Norway.

Plate 5: View of the Breach Causeway.

The Breach Causeway at Mahalaxmi provides a picture of rural tranquillity set beside a flat sandy beach and a circle of calm water amidst the necklace of tidal islands that formed Bombay in the late C18th. The reclamation of the tidal flats would consolidate the area into unified whole in the C19th, but at the time of Wales' rendering of the scene there is a sense of idyllic simplicity.

In the immediate foreground, on the left of the picture, a massive Indian banyan tree rises to frame the picture and provides a commanding reference point. At the right edge of the picture there is a procession of small Indian and English figures moving along the road. In the foreground are three examples of local methods of transportation: a palanquin, a 'Bengal chair', and a myanna (or small litter suspended from a bamboo pole). The palanquin is being carried towards a long causeway at the centre of the picture. Among the dwellings, adjoining the village well and small sandy beach, Indian figures can be seen moving about their daily tasks. A man on horseback is riding towards the causeway.

Two canopied carriages, one of which is horsedrawn, can be seen moving along the roadway embankment. One is heading along Parel Road towards the ancient Mahalakshmi temple, a Hindu and Parsi shrine well known to the inhabitants of the Bombay islands, but not shown in Wales' landscape. The other carriage drawn by two bullocks and is approaching the village to the right of the picture. A small boat in a circle of calm water provides an offset focus to the centre of the image, while beyond, under a pale blue sky, the north-eastern horizon is punctured by the outline of the distant mountains.

This causeway or vellard, north of Cumballa Hill, was commenced in 1782 and completed in 1784 and became known as the Hornby's Vellard. It was one of the first major engineering projects aimed at transforming the original seven islands of Bombay into a single island with a deep natural harbour. The project was started by William Hornby (d.1803) during his governorship of Bombay from 1771-1784. The initiative was carried out against the wishes of the Directors of the Honourable East India Company (HEIC), but to great acclaim by the local inhabitants as it transformed the geography of the islands by opening up the marshy areas of Mahalaxmi and Kamathipura for habitation.

The primary purpose of the causeway was to block the Worli creek and prevent the low-lying areas of Bombay from being flooded by the sea. The causeway formed a crucial connection between north and south Bombay, thereby consolidating the central portion of the island thereby uniting the land north between Mahim and West Parel with the area south of Worli which was normally flooded at high tide.

The word vellard appears to be a local corruption of the Portuguese word vallado meaning 'barrier' or 'embankment'. All the Bombay islands were finally linked by 1838.

Macquarie Connection:
Lachlan Macquarie was familiar with the Breach area and in his journal on the 15 May 1790 he noted that:

"I spent this day very agreeably in a Party given by Mr. Page on the Breach water on board of a jung-Gaur, in which we dined and had a Concert."

References:
de ALMEIDA, Hermione and GILPIN, George H. Indian Renaissance: British romantic art and the prospect of India. Ashgate, 2005 pp.128-130.
DWIVEDI, Sharada and MEHROTRA, Rahul. Bombay: the cities within. Bombay: Eminence Designs, 2001 p.28.
YULE, Henry and Burnell, A.C. Hobson-Jobson: a glossary of colloquial Anglo-Indian words and phrases, and of kindred terms, etymological, historical, geographical and discursive. [See entries for: 'vellard' and 'jangar'].

Source:
Twelve Views of Bombay and its Vicinity. London: R. Cribb, 1800.

WALES, James (1747-1795)
View from Belmont

Used with permission from the Peter Anker Collection held in the Kulturhistorisk Museum at the University of Oslo, Norway.

Plate 7: View from Belmont, 1791-1792.

[Mazagaon, Bombay, to the east]

James Wales prepared three views from Belmont or Mazagoan Hill. This Plate and its associated views are dominated by numerous spindley coconut trees in the foreground and middle distance, reaffirming Bombay's local reputation as the 'Isle of Palms'. The view in Plate 7 is looking eastward towards distant mountains on the mainland. Below the hill can be seen an assortment of buildings and warehouses and paddy fields. In the foreground a figure is halfway up the trunk of a coconut palm collecting coconuts, while below another man is carrying a cluster of harvested coconuts that are suspended from his shoulder on a pole. The island in the middle distance is probably Butcher's Island, behind which, obscured from sight, lay the island of Elephanta.

The view shows "Belmont toward the beach of the Harbour, including part of the village of Mazagon, the islands of Carranjar, Elephanta and Butcher, bounded by the hills". At this time Mazagaon was an outlying suburb of Bombay, and a fashionable place to live in the late 18th century. The crowded Fort area encouraged the British - and more affluent Indians such as the Wadias - to build bungalows and plantation houses here in a location where they could enjoy the fresh, cooler air and a higher vista over the landscape.

Source:
Twelve Views of Bombay and its Vicinity. London: R. Cribb, 1800.

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View From Belmont.

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A selection of photographs documenting the surviving remains of the island fortress of Tipu Sultan at Seringapatam (Srirangapatna) in Mysore, South India. Lachlan Macquarie served in the British military campaigns and sieges against the citadel in 1791-1792 and 1799 and recorded his eye-witness accounts.

The Dungeon Tipu's Summer Palace Delhi Gate Dovecote 1 | 2 | 3 | 4 |

was the only one which always required passage by boat.



This "seven-island kingdom" as some authors wish to call it thus identifying it with the Heptanesia of Ptolemy, was not thickly populated. The inhabitants with the exception of some Mohammedans at Mahim, were mostly Hindus of the Kolis and the Bhandari castes, agriculturists, toddy tappers, gardeners, fishermen.



In the course of the 16th and the 17th centuries, the Franciscans established or are said to have established several Churches and Chapels in Bombay. They are:

1. Church of O.L. of Expectation (N.S. da Esperanca) in Bombay-Island proper dating back to 1570 though there has been some difference of opinion on the matter, it seems certain after Hull's studies and calculation, that the church of O.L. of Expectation stood more or less in the center of the present Victoria Terminus. This is the church where the Fransiscans administered upto 1720, the year they were expelled from Bombay.
2. Church of St. Micheal, Mahim
3. Church of O.L. of Glory, Mazagaon.
4. Church of O.L. of Salvation, Dadar.
5. The Parel Chapel
6. Chapel of O.L. of Good Counsel, Sion.
7. Chapel of O.L. of the Mount, Mazagaon Hill or St. Bernadines?

  http://www.olgcchurch.com/parishhistory.asp

                            "The Expulsion of the Franciscan From Bombay"

The discord between the Portuguese (the Friars were Portuguese) and the English is highlighted through this example.

An instance where the Friars seem to have voiced their protests and opinions rather loudly, occurred in 1676. The Portuguese had chased a Malabarian vessel. It had fled to and received shelter at Bombay[UNDER ENGLISH]. The Portuguese demanded that it be handed over to them. The Friars sided with them and their attitude became known to the English.

A decision was taken by the English on the basis of such incidents that the Franciscans would remain expelled.

                            "The Return of the Franciscans to Bombay"

The author reports : "When Charles Boone, Commander General of the island and Castle of Bombay, the 13th of May 1720, signed the order expelling the Portuguese Franciscans, he could hardly have foreseen that Friars of his own nation would be the instruments in the hands of Divine Providence to re-establish the Order in Bombay. But thus it came about.

In 1 25 the Franciscans of the ancient "Provincia Angliae" arrived in India. For three years they worked in Hyderabad, Deccan.

In 1 28 a new ecclesiastical unit with headquarters at Bellary was formed, consisting of undeveloped portions of the Archdiocese of Madras and the diocese of Hyderabad entrusted to them. The Catholics in this area numbered only a few thousands. It was therefore just a territory where priests and missionaries were needed, where there was scope for real zeal and a spirit of sacrifice. However, there was one great drawback. The few Catholics who inhabited these regions, were not of those classes, whence vocations to the priesthood and religious life are ordinarily drawn. Therefore almost from the beginning, the Franciscans of Bellary were obliged to look outside the limits of their territory for Indian vocations.

[EXTRACT FROM THE CATHOLIC DIRECTORY OF THE ARCHDIOCESE OF BOMBAY 1982 (page 101 and 102]







St. John the Baptist Church is an abandoned and ruined church presently located within the SEEPZ Industrial Project, Mumbai. It was built by the Portuguese in 1579 and opened to public worship in the feast of John the Baptist that year. 
It also had an attached graveyard. The church was abandoned in 1840 after an epidemic hit the village. 
Fr José Lourenço Pais, the then Vicar of Kondivita transferred the church to the nearby Marol village.


 The baptismal font, pillars and altars were transferred to the new church.
After abandonment, the church fell into decay and vegetation started to take over the ruins. Despite being abandoned, the native Christians visit the church once every year, as is traditional worldwid

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The origins of the parish of St. John the Evangelist can be traced back to two mass convertions at Marol.  Some of the inhabitants of Marol were among the 500 people who were converted when the neighbouring church at Condita was opened for public worship on the feast of St. John the Baptist in the year 1579.
 The second mass conversion took place on the eve of the feast of the Assumption in 1588
, when the whole village of Marolbecame Catholic.  Soon 13 other villages around Marol followed its example.  Marol and surrounding villages received the Catholic faith through the pioneering efforts of Jesuit Brother Manuel Gomes, “The Apostle of Salsette.”

After Powai, Marol was a stronghold of Christianity in this region of the island.  The Jesuit Report of 1669 tells us that the parish comprised 1380 Catholics in Marol, 302 in Condita, 246 in Gundowli and 219 in Chakala.

The original church of this parish was built in 1579 at Condita at a point north of the present village of Kondivita and northwest of the present church.  The major portion of this church is still standing. We do not know when the name of this Condita church was changed from “St. John the Baptist” to “St. John the Evangelist.”  According to the information provided by Fr. Humbert (I: 53) the name had already changed by 1716.

The church at Condita escaped the ravage of the Maratha war, for it continued to have Vicars, now secular priests, appointed to it from 1739 onwards (Humbert, I:141), who also looked after the remnant Christian community at Powai.  Due to the outbreak of a devastating epidemic, Fr. Jose Lourenco Paes, the Vicar of Condita at the time, having built a new church in the village of Marol in 1840, “ transferred the parish from Condita to Marol and the old church and parish house was abandoned” (Humbert II:63). Before the old church fell into disrepair, the statues, the baptismal font, the altars and a few pillars were transferred to the new church at Marol.

At the entrance of the present church of Marol stands a historic 4-foot statue of Our Lady with the child Jesus, known as the statue of OL of Amparo (Help).
 This statue was once venerated in the church of the same name that now lies submerged under the waters of the Vikar Lake.  This statue was brought to Marol between 1842-1853 (Humbert, II: 65, 85),
 when the Bombay Municipality acquired the Vihar Valley with the church in it from the Vicar of Marol for a compensation of Rs.1944.10 as. One of the Baptismal Registers of the church of OL of Amparo (1804-1832) is still preserved at Marol.

Till about the year 1973, Mass was celebrated annually at the ruined church of Condita. This practice was discontinued when the property comprising a picturesque lake and the ruined church was acquired by the Government for


SEEPZ (Santacruz Electronic Export Processing Zone.) The SEEPZ Authorities intend to preserve the ruined church as a historical monument.

The parish of Marol has given birth to two new parishes: Holy Family at Chakala in 1943 at its western end, and St. Vincent Pallotti in 1981 at its northern end.  However, in spite of these “detachments” the parish of St. John the Evangelist continues to grow due to the influx of Catholics into the numerous Housing Societies in the neighbourhood.
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                                                                                           OUR DEMANDS TO THE GOVERNMENT

St. John The Baptist Church

Save Committee

Almeida House, Church Pakhadi, Road No. 2, Sahar, Vile Parle (E), Mumbai-400 099. Tel.: 2837 6600 / 98212 84096

OUR DEMANDS TO THE GOVERNMENT

Since our organization which was formed in 2003 named Saint John the Baptist Church Save Committee. Our dream has come true we thank all those who have helped us to gain back our church.  All political party leaders such as Shiv Sena, Congress “I” even thank the press for giving us coverage which helped in awakening the Authority / Government and also the Bombay Catholic Sabha, The All India Christian Council, The Catholic Secular Forum, The Kerala Catholic Associataion and even the Christians at large.

Our Demands:

1)                   The State/ Central Government should restore the Church to its original glory;[as the property is now seepz] help us in putting the roof and to preserve the sanctity of this church and even declare this as a heritage monument.

2)                   The encroachment on the Ancestral grave yard to be demolished and cleared.

3)                   The Dewool Talav (Natural Lake) be preserved and even the thick forest and medicinal trees be maintained.

4)                   Construct a boundary wall around the place.

5)                   Safe guard the Ancient Monument to maintain the religious sanctity of the place of worship.

6)                   Include this church in category Grade III of the heritage regulation for Greater Bombay 1955.

We are happy today being in this Holy Season of “LENT” (40 days of fasting prayer and penance) We grant that god has heard out prayers and our Dream has come true for we have got back our Holy and first church in the city of Mumbai.

Thank you and hope the Government work quick and give us more results.

Thanking you,

Yours truly,

Mr. Nicholas Almeida

Ex-Councilor President
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Title	St. John the Baptist Church, in SEEPZ Mumbai. Built in 1579 by the Portuguese. Now in the restricted SEEPZ area
Author	Nichalp

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                     HISTORY

The oldest settlements in and around Andheri were those of the East Indians, the natives whose villages survive in Pump House, Marol (See St. John the Baptist Church), Chakala, Gundowli, Sahar, Saki Naka, etc.
The name Andheri was derived from Udayanagari, the name of a mountain near the Mahakali caves.

Another concentration of the native East Indians was located on the former islet of Versova, also known as Vasave.

In the early 1900s, as urbanization spread from Bombay northwards, Marathi, Gujarati and other settlers began to colonize the area.

The English actively encouraged this in order to take off population pressure from the congested city and to increase revenue inflows; however, as a result, the native East Indians came to be swamped, marginalized and their lands were usually expropriated without compensation, even as their access to the sea for fishing was cut, thus destroying their two means of livelihood: agriculture & fishing.

In the 1  50s the     built the Versova Causeway (the Versova Road) between Andheri on Sashti Island and the islet of Versova. The area on both sides of this causeway were rapidly filled in to develop areas now known as Dhake Colony, D.N. Nagar, Four Bungalows, Seven Bungalows, etc.

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16TH CENTURY CHURCH OF ST BONAVENTURE at ERANGEL BEACH

The famous Church of St. Bonaventure, a 16th century Portuguese church is situated on the beach in Erangal. The annual Erangal Feast held on second Sunday of January, celebrating the Feast day of St. Bonaventure, attracts thousands of people of all faiths to this scenic spot. The BirthDay Of St.Bonaventure is Celebrated on 15th of July every year.

Erangal beach (Mumbai Suburban District — Cityguide)

One of the most secluded beaches in Bombay.
Entrance is through Erangal village lanes.
There are the ruins of an old church

CATHOLIC ENCYCLOPEDIA: Goa

The history of the Portuguese conquests in India dates from the arrival of Vasco da Gama in 1498, followed by the acquisition of Cranganore in 1500, Cochin in 1506, Goa in 1510, Chaul in 1512, Calicut in 1513, Damao in 1531, Bombay, Salsette, and Bassein in 1534, Diu in 1535, etc. From the year 1500,missionaries of the different orders (Franciscans, Dominicans, Jesuits, Augustinians, etc.) flocked out with the conquerors, and began at once to build churches along the coast districts wherever thePortuguese power made itself felt. In 1534 was created an episcopal see suffragan to Funchal in the Madeiras, with a jurisdiction extending potentially over all past and future conquests from the Cape of Good Hope to China in 1557 it was made an independent archbishopric, and its first suffragan seeswere erected at Cochin and Malacca. In 1576 the suffragan See of Macao (China) was added; and in 1588, that of Funai in Japan. In 1600 another suffragan see was erected at Angamale (transferred to Craganore in 1605) for the sake of the newly-united Thomas Christians (see under EASTERN CHURCHES, Malabar Christians and Uniat Church of Malabar); while, in 1606 a sixth suffragan see was established at San Thome, Mylapore, near the modern Madras. In 1612 the prelacy of Mozambiquewas added, and in 1690 two other sees at Peking and Nanking in China. By the Bulls establishing thesesees the right of nomination was conferred in perpetuity on the King of Portugal, under the titles offoundation and endowment.
The limits between the various sees of India were defined by a papal Bull in 1616. The suffragan seescomprised roughly the south of the peninsula and the east coast, as far as Burma inclusive, the rest of India remaining potentially under the jurisdiction of the archdiocese and this potential jurisdictionwas the actually exercised even outside Portuguese dominions wherever the Faith was extended byPortuguese missionaries. Missionary work progressed on a large scale and with great success along the western coasts, chiefly at Chaul, Bombay, Salsette, Bassein, Damao, and Diu; and on the eastern coasts at San Thome of Mylapore, and as far as Bengal etc. In the southern districts the Jesuitmission in Madura was the most famous. It extended to the Kistna river, with a number of outlyingstations beyond it. The mission of Cochin, on the Malabar Coast, was also one of the most fruitful. Several missions were also established in the interior northwards, e.g., that of Agra and Lahore in 1570 and that of Tibet in 1624. Still, even with these efforts, the greater part even of the coast line was by no means fully worked, and many vast tracts of the interior northwards were practically untouched.

The decline of Portuguese power in the seventeenth century, followed as it was by a decline in the supply of missionaries, etc., soon put limits to the extension of missionary work; and it was sometimes with difficulty that the results actually achieved could be kept up. Consequently, about this time theHoly See began, through the Congregation of Propaganda to send out missionaries independently ofPortugal--appointing vicars Apostolic over several districts (The Great Mogul, 1637; Verapoly, 1657;Burma, 1722; Karnatic and Madura, after the suppression of the Jesuits in 1773; Tibet, 1826; Bengal,Madras, and Ceylon, 1834, and others later).


 In certain places where these vicars Apostolic came into contact with the Portuguese clergy, there arose a conflict of jurisdiction. This was particularly the case in Bombay, which had been ceded to the British in 1661. 


Here the Portuguese clergy were at first allowed to remain in charge of the churches, but in 1720, on the ground that they caused disaffection among the people against the British power, they were expelled from the island, and the Vicar of the Great Mogul, with his Carmelite missionaries, was invited to take their place. 


The Holy See, in authorizing this arrangement, did not deny or abrogate the ordinary jurisdiction of the Archbishop ofGoa, but merely intended to make a temporary provision till such time as the British Government should allow the Portuguese clergy to return. (See ARCHDIOCESE OF BOMBAY). Efforts were made from time to time on the part of the Goan party to recover their place, and this ultimately, through a division of the churches 


in 1794, gave rise to the existence of two rival jurisdictions in Bombay--Padroado andPropaganda. The Holy See had for a long time been dissatisfied with the general situation, and especially with the opposition shown to the vicars Apostolic by the Goan prelates and clergy.

NINE PARISHES CAME INTO EXISTENCE IN SALCETTE(GREATER BOMBAY) ;DURING THIS PERIOD OF DOUBLE JURISDICTION

OF THESE FOUR CHURCHES [AT MADH ;SAHAR ;VILE PARLE AND VIKHROLI .]WERE A PEACE FULL DEVELOPMENT UNDER PADROADO.

WHILE FIVE CHURCHES [AT BANDRA,JUHU,ORLEM, KANDIVLI]WERE INFLUENZED IN ONE WAY OR ANOTHER ;BY THE PADROADO VS PROPAGANDA STRUGGLE

CHAPELS BUILT DURING THIS PERIOD:-
ST FRANCIS XAVIER AT VILE PARLE -1850
ST PETER BANDRA 1853
ST JOSEPH AT JUHU BEACH VILLAGE 1853
OUR LADY OF THE  ASSUMPTION AT KANDIVLI 1861
OUR LADY OF MOUNT CARMEL AT BANDRA 1894
OUR LADY OF HEALTH AT SAHAR VILLAGE(NOW AIRPORT)1904
OUR LADY OF THE SEA AT MADH 1905


OUR LADY OF THE SEA AT MADH 1905:-
THE FIRST CHURCH TO BE BUILT IN MADH WAS AT ERANGEL ;SOME 2 KILOMETERS FROM THE PRESENT CHURCH,AT THE NORTHERN END OF THE ISLAND ,NEAR THE BEACH.


THE VILLAGE OF YARANGAL WAS BOUGHT BY THE FRANCISCANS ,IN 1554 AS AN INVESTMENT ;FOR THE UPKEEP OF THE SCHOOL IN POINSURE.


THERE THEY BUILT THE CHURCH OF ST.BONAVENTURE;IN 1599 FOR THE SURROUNDING VILLAGES.


THE FRANCISCANS CARED FOR THIS CHURCH TILL THE MARATHA INVASION OF 1739 ;AFTER WHICH IT PASSED TO THE VICARS OF VERSOVA ,TILL 1839.


IN 1817 WHEN THE CHURCH OF 'O L  OF THE SEA' WAS MADE IN MALVANI IN THE SOUTHERN END OF THE ISLAND ;THE CHURCH OF ST .BONAVENTURE WAS ABANDONED.


TILL RECENTLY THE CHURCH WAS IN RUINS ,AS IT IS VERY NEAR THE SEA.


IN 1976 ; WITH THE HELP OF FATHER PETER BOMBACHA THIS CHURCH WAS REPAIRED ;AND BROUGHT BACK INTO USE .


TODAY THERE IS ONLY ONE CATHOLIC FAMILY THERE ; BECAUSE DURING THE SECOND WORLD WAR ;THE ENGLISH RULERS WERE SCARED OF A LANDING THERE BY THE JAPANESE ARMY .SO THE WHOLE CATHOLIC POPULATION WAS EVACUATED .


CONTD:


 After the revolution of 1834 in Portugal, the expulsion or abolition of the religious orders, and the severing of diplomatic relations with the Vatican came the famous Brief "Multa praeclare" on 24 April, 1838 provisionally withdrawing jurisdiction from the three suffragan sees of Cochin, Cranganore, andMylapore, and assigning their territories to the nearest vicars Apostolic--at the same time implicitly, or at least by subsequent interpretation and enactments, restricting the jurisdiction of the Archdiocese of Goa to actual Portuguese territory. This Brief was, however, rejected by the Goan party as spurious or at least surreptitious, since they contended that even the Holy See could not rightly legislate in this manner without the consent of the King of Portugal, as was declared in the original Bulls offoundation, etc. The principles underlying this dispute fall outside the scope of the present article, which is concerned solely with the main historical facts.


 The resistance which followed, both inBombay and in other parts of India has uniformly been called the "Goan or Indo-Portuguese Schism" by writers outside the Padroado party; and the term schism occurs frequently in the pronouncements of the Holy See; but the Padroadists themselves have always resented this title on the ground that the fault lay with the Holy See misinformed by the vicars Apostolic, and that they were only contending for their canonical and natural rights, etc. 

In 1857 a concordat was entered into which gave peace for a time, but a final settlement was not arrived at till 1886, when a further concordat was drawn up, and a Bull ("Humanae Salutatis Auctor", 1 Sept., 1886) issued, by which the suspended jurisdiction ofCochin and Mylapore was restored, and a third suffragan diocese (that of Damão) added — all inBritish territory; and after subsequent adjustments the present delimitations were agreed to. 

At the same time the Indian hierarchy was established, and the whole of the country divided into provinces,dioceses, and prefectures Apostolic.

Madh Island Mumbai : Attractions, How ...

mapsofindia.com

5 things to do at Madh Island, Mumbai

One of the many unknown beaches of Madh.

And there it was, literally on a secluded beach, resplendent and still standing proud after all these years. Although it had clearly seen better times, the old structure was impressive nonetheless.

Built way back in 1575, the church saw regular Catholic activity till 1739 when it fell under the Maratha invasion, after which it went from being a church to a cluster of abandoned ruins. It wasn’t until 1976 when the parish priest of Madh Church got the dilapidated building restored and regular church activity started all over again.

500 years old, Church of St. Bonaventure.

I took in the sights and sounds, just walking about, looking at the church, at the sea and back at the church again, wondering what it must have been like to be standing here in 1575.

I snapped out of my daydream when the sun began bearing down upon me. Off I went, again, thinking I had seen all there is to see. Boy, was I wrong. 

Click through for more on Gaurang's Madh adventure.

Dusty roads leading to the sea.

The road through Madh is really nice to cycle on. It winds, twists, turns and even climbs in parts, all amongst a coastal sprawl where the old exists with the new. Where the Kolis co-exist with the East Indian Roman Catholics.

Another chai break and I came to know of a centuries old fort. Here? In Madh? Really? This just keeps getting better and better.

The way to the fort is almost at the end of the road, near Madh jetty. A road branches off to the right, passing through a pretty, wooded area.

As I slowly cycled I got my first striking view of the fort.

Unfortunately in my excitement I hadn’t noticed the gates and the guards stationed there.

Apparently, the fort stands on naval land and to get inside, you need permission from the navy base at Marve.

I wasn’t complaining. I hadn’t expected much, leave aside a 500-year-old church and a centuries-old Portuguese fort.

Centuries old Portuguese fort that was captured by the Marathas, in 1739.

I just sat there in the shade, under the watchful eyes of the guards, feeling a sense of satisfaction at my impulsive decision to cycle around Madh.

Just then one of the guards suggested I should pay a visit to the tiny 200-year-old temple just a little off the road.

500 years old, Church of St. Bonaventure.

It is a feast of St. BonaventureErangal is a place in Malad West, Mumbai – India.


 This place is full of Wadi’s ( Palm Trees ) & close to the beach surrounded by fisher folks. The famous Church of St. Bonaventure, a 16th century Portuguese church is situated on the beach in Erangal. 


The annual Erangal Feast in January, celebrating the Feast day of St. Bonaventure, attracts thousands of people of all faiths to this scenic spot. Erangal Feast is celebrated since centuries ; every year people wait eagerly for this day.

To celebrate this feast people travel by busses, tongas & bullock carts most of them East Indians. People travelled by bullock carts & tongas start their journey the previous night to reach the destination by early hours of morning. People travelled by buses start as early as 4 am, every year hundreds of buses arrive carrying thousands of people for celebration. The day starts with attending the mass at the famous Church of St. Bonaventure situated on the beach in Erangal.

There after people start enjoying by going for horse rides, camel rides, giant wheels & other rides available on the beach front. There are also stalls for different kinds of games like throwing rings, shooting, football. Some people do live cooking in the wadi’s in open air while others prepare their food at home and bring. Lots of East Indian Bands are being played through out the day. People visit each other and the day is spent eating, drinking & dancing. In the evening the fisher ladies in their traditional dress wearing same colours dance to their music along the beach to celebrate this feast. 

St Bonaventure church (Mumbai Suburban District — Cityguide) ANCENT CHURCH BUILT IN 16TH CENTURY. HISTORY OF ST BONAVENTURE CHURCH BOMBAY:-http://books.google.co.in/books?id=miD5YO05jpUC&pg=PA195-lpg=PA195&dq=HISTORY+OF+ST+BONAVENTURE+CHURCH+BOM Madh Island Beach – Things To Do & Places To Visit January 14, 2019 Tags madhisland maharastra maharastra beaches Previous article Velankanni – Velankanni Church, History and Places To Visit Next article Kappad Beach – The Place Where Vasco Da Gama Landed in kerala Madh Island is located on the north western coast of Mumbai and it generally comprises a group of fishing villages. The Madh Island beach has splendid white sand, which is more suitable for conducting rave parties and film shootings. The scenery here will be more perfect for sightseeing. Page Content Index Best time to Visit Madh Island Places to visit in Madh island Madh Fort Erangal Village Church Of St. Bonaventure Killeshwar Mahadev Temple Beaches Near Madh Island Things to do in Madh Island Walk and relax Relish the seafood Explore and enjoy Visit the Church How to reach Madh Island Beach? Hotels To Stay in Madh island Beach Best time to Visit Madh Island The best time to visit the beach is during the months of October to June. The days will be cool and pleasant during these months. The temperature will be ranging from 27°C to 31°C. The place will be very crowded throughout the year. Visit Our Travel Offers Page For More Travel Deals Places to visit in Madh island Madh Fort Img Source A small fort at the end of Madh village and is also popularly known as “Versova Fort”. It was built by Portuguese in 17th century and is used as a watchtower. Madh Fort is also used as a place for training the cadets. Even though it looks good from outside, the fort is now starting to ruin. If you are in Versova, then you can reach here only by the ferry. The fort offers you a splendid view of the coastline and the Marve Creek. Since it is under the control of Indian Air Force, you need permission to access it. Entry: Restricted (you can see from outside) Erangal Village Img Source Erangal is an attractive village located in Madh Island. It is well known for its beach. Farming is the main occupation of the people here. Church Of St. Bonaventure Img Source This is an ancient 500 years old church, constructed by the Portuguese in the 16th century. It is located very close to the beach. The second Sunday of the January month is the Annual Feast Day, which will be celebrated grandly. This is one of the main attractions of this church. Killeshwar Mahadev Temple Img Source The temple is located very close to the Madh Fort. It is a small Lord Shiva temple. Some of the other spiritual attractions near Madh are Harba Devi Temple, Hiradevi Mandir, Agna Devi Mandir, Mansa Devi Mandir and shree ganesh sai temple Beaches Near Madh Island Img Source In addition to the Madh Island beach, you can also visit other beautiful beaches around the area. Erangal beach, Aksa beach, Marve Beach, Juhu Beach and Versova Beach are some of the beaches. Things to do in Madh Island Walk and relax The Madh Island Beach is one of the cleanest in the state and it is surrounded by mangroves. The mangrove adds the natural beauty to the beach and it also separates the beach from the main city. The clean beach tempts the visitors to walk along the seashore and rest in the serenity of the beach. Relish the seafood There will be some food stalls near the beach serving delicious seafood and other delicacies. You can also taste the Gujarati cuisine. Explore and enjoy There is a small local fishing community near the beach, which you can explore. This is the major attraction of the Madh Island. Since it is more popular for conducting rave parties, you can enjoy the music played by the DJs on the beach. Visit the Church St. Bonaventure Church is located very close to the beach. You can visit the church and get the blessings. This sea church is better known as the Madh Church by the local people and the tourists. The church hosts beautiful paintings. How to reach Madh Island Beach? By Air The nearest airport to Madh Island beach is Chhatrapati Shivaji International Airport, Mumbai. It is located at a distance of 26 Kms from the Madh Island beach. This airport has good connectivity of flights to major cities of India and other countries. By Train The nearest railway station to reach the Madh Island beach is the Malad station, which is located at a distance of 12 Kms from the beach. From there you can hire a taxi or bus to reach the beach easily. By Road There are numerous state buses such as Brihanmumbai Electric Supply and Transport (BEST), Maharashtra State Transport (MSRTC) and private buses plying from major cities of Maharashtra to Madh Island. The beach is located at a distance of 33 Km from Mumbai and 181 Km from Pune. Hotels To Stay in Madh island Beach Malad and Andheri are two suburbs where you can stay if you want to visit Madh island beach. Here in these suburbs you can get rooms ranging from Rs 700 per night to Rs 6000 per night Some of the best budget hotels to stay near Madh Island are Hostel Mantra Star Dormitory Backpacker Panda Appetite The Dorm Factory Some of the best luxury hotels to stay near Madh Island are The Resort Mumbai Sun – N – Sand Mumbai The Retreat Hotel & Convention Centre Oriental Rooms and Banquet Area Details Madh Island STD Code: 022 Madh Island Pin Code: 400061 Planning for your next trip? Check out the following services Booking.com – To find best deals on hotels OYOrooms.com – For budget stays Tripadvisor – To compare hotel prices across platforms Goibibo.com – To get cheap air tickets Viator.com – For discounted day tours, activities and things to do Zoomcar.com – To book self driving cars Amazon.com – For travel shopping We have tried our best to provide you with authentic information. If you have more information to add, kindly use the comment box below. Like our blog? kindly care to share. 16TH CENTURY CHURCH OF ST BONAVENTURE - Bombay ... oldphotosbombay.blogspot.com › 2008/07 › 16th-cent... Jul 13, 2008 — When the Portuguese took possession of Bombay, the seven small islands ... St Bonaventure church (Mumbai Suburban District — Cityguide) ... Your page is not mobile friendly. Church of St. Bonaventure, Mumbai - Tripadvisor www.tripadvisor.in › ... › Places to visit in Mumbai The church is located at the Erangal Beach and the church was originally built by the Portuguese. Visited the place in January as they hold an Annual Feast at that ... Rating: 4.5 · ‎7 reviews Missing: Cityguide) ‎| Must include: Cityguide) Erangal Fair - Review of Church of St. Bonaventure, Mumbai ... www.tripadvisor.com › ... › Church of St. Bonaventure Church of St. Bonaventure: Erangal Fair - See 7 traveler reviews, 3 candid photos, and great deals for Mumbai, India, at Tripadvisor. ... Western Suburbs Hotels · South Mumbai Hotels · Andheri Hotels · Andheri East Hotels · Colaba Hotels · Marol ... It surely resembles the East Indian community in and around the area. See photos St. Bonaventure Church 4.5252 Google reviews Catholic church in Mumbai, Maharashtra Address: Erangal Gaon, Madh, Mumbai, Maharashtra 400061 0:44 St. Bonaventure Feast Mass ... youtube.com