BCD Special Report on
Historic Churches
19
th annual edition
5
Jora Girja (or ‘the twin church’). The lofty spires
are surmounted by large metal crosses, and on
the upper portion of the southern tower is a
double-dialled clock facing west and south.
The church had been slipping into decay
since 2000 due to a wide range of factors.
Parishioners could feel the dampness rising
from the floor. The wooden floor at the second
level and many of the door and window
frames were infested with termites. Although
the main mahogany roof was still strong,
leaks had developed along the drip channels,
leading to water ingress during the monsoon
season. The lack of regular maintenance,
shortage of funds and inappropriate repair
interventions in the past led to deterioration
of the physical fabric of the church.
This is when the church authority and the
two neighbouring schools, Pratt Memorial
School and St James’ School, decided to
conserve the church for posterity under
professional guidance. Many restoration
professionals and organisations were contacted.
Work started in September 2008
with archival research and a study of old
drawings and photographs of the church
in order to understand its significance.
This information, along with a physical
survey, was used to produce updated and
accurate floor plans, elevations and sections
of the church. A detailed study was then
undertaken which included documentation,
measured drawings, condition survey
and assessment of the historic fabric of
the church in order to prepare a detailed
estimate and specification for an authentic
and appropriate conservation programme.
Conservation strategy at
St James’
In addition to the preliminary research and
survey activities, the strategy for conservation
and the repair specifications were based on
the following principles of conservation:
Authenticity of materials
Existing cement render was removed from
the walls, which were then left to dry for
over six months allowing the moisture
trapped inside the thick walls to escape. The
masonry was conserved using traditional
lime and sand plaster, and lime and brick-
dust mortar to match those used originally.
Analysis of the plaster and mortar revealed
several traditional admixtures which were
incorporated in the same proportions. These
included pozzolanic materials like brick
powder, brick chips or marble dust which had
been used to improve strength and vapour-
permeability, and additives such as casein,
egg white, molasses, black gram (a type of
lentil known locally as urad ki daal) and curd
which had been used for weather-resistance.
Arresting rising damp
The problem of rising damp has been
addressed by grouting silicone just above
the plinth of the church. The silicone was
supplied by Wacker Chemicals of Germany
who sent 400 litres of the product which was
applied by one of its authorised operatives.
Removing plant growth
To minimise damage to the brick masonry,
weeds growing on the parapet were treated
with a herbicide, and not pulled out. This
slow process ensured that the impregnated
roots inside the wall were destroyed.
Drainage
The roof gutter was repaired and waterproofed,
the downpipes renewed as necessary and the
surface drainage was repaired and re-laid. Four
downpipes in the front facade were concealed
inside the buttresses as per the original design.
Breathability
The facade has been rendered with
traditional lime and sand plaster and
finished with a microporous silicone
paint with a herbicidal additive. Although
less porous than a traditional limewash,
the high rate of moisture ingress during
the monsoon season justified a trade-off
between breathability and susceptibility
to moisture retention and plant growth.
The way forward
For the parishioners, for the neighbouring
schools and for the diocese, the conservation
of St James’ Church is an answered prayer.
Finally, the church is being carefully
conserved for the benefit of future
generations. The rededication of the
church to the people marks a celebration
of heritage conservation in the city.
There is reason to hope that the project
also reflects a growing awareness in Kolkata of
the significance of our historic buildings and
the need to develop long-term conservation
strategies to ensure that their remarkable
histories have many more years to run.
Manish Chakraborti
BArch MCP
MA Cons (York) is a conservation architect
and urban planner based in Kolkata, India.
He campaigns for the reconciliation of
conservation with development and successfully
nominated Kolkata’s Dalhousie Square to the
World Monuments Fund’s list of ‘Watch’ sites
in 2004. His practice, Continuity, provides
conservation consultancy to the West Bengal
Heritage Commission, the Government
of Rajasthan’s department of archaeology
and the Archaeological Survey of India.
St James’, known locally as
Jora Girja
or ‘the twin church’ after its paired towers
