THE CHURCHES
the Cathedral. Old St. James's Church was built in 1820, the Free School Church, St. Thomas's, in 1831, and St. Peter's, in the Fort, in 1835, but it was not till 1839 that, it having been found impracticable to enlarge St. John's Church to meet the growing needs of the community, the scheme for building a new Cathedral took definite form. The Government gave a site in Chowringhee: Bishop Wilson, to whose strenuous efforts the success of the scheme was due, gave two lakhs of rupees: three lakhs of rupees were raised by public subscription and donations from the great missionary societies. In October, 1839, the foundation-stone was laid; and in October, 1847, St. Paul's Cathedral was consecrated; and St. John's Church fell back from its leading position, retaining only the name of the "Old Cathedral," by which it is known to many even at the present day.
Among the many munificent gifts to St. Paul's Cathedral, were a superb set of silver-gilt plate for the service of the Holy Communion, from Queen Victoria; and a painting of the Crucifixion by West and Forrest, which, with Her Majesty's sanction, was presented by the Dean and Canons of Windsor. This picture was one of three, which were designed by West, in 1787, for the western windows of St George's Chapel, Windsor,
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