Osmond Memorial Church in Kolkata, originally the Wesleyan Methodist Church, was founded in 1868 and renamed to honor Reverend Walter Osmond, a Methodist minister known for his dedication to social work. Located on Bondel Road, this church was established to serve Kolkata's European residents but gradually became a center of support and spirituality for various communities, including Bengali and Santhali Christians.
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| Osmond Church, Kolkata tutorialathome.in |
Walter Osmond arrived in Kolkata from England in 1864 at just 23, inspired by a calling to help the impoverished. Over nearly thirty years, he tirelessly engaged in charitable work and evangelism, supporting the underprivileged in Kolkata’s urban communities. Osmond’s life of service left a profound impact on those he helped, and his work became emblematic of the church’s mission. In recognition of his contributions, the church was renamed after his death, embodying the Christian principles of compassion and service.
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| Interior, Osmond Church, Kolkata facebook.com |
Today, Osmond Memorial Church has four active congregations: the Bengali congregation at Taltola, the Kamardanga Chapel, the main congregation at Bondel Road, and the unique Santhali congregation. This Santhali congregation has its own interesting history, rooted in the 1950s when Mr. Hembrom from North Bengal, along with his brother Koomar Hembrom, Sri Barnabas Murmu, and Sri Dinesh Murmu, envisioned a common celebration for Santhali Christians living in Kolkata. In December 1958, they organized their first Christmas gathering with traditional Santhali dances and songs, marking the beginning of a unified Santhali worship service in the city. Initially held at Emmanuel Chapel on C.I.T. Road, the Santhali congregation officially moved to Osmond Memorial Church in February 1966, and Since then the Santhali service has been established to continue the age old tradition even today.
The church remains a significant spiritual hub, not only for traditional worship but also for maintaining and nurturing Santhali cultural heritage within Kolkata’s Christian community. Its role has evolved from serving colonial elites to fostering community bonds among diverse groups, symbolizing Kolkata’s multicultural landscape.
Efforts are made by the government to preserve this church, one of the oldest ones in Kolkata, a legacy of the earliest period of British Raj soon after 1857 major war of independence. Kolkata was the then Capital of the British until early 1900s.
https://dailynewsreel.in/kolkata-osmond-memorial-church-feature/#google_vignette
https://www.tutorialathome.in/history/osmond-memorial-church-calcutta
https://www.navrangindia.in/2016/05/colonial-osmond-memorial-church-of.html
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