The Church of the Sacred Heart of Jesus on Lenin Sarani in central Kolkata, commonly known as Sacred Heart Church or Portuguese Church, was consecrated on this day. The foundation stone had been laid on February 12, 1832.
According to the website of the Archdiocese of Kolkata, the church was “built by Mrs Pascoa da Souza, a member of the prominent Portuguese family, the Barrettos…between 1832 and 1834 behind Dharamtola Bazaar on Dhurrumtollah (Dharamtola) Street at the centre of British Calcutta”. It is said da Souza promised to build the church after her son received a less harsh sentence than she had feared for seriously injuring another European man.
The church, located in the heart of the city, is often overlooked as its spectacular features are obscured by its surroundings. It has gorgeous stained glass windows, is supported by Corinthian pillars and most of all, bears an exceptional 14 stations of the Cross in marble, depicting the last journey of Christ.