Bangalore: A city landmark and one of the oldest surviving church buildings in the city, St. Mark's Cathedral is planning ahead for its bicentenary scheduled in 2008. The church has had its role in the colonial and ecclesiastical history of the region right from the days of the East India Company till its transformation as a cathedral of the Church of South India after Independence.

The church is appropriately named after one of the 12 disciples of Jesus Christ, who was believed to have been the first Gospel writer. The gothic style cathedral, enlarged and renovated over the years, has several beautiful, original paintings, stained glass windows and interiors that had made it into a heritage monument.

St. Mark's Cathedral has played its significant part in the growth of other churches in the region, educational institutions and hospitals. The cathedral had its first Indian presbyter in 1961, Rev. Harry Daniel. It organises the annual festival of peace every Christmas bringing together people of various faiths to celebrate a joyous occasion. The harvest festival, a thanksgiving event, is celebrated every year too at the cathedral. The church regularly collected and contributed funds to provide education and medical aid to the needy.

The several outreach programmes organised by St. Mark's Cathedral had been in the news. Immediately after the tsunami hit the southern coast, the church became a central point to collect donations, many from persons of other faiths, and was routing the relief to the victims and survivors. The community welfare role had extended to slum development programmes, a prison ministry, women's and youth fellowships.

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