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HERITAGE
Proud relic
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A 150-year-old hearse belonging to the British era is a permanent display at C.S.I. Christ Church
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Photo:C. Ratheesh Kumar
Freezing a memory The 150-year-old hearse at C.S.I. Christ Church
When the world zips past you in a blur, it takes less than a minute to pause and freeze a memory instead of letting it fade into oblivion. On a pleasant Sunday morning the members of the C.S.I. Christ Church, Thiruvananthapuram did exactly that, gathering for a short prayer at the display of a 150-year-old hearse dedicated by Reverend Viju Varkey George.
The splendid teak carriage shone in all its polished elegance, showcased in its new glass and concrete home. Imported from the United Kingdom by the British during their rule, the carriage was last used in 1964 for the funeral of an Indian woman. The hearse was originally drawn by a horse and manually in later times. Soon the conveniences of the motor car led to the hearse being parked in a hearse-shed near Bishop Pereira Hall which was donated by the Maharaja of erstwhile Travancore.
Status symbol
“For the British, the imported hearse was a status symbol. It is a limousine-style hearse. The younger generation will never know what a hearse is because it is not used anymore. The mobile mortuary has taken its place. Here, it will be preserved as an antique,” notes Church Warden James Cherian as he adds, “Owing to its age, the wheels were dilapidating fast and the overhaul included some woodwork and polishing. The metal hubs were repaired using a lathe.”
The church was handed over to local residents at the dawn of Independence when many members left India . The members of the time included military officers, civil surgeons and professors.
“About a year back, a British woman called Sarah Elizabeth Labu Shadiar came to see the tomb of her great-grandfather Maurice Labu Shadiar. He taught English at the Travancore Maharaja’s College (now University College). C. M. Agur, who wrote the book ‘Church History of Travancore,’ is also buried here,” he says.
The hearse-shed had to be given up recently as part of the road-widening process.
As the refurbishment of the hearse and the need for a new shed arose, Alex Andrew Jacob, a businessman, came forward to meet the expenses. He, along with the other church members, sought out craftsmen specializing in ancient woodcraft. It cost him a hefty sum of four lakh rupees to repair the hearse and have a new shed constructed, but
“I felt it was my duty as I have a history with this church. My grandfather Joseph Andrew was the first Indian reverend of this church after the British left. Besides, we, as a family are interested in antiques,” he smiles.
Photographs of similar models of the carriage were collected from the Internet to maintain its authenticity during repair. It has been dedicated to the memory of Alex’s parents .
A proud relic , it has finally found a final resting place.
SAJINI V. SAHADEVAN
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Metro Plus
Bangalore
Chennai
Coimbatore
Delhi
Hyderabad
Kochi
Madurai
Mangalore
Puducherry
Tiruchirapalli
Thiruvananthapuram
Vijayawada
Visakhapatnam
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