Leaf Of The History Of St Andrew's Church Bandra

Withstood the terrible cyclone of 1618

 Survived the Maratha invasion of 1739  

Underwent repairs in 1764  

Roof and ceiling renewed in 1823  

Surrounding wall built in 1862  

General repairs carried out, Paved with Marble, Porch added in 1890. 

Main Altar rebuilt in 1900  

Roof renovated in 1931 

Front and side Compound walls rebuilt and gates replaced in1934.  

Monument of Christ the King erected in 1935  

In 1534, the island of Salsette, containing Bandra came under Portuguese rule. In 1568, Bandra was assigned to the Portuguese Jesuits. At first, the Jesuits made hardly any progress in their evangelical mission, until Brother Manoel Gomes, the Apostle of Salcette, arrived. With his knowledge of local language and customs, by 1580, two thousand persons were baptized and this number multiplied from year to year till in 1603, practically the whole of Bandra was Catholic.

In 1575, a church, described as the "biggest and best of all those in the island of Salcette", was being built through the generosity of "a wealthy lady of good social standing". There is evidence gathered from the indulgence granted to the faithful by Pope Clement VIII that the Hermitage of St. Andrew existed in 1601. In the 400 (and counting) years

Bandra  is a very fine village comprising more then 20 Hamlets

Once known as The Queen Of The Suburbs , Bandra has changed almost beyond recognition from paddy fields to concrete jungles the charm that once was has disaapeared including name changes from the Marathi Vandra  to the Portuguese Bandora  to Bandra by the British

Saint Andrew’s church was built in 1616 suffered extensive damage to its roof just 2 years later in 1618 when a mighty cyclone hit the west coast that also destroyed 35 churches all over salsette and Bassein , during the Maratha invasion in 1739 , The church of St Anne was under threat of an attack by the marathas , They would be a threat to Bombay which they had decided to defend them , Except the local catholics who were unarmed and defenseless , Hence the British asked the authorities at St Anne ‘s Church to Mine the fortress like structure on all sides , this being done the Priest removed all records and books in the college and library and shipped to Portugal they also removed all articles of value and when the Marathas did attack they blew up the mined fortress and left during this time all Christians were fearing and into hiding and were unable to leave their homes , .St Andrew’s Church was closed just once between 1740 and 1749 during the Maratha invasion

The only relic of this church of St Anne’s It seems is the Large stone cross which later was removed and brought to St Andrews Church And Stands proudly even today on the south of the church adjoining the compound wall that is the only visible legacy left from the Lost church which can safely be called the cradle of Christianity in Bandra

The Church of St. Andrew was the only church left to administer to the spiritual needs of the Catholics of Bandra. This was a vast area extending in the north as far as Juhu and included Santa Cruz and Khar, till about 1853. After this date, Bandra acquired the rest of the churches in the Bandra Deanery.

This Article Extracted From “ Making Of Mumbai “

Initiative By : Ashley D’souza