St.
James Church is situated in the Kashmere Gate area of Old Delhi.
Believed to be the oldest surviving Church of Delhi, it was constructed
by James Skinner, the son of a Scottish father and a Rajput mother.
James Skinner, a Maratha Colonel, got badly injured in a war in the
early 19th century. He prayed to God and promised that if he survived,
he would build a church as a commemoration of his faith in God.
Fortunately he survived and as promised, he built as church, which is
now known as the Delhi Saint James Church. The compound of the St. James
Church still houses the grave of James Skinner, in front of the altar. St James Church of Delhi reflects western classical design and Greek cross plan in its architecture. On the three sides of the church are porches that represent the three arms of the cross. On the eastern arm is the altar and in the western direction is the entrance to the church. The dome, in the middle segment of the church, is surmounted by a ball and a cross. It is octagonal in shape and stands supported by circular columns on four sides. St. James Church got badly damaged in the year 1857 and underwent renovation in 1865. The main arrangement for seating is in the central portion of the dome.
