PERMANENT SEATS

 

PERMANAENT SEATS

Christ Church on The Ridge in Shimla is the historic church known for having specifically designated, permanent seats for the Viceroy/Governor-General/ Commander in Chief during the British Raj. The name plates are stiill there. Consecrated in 1857, it served the Anglican community in the summer capital, with its prominent location highlighting its importance to colonial leadership. As the second oldest church in North India, it served as a primary place of worship for the British elite. Designed by Colonel J.T. Boileau in the Neo-Gothic style, it is known for its stained-glass windows and prominent bell tower. Situated near the town's centre (The Ridge), it was central to social life in the summer capital. 

 

The Church we attend has a large membership.

Every week Worship is conducted there in four languages - Tamil, English, Malayalam and Hindi

The English Worship is attended by a large number of people. Many of them are retired officials, who had been employed outside Kerala for the greater part of their lives. Then we have the people who have settled down in Trivandrum after their stint abroad or in other states in India . Please add to that people who have migrated to Trivandrum on the demands of their jobs or for the convenience the city offered. Another attraction is the convenient timing that enables the worshippers to proceed for their engagements after the conclusion of the Worship. 

The beauty of the worship in English is many who attend the Worship have fixed seats on the pews. You can see them occupying the very same seat, week after week, month after month, year after year. They dislike anyone else occupying their seat. They'd somehow manage to push the poacher out and regain their seat. No one would grudge their antics as they are all aged and contribute magnanimously to the projects initiated by the Church.

Once, the occupant of a permanent seat had fallen ill. He had to be admitted to a premium Hospital. His seat had fallen vacant in his absence. 

Since he had very good relations with most of the people at the Church, several of his friends had visited him at  the hospital. 

When one of his close friends had called on him, he enquired what had happened to his own seat at the Church. He wanted to know whether it had been taken over by anyone else. The friend assured him that the seat was very safe as he himself has occupied it to prevent anyone else from appropriating it. He said he was praying fervently for his friend's discharge from the hospital hale and hearty.   He assured that his friend could have his permanent seat back when he returned. 

It was a big relief for the invalid. He soon regained his health and was back at his own place in the Church.

However, the seat arrangements go haywire when the Church holds combined worships on special occasions. The permanent seat holders desist from attending the worship on those days as they know they may not be able to hold on to their own seats on those days. But as their faith is staunch, they ensure that their enforced absence does not contribute to a fall in the revenue of the Church as the Church manages its financial challenges with the help of the handsome contributions from those high end believers. They would send in their contributions through money transfers or though their friends who attend the worship. 

And once the order is restored they would be back at their own seats.

That keeps everyone happy.