Medd was a great architect who designed two landmark churches in Delhi. It is unfortunate that we do not have even a single lane named after such a great man
As Christmas is not far away, it is high time to talk about the life and times of master architect Henry Medd, who designed two landmark churches in the national capital. His class was very much evident if you visit the Cathedral Church of the Redemption and the Sacred Heart Cathedral. Apart from that, he also designed the High Court building at Nagpur. He was also the chief architect to the Government of India from 1939 to 1947.
Henry Medd was one among many young architects who came to New Delhi to assist masters like Sir Edwin lutyens and Herbert Baker when work was going on at a great pace to design a series of new buildings in the brand new capital in the early part of the 20th century. When he was barely 23, he joined the office of lutyens. And later, he worked under the watchful eyes of Sir Herbert Baker for a very extended period from 1919-31. Thus, he had the good fortune of working under two great architects of his time.
Medd was in full flow when he was designing the two churches. Here, he was given complete freedom to practice his philosophy of integrating landscape into built form as a total environmental concept. Every part of these churches speak a different language. The environment in the courtyard gives a feel of freshness. Medd planned these churches in such a manner that they give a clean look.
If we talk about the Cathedral Church of the Redemption, it stands on a broad base and rises in massive blocks to the tower, topped by a dome. On top of that dome, a cupola stands on narrow pillars, carrying a cross soaring high above the body of the church. The buff sandstone walls contrast with the bright red tiles of the sloping roofs. looking at the Cathedral, from outside, the lack of windows adds to its massive appearance.
As far as the Roman Catholic Church of the Sacred Heart is concerned, it is located at the Gol Dak Khana Roundabout. It is a bold, elegant design in the lutyens tradition with an Italianate south front enriched by an oval mosaic. In the same colour scheme as Medd's earlier Cathedral Church of the Redemption, this one is a definite improvement.
In the early days after the capital of India was moved from then Calcutta to Delhi, the chaplain of the nascent city envisaged a massive Gothic church on the lines of Westminster Abbey. Sir Edwin lutyens, the architect of Rashtrapati Bhavan, rejected the concept. He felt that Westminster Abbey, with all its glass windows would only be fit for ‘frying bacon' in the heat of the Delhi summer. Henry Medd, who eventually designed the Cathedral, heeded lutyens warning and that is why the Cathedral does not have many windows.
Talking about the Cathedral Church of the Redemption, it is located on north of Jaipur Column, at a shouting distance from Parliament. Though the church’s exterior is ordinary, with red sandstone roofing, the interior is very striking. The interior of this anglican church has small recessed openings that filter sunlight. It also has a fine organ as well as a striking stained glass window. The best part of Medd's work was that he gave lots of space for gardens. That you can see in both churches. It is said for him that he did extensive research before recommending to his seniors the plantation of neem, jamun and amaltas trees in New Delhi area.
Medd had helped Baker a great deal in finalising the finer details of the Council House (now Parliament) and Secretariat buildings (North and South blocks). It is sad that we do not have even a service lane named after such a great architect.