On October 13, 1859, a couple got married in a beautiful church in landour, the original Mussoorie. The groom was Christopher and the bride was Mary. And the church was St Paul’s that has been standing statuesquely for 154 years now.
Christopher and Mary Corbett became parents of Jim Corbett, after whom, the famous National Park was named. Christopher served as a postmaster in Mussoorie and later in Nainital where Jim was born.
However, the story is not as simple as it seems. Christopher William, married Mary Anne Morrow of landour in 1845, and had three children. Mary Anne died when the children were still young and Christopher was an apothecary in Mussoorie. Near the Corbetts’ home lived a widow, Mary Jane Doyle, with her three children. Christopher and Mary became empathetic towards each other and soon got married on October 13, 1859 .While Mary Jane looked after the six children of this mixed family, Christopher, joined the Post and Telegraph department. They spent two more years in Mussoorie and Mathura. In 1862, Christopher was transferred to Nainital. Edward James Corbett or Jim Corbett, as he’s famously known, was born on July 25, 1875. However, one can say that, both the popular hill stations of Uttarakhand played an important role in the life of the Corbett family.
One of Mussoorie’s most historic churches, St. Paul’s, underwent a major renovation about five years ago thanks to a donation by Woodstock alumnus Sanjay Narang. The rededication of the church was celebrated by hundreds of Mussoorie residents including many Woodstockers. St. Paul’s Church was built in 1839 and first consecrated on 1st May in 1840, by Bishop Daniel Wilson of Calcutta. From 1840 to 1947, the church was run by military chaplains and was the premier church for the cantonment, primarily used by the British residents of landour, associated with the area and the British Military Hospital during the British Raj. It was also in this church that actor Tom Alter was married to Carol in 1977.
According to famous author Ganesh Saili, the church is of great historic importance as it was premiere church for the British cantonment during the British rule. This fact is corroborated with the evidence of clamps for the rifles in the hall.
During the restoration, the carving on the stained glass windows was done to perfection and the heritage look was maintained in the process. The Church remains open everyday from 10 AM to 4 PM for the tourists and residents alike.
Moving up the Mullingar slope, the ascent to landour begins-shops on the right and houses (like Annandale, Eglantine) on the left, until one turns sharp to the east again under Trim lodge. From here different roads branch off; one to the left, going up past the old rickshaw stand. This is the shortest but steepest road up to the Church; the one to the right, going away on a much easier gradient leads on to Nag Tibba. From there too, branches off the Edge Hill Road and the main road to Tehri, passing under Woodstock School, and on out past Jabbarkhet.
Arriving at St Paul’s Church ,one is near the middle of landour. Southward and below lie a cluster of houses and three or four barracks; some more private houses, the Roman Catholic Chapel of St Peter’s, the two cemeteries and Childers Castle, lodge and Cottages beyond the Cantonment northern boundary. Eastward lies lal Tibba, barracks, private houses, and, towards the eastern boundary, the Institute of Technology Management.
The large open flat near St Paul’s Church has a small park, flanked by the famous ‘Char Dukaan’, literally meaning four shops. Most local visitors to Char Dukaan are familiar with the staff of the cafeterias and they are served even before they have placed their order.
Whether it is a sunny November morning or a cool June evening, a rain-laden day in July or a pleasant March afternoon, the area near St.Paul’s is easily the most beautiful place to be at when one is in Mussoorie. At a height of 7,750 feet,this also remains the most secluded and beautiful area of the town, with spectacular views of the snow clad Himalayas, dense deodar forests and peaceful slopes. landour is a fabulous place to visit though the only thing you can do over there is to take a long walk and have a variety of snacks. The silent and a long, winding empty road inspires one to walk around the place.