It was in the month of October in the year 1859 that a couple got married at a beautiful church located in landour, the original Mussoorie. The groom was Christopher and the bride was Mary. And the church was St.Paul’s that stands as statuesquely as it had then done, all those long years ago.
Christopher and Mary Corbett later became parents of Jim Corbett after whom the famous National Park was named.Christopher served as a Post Master in Mussoorie and later in Nainital where Jim was born.
However, the story is not as simple as it may seem. Christopher William married Mary Anne Morrow of landour in 1845 and had three children.Mary Anne died when the children were still young. At that time Christopher was an apothecary in Mussoorie. Near the Corbetts’ home lived a widow, Mary Jane Doyle, with her three children. Christopher and Mary became sympathetic to each other.They got married on October 13, 1859. While Mary Jane looked after the six children from the 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 is known the world over, was born in Nainital on July 25, 1875. Thus, 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 some 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 May 1,1840, 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 being used primarily 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 the year 1977.
According to famous, Mussoorie-based author Ganesh Saili, the church is of great historic importance as it was the premiere church for the British Cantonment during the British Raj. This fact is corroborated with the evidence of clamps for the rifles in the Hall.
During the restoration, the carving work on the stained glass windows was done to perfection and the heritage look was maintained in the process. The Church remains open every day for tourists and residents alike
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, more barracks, more 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. Whether it is a cloudy October morning like today 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 7750 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. It is the crown of Mussoorie and St.Paul’s Church is its shining jewel.