Pune: The State Archaeological Department is embarking on a significant initiative to restore the Gothic architecture of the 116-year-old St Crispin’s Church in Erandwane, Pune, back to its original form. This monumental effort is part of the department’s broader conservation and restoration work on 12 protected monuments in the city, including the Chakan fort, Mahatma Phule wada, and the St Crispin’s Church.
The St Crispin’s Church, designated as a protected monument by the Archaeological Survey of India (ASI), has a rich history dating back to British-era India in 1900. Built in response to a plague that swept through the city, the church was inaugurated on October 25, 1907, and named after St Crispin, a saint known for working as a cobbler in Italy to support orphans.
Vilas Wahane, the assistant director of the state archaeological department, stated, “Our goal is to restore the church and spread awareness of its rich history. We conducted several demonstrations in the past month with NGOs and children on how a monument can be restored.”
Vishram Bhave, the director of the church, has obtained photographs of the church from 1907 through descendants of the British-era architect Sir Niniam Comper, who designed the church. The restoration work, scheduled to continue until 2027, aims to bring back each aspect of the church to its initial appearance, including the adjacent bungalow designed by Sir Comper.
Over the years, the church has faced challenges such as tree roots loosening stones, water leakages, and missing or cracked stained glass windows. The restoration project, divided into three phases, has received a sanction of Rs 2.5 crore for the first phase, focusing on water tightening and external works. Subsequent phases will cover ornamentation works, including the restoration of rare stained glass called rondals, and landscaping.
Archana Deshmukh Kulkarni, the empanelled architect for restoration and director of Nasadeeya Architecture and Conservation, highlighted the uniqueness of the church’s structure with influences of defense architecture, vaults, carvings on baptism tanks, and minarets, all constructed in basalt stone with teakwood doors.
