page_title: William Nairn Forbes
hierarchical_section_title: William Nairn Forbes
caption_attribution_description: English: St. Paul's Cathedral is an CNI, Church of North India Cathedral of Anglican background in Kolkata, West Bengal, India, noted for its Gothic architecture. It is the seat of the Diocese of Calcutta. The cornerstone was laid in 1839; the building was completed in 1847. It is said to be the largest cathedral in Kolkata and the first Episcopal Church in Asia. It was also the first cathedral built in the overseas territory of the British Empire. The edifice stands on Cathedral Road on the "island of attractions" to provide for more space for the growing population of the European community in Calcutta in the 1800s.
context_page_description: Major-General William Nairn Forbes was a British architect and military engineer in the Bengal Army. He was responsible for the design of the Anglican St Paul's Church, Calcutta in Bengal during Company rule in India, now the cathedral of the Diocese of Calcutta and sited in Kolkata, India.
  Forbes's design for the spire and crossing tower of St Paul's, Calcutta was inspired by Norwich Cathedral, in Norfolk, England. After damage in successive earthquakes in 1897 and 1934 the tower and spire were redesigned on the model of the "Bell Harry" Tower – designed by John Wastell – on the crossing of Canterbury Cathedral in Kent, the seat of the Archbishop of Canterbury and the mother church of the Anglican Communion.
  Forbes was also architect in 1831 of the Greek Revival Calcutta Silver Mint and drew inspiration for the portico from the Parthenon in Athens.
context_section_description: Major-General William Nairn Forbes (3 April 1796 – 1 May 1855) was a British architect and military engineer in the Bengal Army. He was responsible for the design of the Anglican St Paul's Church, Calcutta (1839–47) in Bengal during Company rule in India, now the cathedral of the Diocese of Calcutta and sited in Kolkata, India.
  Forbes's design for the spire and crossing tower of St Paul's, Calcutta was inspired by Norwich Cathedral, in Norfolk, England. After damage in successive earthquakes in 1897 and 1934 the tower and spire were redesigned on the model of the "Bell Harry" Tower – designed by John Wastell – on the crossing of Canterbury Cathedral in Kent, the seat of the Archbishop of Canterbury and the mother church of the Anglican Communion.
  Forbes was also architect in 1831 of the Greek Revival Calcutta Silver Mint and drew inspiration for the portico from the Parthenon in Athens.
caption: St Paul's Cathedral, Kolkata. Designed by Forbes, 1839–47.
exif: {}