Diocesan Visit to Diocese of Calcutta – Day 6
We have just arrived back at 10.45pm local time from a very busy day which started with an 8.30 am Eucharist at St Paul’s Cathedral Kolkata, where Liz preached and Bob presided. Then we shared fellowship at a special Easter Breakfast where it was lovely to meet people that Bob and Liz had met on the 2015 visit.
Then we were indulged with a bit of sightseeing going round the Victoria Memorial one of the key attraction of Kolkata, but it did seem as if we were a big attraction as people kept wanting to have their photos taken with us.
Then back to business as we then visited the Bantra St Thomas Home Welfare Society, in Howrah which treats TB patients and others , we went round the wards, met some of the non infectious patients and had some lovely encounters.
For light relief and ice cream we visited and walked around the Howrah Botanical Gardens, famous for the Great Banyan Tree before heading off to St Thomas’ Church and Church School Howrah for a bit of a rest then a programme of dance and music by the pupils ( lots of opportunities for people to come and work in all these places) before a lovely supper with Rev Paritosh Canning at his residence, with lots of good conversation and company.
Sunday was an early star to allow us to get to St. Paul’s Cathedral in time for the 8:30am Service. Liz preached and Bob celebrated. Afterwards there was an splendid Easter breakfast which consisted of mince with peas and carrots puff pastry and something Iike shortbread. Bob had a conversation with and American women from St Louis who had emigrated to Kolkata when Kennedy was the president of the USA. James had a conversation with one of the congregation who organises the Vocation Bible School that they have in May. It was wonderful to hear about how they include children and young people from Hostels and broken homes.
Next we walked round the corner to see the beautiful gardens and impressive architecture of the Victoria memorial.
We were shown the history of Kolkata and we were all asked if we could get in other peoples pictures and have our photos taken, this was a command request all afternoon.
We crossed the Hooghly to visit Howrah, where we had a very interesting tour of the TB hospital. We had seen a painting in the Victoria memorial hall of a Banyon tree which prompted Paritosh to take us to see a massive 250 year old specimen in the Howrah Bontanical Gardens. We had a restful hour in Paritosh’s house before a performance of music and dance in St Thomas’ school followed by a delightful dinner back at Paritosh’s.
All in all a very full and stimulating day.
Tomorrow is our last day, and visiting the local to the diocese connection, with the school founded by Alexander Duff who was born in Pitlochry.
James and Bob
