St. Andrew's Church

St. Andrew's Church is one of the oldest churches in Bombay, built by the Portuguese Jesuits in 1575. It stands on the sea-shore of the Bandra suburb of Bombay, and was the only church there till the first quarter of the 17th century. The altar of the church extends almost to the roof, which carries statues of Sacred Heart, Our Lady and St Andrew. Smaller statues of St John the Baptist, St Sebastian and the Bom Jesu are above the main statues. The 16th century wood side altars carved and painted in popular Portuguese style, 16th century hanging wood panels depicting the Resurrection of the Christ and the Assumption of Mother Mary and the 16th century pulpit are among the other interests in the church. Besides, one of the largest and oldest stone crosses in Mumbai is in its compound. This stone cross is carved from a single stone, and was brought from the Church of St. Anne (where the Bandra Bus Depot is now located) before it was blown up by the English to prevent it falling in the hands of the Maratha Army at the time of their invasion of Bombay.