The document summarizes the architectural features of Christ Church, a Gothic-style church built in Patna, India between 1852-1857 by British Protestants. Some key points: 1) Christ Church stands prominently on Gandhi Maidan in Patna and features a tall spire and trees that often reflect sunlight. 2) The church architecture, including pointed arches and large stained glass windows, follows the Gothic style. 3) A defining aspect is the trussed gable roof, supported by 9 wooden trusses with 11 vertical members each. Terracotta tiles were laid over bracings on the sloped roof.

1. GANDHI MAIDAN

2.  By the 19th century, the Britishers
were the dominant section among
the Christians in Patna. They were
Protestants owing allegiance not to
Rome but to the Church of England.
They built for themselves a grand
edifice in between 1852-1857 , in
the GOTHIC STYLE OF
ARCHITECTURE and named it the
Christ Church.

3.  It was inaugurated a few months
prior to the great upheaval of
july-august 1857.
 It still stands tall and erect on
the north-eastern corner of
GANDHI MAIDAN. The church
itself is hidden by trees but the
fine spire always reflects the sun.

4.  The similarity of the building architecture of Christ
Church can be seen in two other places-
 St. Stephen’s Church, Ooty ,built by Captain John
James Underwood in 1830 using salvaged timber from
Tipu Sultan Palace , Seringapatnam.
 Christ Church , Shimla in 1844-1857 designed by
Colnel J.T. Boilean.

6. GOTHIC ARCHITECTURE
Openings such as doorways ,windows ,galleries ,etc have pointed
arches.
A characteristic of Gothic Cathedral Architecture is its height, both
absolute and in proportion to its width.
The Gothic architects wanted to bring light in the cathedral, as the
light was the purest substance on the earth, and a representative of
God. Thus the upper portion of the nave was having large stained
glass to bring adequate light.
Towers and spires are a basic characteristic of Gothic Churches.
http://www.bc.edu/bc_org/avp/cas/fnart/arch/gothic/chapell2.jpg

7. A modernised
specimen of Gothic
Architecture, it has a
single bell tower on its
western front
supported by four
octahedral corner
columns and the squinch
arches, followed by
circular decorative motif
and then again by an
arch.
PATNA PHOTO GALLERY

8. CHURCH
ENTRANCE…
The outer door
of entrance has
squinch arches
of usual Gothic
style with its
top line in the
form of an ogee.

9. Stained glass windows
were commonly used in
churches for decorative
and informative
purposes.
Windows may be
thematic, for example:
within a church -
episodes from the life of
Christ.

10. The hall measures 70*30 ft and
has slanting roof supported by
wooden trusses. On the back of
the altar is the clerestory
with representations of
Christian faith in coloured
glass. Outside the main hall
are lowly roofed verandahs
with low level of plinth but
usually topped by pinnacles, as
seen elsewhere in this edifice.

11.  Ultimately below is the porch with six
pinnacles in total. On its west are three Gothic
arches and two broader ones on the north
and south as entrances for the visitors.
 The inner entrance door is also of Gothic
style. The northern and southern walls of the
main hall have Gothic window frames fitted
with glass sheets and topped by glazed
ventilators, rectangular in shape and
horizontally positioned.

12. The roof of the church is inclined and it is supported by
the Gable truss and the wooden bracings
 It is a load bearing structure made
of brickwork
Wooden bracings on the roofs
 Tile covering over the roof

13. The roof of the
Christ church is
inclined .
Gable Roof Truss
has been used
There are 9 such
gable truss each
having 11 vertical
members.

14. ROOF construction
1.
2.
3.
4. 5.
6.
2.
5.
6.

15. Details of gable trussed
roof…..

16. The truss has been supported
by the wooden bracings from
inside
From the outside the roof is
covered by terracotta tiles laid
in conventional style.

17.  Before laying the tiles ,common
rafters are laid at 20-30 cm
distance. Battens are then fixed
across the rafters at a distance of
4-6 cm.
 Plain or flat tiles are
manufactured in rectangular
shapes of sizes varying form
25*25 cm to 28*18 cm with
thickness from 9-15 mm.
Flat Interlocking Tiles

18. ROOF COVERING……..
Each tile has two holes
formed at 25 mm from head
and 38mm from edges, used
to nail them to the bracings,
using copper nails of 38 mm
length.
 Tiles are laid in regular
bond.

19. TRUSSED FLOORING…
Outside the main hall are
lowly roofed verandahs
with low level of plinth
but usually topped by
pinnacles, as seen
elsewhere in this edifice.

20. ADVANTAGES OF TRUSSED ROOF.
 It provides more design flexibility, inside and out, than conventional
framing. Offering numerous custom design options, trusses present
an economical and structurally superior method for rapid erection.
 Easier remodelling possibilities in moving interior walls. Floor plan
freedom in locating interior partitions often without additional
support required.
 Pre-determined, pre-engineered truss system.
 Fewer pieces to handle and reduced installation time.

21. DISADVANTA
GES.
 Gable end roofs are more
susceptible to damage from high
winds. The gable end presents a
large, flat obstacle to the wind and
receives its full force. If the framing
of the gable end and the entire roof
is not adequately braced to resist
the wind, the roof can fail. Roof
failures, especially in unbraced
gable roofs, are a common cause of
major damage to structures and
their contents in high winds.

22.  Gable roof trusses are visible from the inside which doesn’t
gives pleasant appearance from the inside.
Acoustics are not proper because of the exposed roof trusses
and the sound reverberates and there is echo.
There is no proper lighting from the roof.
 An attic floor could be added to make the roof floor pleasing
from inside.

23. …..BIBLIOGRAPHY……
………..BIBLIOGRAPHY..
 PATNA………A MONUMENTAL HISTORY.
KHUDA BAKSH LIBRARY.
 HISTORY OF PATNA SERIES II
KHUDA BAKSH LIBRARY.
 PIC CREDIT
www.hotelmatryainn.com
home.howstuffsworks.com
http://rockymountaintruss.files.wordpress.com

24. ………..THANK YOU..
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