Bangladesh in pictures – The Oxford Mission Epiphany Church

A visit to the church is actually a must if it weren’t for the permanently locked gates. Approval from the administration of the Church of Bangladesh (to which the Oxford Mission belongs) is inevitable, but as is the case with Bangladesh, administrations and permits: hardly feasible for mere mortals, believers or visitors. Traditionally, the bishop of the Dhaka/Barishal diocese is ordained here. The spectacular structure is exceptionally well preserved and still offers the same appearance today as on the first sketches from 1903.
About the story:
In the early 18th century, Barishal attracted many Christian missionaries, including the Oxford Mission, an Anglican ministry based in England. In 1895 it founded the Brotherhood of Revelation, and in 1902 a sisterhood was founded in Barishal. The mission organization opened a boarding school, a youth hostel, an orphanage, a primary school and a hospital. The work of the sisters was very diverse, including evangelism, medical work and women’s education.
The Oxford Mission Church was consecrated on January 26th, 1903 and completed in 1907. The architect was Frederick Douglas. While the building, designed in the Greek architectural style, appears to be multi-storey from the outside, it actually only consists of the ground floor, but with a huge prayer hall, the main attraction of the building. The large cross on the main altar comes from Bethlehem. There is a chapel. Aside from many doors on three sides, there are 40 archways and numerous corridors to strengthen the main structure of the church.
The separate bell tower, also made of red brick, houses a large bell which is rung five minutes before prayer. The bell tower also houses the church’s office space. The Oxford Mission High School, a hospital, a library, a student residence, the living quarters of the bishop, a father and the sisters are also in the demarcated area.
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