St John's Church, Dalhousie, ca.1900

Landscape view showing a small church at a crossroads. Two women, one walking and one on horseback, are on the road whilst three men sit on a wall further along. A large tree dominates the middle of the crossroads. ❧ St. John’s Church was built by the Church of England and was the first church in the town of Dalhousie another four would be built including St. Andrew’s Church (1903) by the Church of Scotland. ❧ Dalhousie was established as a British summer retreat and sanatorium in 1854 and named after the then British Viceroy in India. It is built on five hills and located on the western edge of the Dhauladhar mountain range of the Himalayas. It is considered a gateway to the Chamba district and the city of Chamba lies to the north. The missions established Churches in Dalhousie to administer to the summer residents and to reach the indigenous people in the region. The Chamba mission was established, in 1863, by William Ferguson (1821-1904).