Churches of India

[Anniyan]

Vailankanni Church
Vailankanni (near Nagapatnam)
Tamil nadu


Copyright: Anand Masanam, anandselvi @ trekearth.com

[Anniyan]

The Santhome Cathedral Basilica has been declared a `national shrine' by the Catholic Bishops Conference.

"The Basilica is built over the tomb of St. Thomas, who brought Christianity to India in 52 A.D much before it reached Europe," Archbishop of Madras-Mylapore A.M. Chinnappa told newspersons here on Thursday. "It is one of the three basilicas in the world to be built over the tombs of Christ's disciples and is of international historic interest," he said.

The church has applied for `international shrine' status with the Vatican and is likely to receive it in a few months time.

Over 100 years old

"Several churches have stood over this spot in Santhome, where the remains of St. Thomas were interred after he was killed on St. Thomas Mount. The current structure is a little more than a hundred years old," said Dr. Chinnappa.

Tall spires, self-supporting masonry and large stained glass windows — characteristics of Gothic church architecture — are found in the Basilica, built in 1896. It was renovated and blessed in December 2004.

The structure is stressed both by its proximity to the sea and the main road.

The Tomb Chapel below the Basilica is a recent addition and has separate access.

http://www.hindu.com/2006/03/17/stor...1719160400.htm

[Anniyan]

St Marys Church, Madurai

Nobody was watching, so I slipped throug a small door to a spiral staircase leading to the choir ...

St Marys Church is about half century old. It stands for Tamil people as symbol for the good education by catholics. This church is only a stone's throw away from the famous Meenakshi Temple.

It gave me the impression here that they were using the colors of a big sweet cream cake. Tamils are really fond of colors.
-Henk @ oochappan

[rajeshdxb]

Under construction (Couple of Years ago in Wayanad district, Kerala)


Somewhere on the way from Thalassery (Kannur District, Kerala) to Coorg


Kanyakumari, Tamilnadu

[Anniyan]

A small church for St. Mary which was under the control of pastors of Goa mission existed here. In course of time, in 1903, this church was converted into a school. On important occasions as per the wishes of the people, festivals were conducted and prayers were offered to her. There was a custom among the young maidens to go to the nunnery in the night and sleep there. On one such occasion they saw a bright light surrounding this Selvamatha statue even though nobody lit a candle. Many people of Uvari witnessed this light which was there for over an hour.

This incident occurred on 18th September which is celebrated as a festival. People used to keep this statue in a chariot and come around this town to bestow the blessing of Mary to the people of Uvari. Due to sea erosion the old church got damaged. Therefore the people decided to construct a new church for which the foundation stone was laid down by Fr.Thomas in 1970, 25th January and the work was finished on 1974. This church designed as a ship, is called Kappal Matha (Ship Mary in Tamil) church after its design. It is beautiful church facing the blue sea. The waves rolling near this church gives us an impression that this ship shaped church is sailing on the sea which is a feast to eyes

copy right: Joe Antony Rumilus

[Babji]

Great works Anniyan. Thanks for sharing.

[coolink]

hello
if you like churches and cathedral drop by vietnam forum to see more of our churches
http://skyscrapercity.com/showthread...65#post9678565

nothing glamorous like the churches in india, but the worship buildings in vn are very charmming

enjoy

[candelar]

—St. Mary's Church, Fort St. George, has been called "the Westminster Abbey of the East", writes the Reverend Charles Herbert Malden in his handbook to St. Mary's Church and its Monuments in 1905; "it is not only the oldest place of worship built by English settlers in India and now in use, but it is believed to be the oldest British building of any kind in the whole of India. There may be traces of walls and fortifications in other places which were built before the establishment of Fort St. George and there are, of course, Portuguese and Dutch churches of an earlier date, but St. Mary's is the oldest building now existing in India which has belonged to and been used by the British, ever since its erection." ....
From: The Church in the Fort - A history of St Mary's, compiled by W.H. Warren and N. Barlow "who gratefully acknowledge the labour of the Rev. C.H. Malden, who whilst Garrison Chaplain in 1905 published a book about St Mary's from which much of the material for this book has been taken. -- Revised and re-published 1967; re-edited by Mr. Durai Singh and Mrs. Helen Lakshmaman and re-published in the Tricentenary Year 1980; revised and reprinted 2002 -- St. Mary's Church, CSI, established 1680, Fort St George, Chennai 600 009; e-mail: stmaryscsi@eth.net













All 6 of the above photographs were taken by Robin Cary Askew (yours truly) on Thursday, April 20, 2006.

[Sridhar]

Thanks for posting these images. It is a magnificient church, with a grand history. One of the celebrated weddings that took place in this church was that of Elihu Yale, who later went on to found the Yale University in the United States. It is one of the oldest churches of India and has seen services for about 325 years!

Thanks again.

[DeMorgan]

Cannanore was first settled by the European's when first the Portuguese and then the Dutch arrived. It is not known where they worshipped, but there may have been a church in the fort.

Writing in about 1824 Lieutenants Ward and Conner said "A few mosques are scattered about the town, two of them of some note. The cantonment is situated to the N.W. of the Fort, and occupies a large space: the principle buildings here are the Regimental Barracks, Hospitals etc, the church a modern building is situated N. of the Fort on an elevated plain, there is here a Roman Catholic Church at the back of the Cantonment Bazar.






Writing in about 1886 in Logan's Malabar Manual Chappu Menon said "Adjoining the fort is the brigade parade ground, which is very extensive, and has on its outskirts the barracks of the European regiment, the Anglican [CSI], German, and Roman Catholic churches, the European cemetries, etc."



St John's church was built during 1811. The British captured Cannanore in 1790. About ten years later they began a programme of works to built a large barracks in the area north of the fort which still survives relatively untouched.

The Anglican church was built in the Greek Classical style, but not in as ornate a fashion as some other examples in India. As a result the church is hard to find.



The church was later rebuilt. The part facing north with the columns with the classical column capitals is the oldest bit.

At a later date, and quite probably during the 1930 to 1940's a later wing was added at right angles to the earlier building. This addition has much simpler columns.



These look as if they may be made from concrete drainage pipes.

There is no obvious grave yard on the site. On the Thalaserry road out of Kannur there is a graveyard, but it appears to date from about 1938.

Near St John's Church across the rough ground is a grave yard, with an attractive gatehouse.



This is however a Catholic Graveyard judging from the gravestone markers.

Over the course of the 19th century and 20th century the cantonment has developed to the north. The Catholic church is about a mile north of the CSI church. I have not been able to ascertain its location with any accuracy, so I haven't marked it on the Google Earth map above.

It is a fairly modern church, and is the best known church in Kannur. If you ask for a church in Kannur, you will receive directions directly to it.

It would appear that the German church has gone.

There is a Syriac Christian church close to the Catholic church.

Does anybody know where the Anglicans were buried before 1938?

My 4 x great uncle died in Cannanore in August 1843 and is presumably buried near to St John's church. His wife is buried in Tellicherry.

Regards

Nick Balmer

[victoralbert]

Dear Anniyan,

I appreciate your efforts towards collecting all the information and share.

Victor

[DeMorgan]

Hello,

Recently I have been able to find out quite a bit more about the founding of St. John's Church in Cannanore (or Kannur), which I have posted on my blog at http://malabardays.blogspot.com/2007...ob-joseph.html

Regards

Nick

[MaduraiSelvam]

Originally Posted by WillyWick

450 years old Ancient Catholic Church- Our Lady of Snows, constructed by Portuguese, Tuticorin

Dear Willywick, its not constructed by Portuguese, but the Fernandos, Indias first community that got converted to Christianity. The community fought a war with Muslim invaders to get back Tuticorin with the help of Portuguese and brought back the our lady of snow shrine back to this church. Its also the church which has the Indias first printed material, the Tamil Bible called as 'Le Cardilla'

[Mahratta]

Wow, Indian churches and Cathedrals truly are beautiful....sad that I haven't visited any...what a terrible Catholic I am!

[MaduraiSelvam]

Golden Chariot of Our Lady of Snows Church,Tuticorin

[VijayyMdu]

RC Church Madurai during Christmas n Nu Year...


By vijayymdu, shot with 6300 at 2008-01-04

[zhiemi]

The three North Eastern states of Meghalaya, Mizoram and Nagaland have a Christian majority population. The churches dominate the city, town, and village landscapes. Not as grand as the churches of South India, but truly unique and enchanting in their own way.

Grotto Catholic Church, Shillong, Meghalaya. [by sonjoya]
image hosted on flickr


Chandmari Presbyterian Church, Aizawl, Mizoram. [by karinhauhnar]
image hosted on flickr


Ao Baptist Church, Dimapur, Nagaland. [by Nagadoc]
image hosted on flickr


Cathedral, Kohima, Nagaland. [by Rita Willaert]
image hosted on flickr


And lastly, in Nagaland, where more than 90% of the population embrace Christianity and where majority live in the rural areas, every village has the Church dominating its landscape. An e.g. here is the Baptist Church, Alichen Village. [by Nicole Titus]
image hosted on flickr

[RafflesCity]

Originally Posted by rajeshdxb

Kanyakumari, Tamilnadu

This church is simply gorgeous. One of the nicest colonial churches I've seen. The simple colour works right on it. I bet it would look simply breathtaking if lighted up at night.

[IndiansUnite]

cool pics Zhiemi. The location of the church in Alichen village is pretty cool.

_________

St. Philomena's Church in Mysore
Copyright maneek



Cathedral Church of the Redemption, Church of North India in Delhi Getting ready for outdoor service for 35th anniversary of founding of CNI
Copyright Holderroad




Sacred Heart Church, Delhi
Copyright montztermash

[RafflesCity]

Its interesting to see some similarities of the Sacred Heart Church in Delhi to the one in Singapore. In fact I do see some architectural styles in some of the other churches they must have been built at around the same time.



Churches of Singapore thread:

http://www.skyscrapercity.com/showthread.php?t=428209