As Chennai is a place where all forms of religion exist, lets get to know more about where Christianity followers usually meet and get along with the own community people.
Yes, we wanted you to get an idea about those famous meeting spots of Christians.. Just like how Christianity is a minority religion in India, well the churches are also meager but they are rich in heritage and were built during the colonial period. These churches of Chennai reflect the 500 years of rich architectural heritage and the culture of the devout Christian who built them. Churches in Chennai show the beautiful tradition of the Christians and reflect the longstanding history about Christianity in South India as a whole.
Here is a small list of famous churches in our city which add's beauty to the city :
1. St. Mary's Church :
St. Mary's Church is the first Anglican Church in India. It was built in 1678-79 in Fort St. George. This was the first church built by the East India Company outside the Mediterranean. The original rectangular building was about 60 ft. by 90 ft. Its outer walls were 4 ft thick and its roof 2 ft. thick and bomb proof. The treasures of St. Mary's Church are the altarpiece, a large painting of The Last Supper, a 1660 bible and silver plates.
The Santhome Basilica church is located on the southern end of Marina Beach. A rare church, raised on the tomb of St. Thomas, an apostle of Christ, it has in its possession a small hand bone of Thomas and the head of a lance, which brought him down. Renovated in the early 1970s, this Basilica draws huge crowds. There is a beautiful stained glass window at the basilica, which portrays the story of St. Thomas, and the central hall has 14 wooden plaques depicting scenes from the last days of Christ. In the cathedral is a 3ft. high statue of Virgin Mary, which was brought from Portugal in 1543.
This church in Elliot's Beach is in honour of Our Lady of Health, the Madonna of Velankanni, though it is smaller in scale than the original one at Velankanni (near Nagapattinam). The devoted believe in the miraculous curative powers of the Madonna. The founding of the this 16th century church is attributed to three miracles : the apparition of Mary and Jesus to a slumbering shepherd boy, the curing of a lame buttermilk vendor, and the survival of Portuguese sailors assaulted by a violent sea storm.
Yes, we wanted you to get an idea about those famous meeting spots of Christians.. Just like how Christianity is a minority religion in India, well the churches are also meager but they are rich in heritage and were built during the colonial period. These churches of Chennai reflect the 500 years of rich architectural heritage and the culture of the devout Christian who built them. Churches in Chennai show the beautiful tradition of the Christians and reflect the longstanding history about Christianity in South India as a whole.
Here is a small list of famous churches in our city which add's beauty to the city :
1. St. Mary's Church :
St. Mary's Church is the first Anglican Church in India. It was built in 1678-79 in Fort St. George. This was the first church built by the East India Company outside the Mediterranean. The original rectangular building was about 60 ft. by 90 ft. Its outer walls were 4 ft thick and its roof 2 ft. thick and bomb proof. The treasures of St. Mary's Church are the altarpiece, a large painting of The Last Supper, a 1660 bible and silver plates.
Address : Rajaji Salai, Fort St George, Chennai.
2. Santhome Basilica :
2. Santhome Basilica :
The Santhome Basilica church is located on the southern end of Marina Beach. A rare church, raised on the tomb of St. Thomas, an apostle of Christ, it has in its possession a small hand bone of Thomas and the head of a lance, which brought him down. Renovated in the early 1970s, this Basilica draws huge crowds. There is a beautiful stained glass window at the basilica, which portrays the story of St. Thomas, and the central hall has 14 wooden plaques depicting scenes from the last days of Christ. In the cathedral is a 3ft. high statue of Virgin Mary, which was brought from Portugal in 1543.
Address : Kamarajar Salai, Kuil Thoppu, Mylapore, Chennai.
3. Velankanni Church :
3. Velankanni Church :
This church in Elliot's Beach is in honour of Our Lady of Health, the Madonna of Velankanni, though it is smaller in scale than the original one at Velankanni (near Nagapattinam). The devoted believe in the miraculous curative powers of the Madonna. The founding of the this 16th century church is attributed to three miracles : the apparition of Mary and Jesus to a slumbering shepherd boy, the curing of a lame buttermilk vendor, and the survival of Portuguese sailors assaulted by a violent sea storm.
Address : Annai Velankanni Road, Elliots Beach, Besant Nagar, Chennai.
4. The Armenian Church :
The Armenian Church was built in 1772, on the site of the Armenian cemetery, where 350 graves are laid. The Church is also known as Armenian Church of Virgin Mary and is located on the Armenian Street, Chennai. The Armenian Church houses a magnificent belfry - 6 bells, claimed to be the largest bells in Chennai.
5. C.S.I. Holy Cross Church :
The Church of South India or C.S.I. Holy Cross Church is more than 120 years old. It was originally called the Perambur Railway Church, when it was under the railway authorities. The C.S.I. Holy Cross Church earlier had a predominantly Anglo-Indian congregation though now there are also families from other southern states.
6. St. Thomas Mount :Legend has it that Thomas, an apostle of Christ, preached atop the hill here. He is said to have been killed on this 300 ft. high mount. The paintings of 'The Holy Lady and The Child' and 'Our Lady of Expectations' exhibited in the St. Thomas church are believed to have been done by St. Thomas.
7. St. Andrews Church :
Known as "the Queen of Scottish Churches in the East", the St. Andrews Church has finely etched white Doric columns, black and white tiled marble roof, and a high, sky-blue dome of enviable beauty. On the inner surface of the dome, constellations of stars, as they can be viewed in Scotland, are painted realistically.
8. St. George's Cathedral :
The St. George's Cathedral was built in 1815. It has a towering 45m spire and ionic columns. The highlight of this Cathedral is the graveyard just adjacent to it with its guardrail made up of war emblems - muskets, bayonets etc. of the capture of Srirangapatnam in 1799.9. Descanso Church :
Lying amidst the cultural and religious centre of Mylapore on St. Mary's Road, this 17th century church is said to have been the place where St. Thomas, one of the 12 apostles of Jesus Christ, took rest and also served the people.
4. The Armenian Church :
The Armenian Church was built in 1772, on the site of the Armenian cemetery, where 350 graves are laid. The Church is also known as Armenian Church of Virgin Mary and is located on the Armenian Street, Chennai. The Armenian Church houses a magnificent belfry - 6 bells, claimed to be the largest bells in Chennai.
5. C.S.I. Holy Cross Church :
The Church of South India or C.S.I. Holy Cross Church is more than 120 years old. It was originally called the Perambur Railway Church, when it was under the railway authorities. The C.S.I. Holy Cross Church earlier had a predominantly Anglo-Indian congregation though now there are also families from other southern states.
6. St. Thomas Mount :Legend has it that Thomas, an apostle of Christ, preached atop the hill here. He is said to have been killed on this 300 ft. high mount. The paintings of 'The Holy Lady and The Child' and 'Our Lady of Expectations' exhibited in the St. Thomas church are believed to have been done by St. Thomas.
7. St. Andrews Church :
Known as "the Queen of Scottish Churches in the East", the St. Andrews Church has finely etched white Doric columns, black and white tiled marble roof, and a high, sky-blue dome of enviable beauty. On the inner surface of the dome, constellations of stars, as they can be viewed in Scotland, are painted realistically.
8. St. George's Cathedral :
The St. George's Cathedral was built in 1815. It has a towering 45m spire and ionic columns. The highlight of this Cathedral is the graveyard just adjacent to it with its guardrail made up of war emblems - muskets, bayonets etc. of the capture of Srirangapatnam in 1799.9. Descanso Church :
Lying amidst the cultural and religious centre of Mylapore on St. Mary's Road, this 17th century church is said to have been the place where St. Thomas, one of the 12 apostles of Jesus Christ, took rest and also served the people.
Other than the above mentioned churches, there are many local churches all over Chennai which are build recently and are visited by the local residents regularly.
Sunday prayers are well organised and people maintain discipline to make it a memorable worship for everyone. Marriages, Christmas functions, Choirs, Counselling, Extra curricular classes for children etc take place in these churches on a regular basis. The best part is, in Chennai even Hindus visit churches and worship by lighting candles. And the worst part is many people from other religion are forced/mesmerized to convert from their own religion and change to Christians which is becoming popular now a days. This is done only by few people and not all.
Hope this blog was useful and saved your time ;-)..
So now book a cab and roam around our city and casually step into one of these churches to experience by your own. Do share your sweet moments.. And don't forget to take photos pals ;-)
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