St. Mary’s Church, Chennai is one of the oldest buildings constructed by the British in India. It is a must-visit place for most tourists as the Church represents the earliest places of British occupancy in India.

Location

St. Mary’s Church is located in Chennai and is a great place to spend some time in quiet solitude or to step back in time and be a part of the ancient history. It is also known as the Westminster Abbey of the East. St. Mary’s Church is now a component of the CSI or the Church of South India, Diocese of Madras.

Other Details

Construction work on the church began in 1678 under the management and supervision of Governor Streynsham Master and was completed in 1980. Funds for the construction came through voluntary contributions from the British who inhabited St. George’s Fort nearby and wanted a place to pray. The church is 80 feet long and 50 feet broad. There are three aisles arched with brick and stone which give the church a vintage look.

The Organ

The church got its first organ in 1687. It was bought by Captain Weltden of the British Army for 70 pagodas. The second organ was ordered from England in 1718. The West Gallery of the church was extended in 1761 to create space for a new organ. At the beginning of 19th Century, two new vestries were constructed on either side of the chancel. It reduced the size of the gallery. The organ was removed from its place when a new sanctuary was constructed in 1884. The current organ was procured way back in 1894.

The Construction and Design

St. Mary’s Church building has a nave that extends by about 12 feet further than the two aisles which joins to form the church’s sanctuary. The west side of the church is a brilliantly constructed gallery that has attractive wooden pillars. A tower was added to the west side of the central part of the church at the end of 17th century while a spire was constructed at the start of the 18th century. The altar has a depiction of the ‘Last Supper’ which was forcibly taken by the British when they attacked Pondicherry in the early 1760s.

The Bomb-Proof Roof

Few features of the church construction were considered quite advanced and technologically superior to those times. These included the roof which was made bomb-proof and designed to withstand cannonball attacks. The roof is approximately four feet thick and was sturdy enough to bounce off cannonballs of those times. The designing of the roof involved less use of wood to avert fire-related accidents.

Memorials

There are many memorial plaques created within the church along with a few monuments. Within the walls of the church are resting places of four of the previous Governors of the Fort St. George.

How to Reach

By Road

St. Mary’s Church is in Chennai, the capital of Tamil Nadu. It is well-connected with other cities and districts of the state by road. There are many state transport buses running to Chennai from all over the state.

By Rail

The nearest railway station, Chennai Central Junction is one kilometer away from the church.

By Air

Chennai International Airport is 15 kilometers from the church.