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| St. Stephen's Church, Ooty |
St. Stephen's Church is located on the road to Mysore in Ooty, in the state of Tamil Nadu, India. It is one of the oldest churches in the Nilgiris district.The St Stephens Church, Ooty is one of the architectural marvels that the British left for us. A very old church, which dates back to the 19th century, it was build to coincide with the birthday of King George IV. The main beam and all the required timber were taken from Tipu Sultan's palace after the British defeated him in the Mysore War. The timber was bought all the way down from Seringapatanam and carried through the Sigur Ghat. The marvel of British architecture is clearly visible in the church and it also has a painting of the Last Supper.
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| Foundation Stone of St. Stephen Church , Ooty |
History
The foundation of the church was laid down by Stephen Rumbold Lushington, the Governor of Madras, on April 23, 1829. Captain John James Underwood was in charge of the construction and designing of the entire church, and he ensured that only high-quality wood was used for the building of the St Stephen's Church. It would be interesting to note that the timber that was used in the construction process was brought from Tipu Sultan's palace after the British had successfully defeated him.
The St Stephen's Church in Ooty is a symbol of the rich history of the place and dates back to the nineteenth century. Stephen Rumbold Lushington, who was the then Governor of Madras, was keen on building a church in the area since he felt that there was a need to construct a church that was exclusively for the British.
Architecture
The St Stephen's Church is famous not just because it is a site of great religious importance and value, but also because it is one of the best known colonial structures that exist in the country. The spectacular Gothic architecture of the church is worth mentioning, and the church is renowned for its beauty, elegance and charm.
In charge of the architecture and design of the St Stephen's Church was Captain John James Underwood. A total expense of INR 24,000 was incurred to build the church, which is a tremendous amount in the context of those times. The primary beam of the church and all the timber that was required were both taken from Tipu Sultan's palace after the British had successfully defeated him in the Mysore War. The wood was brought all the way down from Seringapatanam and carried through the Sigur Ghat.
Noteworthy attractions of the St Stephen's Church include its superb wooden architecture and the grand painting of the Last Supper on the western wall. Gorgeous stained glass windows that portray various scenes, like the crucifixion of Christ and the image of Mother Mary holding baby Jesus in her arms, adorn the eastern wall of the church. An ancient graveyard that is located at the back side of the church is also particularly appealing to the visitors.
This church also has an unusual and interesting feature of four hammer like structures. This structure is tied on some inverted-V shaped wooden planks using wires. When these wires are pulled from the floor, the hammer-like structures produce an amazing and magical musical sound.
It is also intriguing to note that even after all these years, the St Stephen's Church shows no sign of wear and tear and has bravely battled all ravages of time.
Visiting Hours
Mondays to Saturdays: 10:00 AM to 1:00 PM and 3:00 PM to 5:00 PM.
Sundays: Service from 8:00 AM to 11:00 AM.
How to reach St. Stephen Church
The St Stephen's Church is located on the Club Road in Ooty, that heads towards Mysore. It is well connected to all parts of Ooty via a well-developed road network, which means that you can reach your destination by cab or an auto. Also, the place is just 2 kilometres away from the heart of the city,
St. Stephen's Church, Ooty Tamilnadu
Reviewed by Maddy
on
11:12 AM
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Reviewed by Maddy
on
11:12 AM
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