St. Stephen's Church, Ooty
Encyclopedia
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 then Governor of Madras, who keenly felt the need for a cathedral exclusively for the British, in Ooty, laid the foundation for the church on April 23, 1829, to coincide with the birthday of King George IV. St. Stephen's Church was consecrated by John Matthias Turner
, Bishop of Calcutta, on November 5,1830. It was thrown open to public communion
on Easter Sunday April 3, 1831. It came under the Church of South India
in 1947. The architect incharge was John James Underwood, Captain, Madras Regiment.
is present on the wall on the western side, which is situated above panelled doors. The church also features stained glass windows depicting among many others the crucifixion of Christ and Mary
holding baby Jesus in her arms. Instead of the usual bell in the attic, 4 hammer like structures are tied on inverted-V shaped wooden planks using wires, which when pulled from the floor, produce a musical sound. this arrangement is kept on a strong and tall stool with access in all directions. The church also has a pulpit
with a flight of steps to the left of the chancel, a pew with a chancel in a raised position and a vestry
in the cellar
.
Tamil Nadu
Tamil Nadu is one of the 28 states of India. Its capital and largest city is Chennai. Tamil Nadu lies in the southernmost part of the Indian Peninsula and is bordered by the union territory of Pondicherry, and the states of Kerala, Karnataka, and Andhra Pradesh...
, India
India
India , officially the Republic of India , is a country in South Asia. It is the seventh-largest country by geographical area, the second-most populous country with over 1.2 billion people, and the most populous democracy in the world...
. It is one of the oldest churches in the Nilgiris district.
History
The church dates back to the 19th century. Stephen Rumbold LushingtonStephen Rumbold Lushington
Stephen Rumbold Lushington was an English Tory politician and an administrator in India. He was Governor of Madras from 1827 to 1835....
, the then Governor of Madras, who keenly felt the need for a cathedral exclusively for the British, in Ooty, laid the foundation for the church on April 23, 1829, to coincide with the birthday of King George IV. St. Stephen's Church was consecrated by John Matthias Turner
John Matthias Turner
The Rt Rev John Matthias Turner, DD, MA was an eminent Anglican priest in the first half of the 19th century. He was Vicar of Abingdon then Rector of Winslow before being elevated to the Episcopate as Bishop of Calcutta in 1829. He died in post in the summer of 1831 and was interred on 8...
, Bishop of Calcutta, on November 5,1830. It was thrown open to public communion
Eucharist
The Eucharist , also called Holy Communion, the Sacrament of the Altar, the Blessed Sacrament, the Lord's Supper, and other names, is a Christian sacrament or ordinance...
on Easter Sunday April 3, 1831. It came under the Church of South India
Church of South India
The Church of South India is the successor of the Church of England in India. It came into being in 1947 as a union of Anglican and Protestant churches in South India. With a membership of over 3.8 million, it is India's second largest Christian church after the Roman Catholic Church in India...
in 1947. The architect incharge was John James Underwood, Captain, Madras Regiment.
Architecture
The massive main beam and all other timber in the church was taken from Tipu's palace on the island of Seringapatnam. Material was carried from their up the Sigur ghat. The architect was Captain J. J. Underwood and the construction costed about Rs 24000 at that time. The foundation stone was laid on April 1829. A painting depicting the Last SupperLast Supper
The Last Supper is the final meal that, according to Christian belief, Jesus shared with his Twelve Apostles in Jerusalem before his crucifixion. The Last Supper provides the scriptural basis for the Eucharist, also known as "communion" or "the Lord's Supper".The First Epistle to the Corinthians is...
is present on the wall on the western side, which is situated above panelled doors. The church also features stained glass windows depicting among many others the crucifixion of Christ and Mary
Mary (mother of Jesus)
Mary , commonly referred to as "Saint Mary", "Mother Mary", the "Virgin Mary", the "Blessed Virgin Mary", or "Mary, Mother of God", was a Jewish woman of Nazareth in Galilee...
holding baby Jesus in her arms. Instead of the usual bell in the attic, 4 hammer like structures are tied on inverted-V shaped wooden planks using wires, which when pulled from the floor, produce a musical sound. this arrangement is kept on a strong and tall stool with access in all directions. The church also has a pulpit
Pulpit
Pulpit is a speakers' stand in a church. In many Christian churches, there are two speakers' stands at the front of the church. Typically, the one on the left is called the pulpit...
with a flight of steps to the left of the chancel, a pew with a chancel in a raised position and a vestry
Vestry
A vestry is a room in or attached to a church or synagogue in which the vestments, vessels, records, etc., are kept , and in which the clergy and choir robe or don their vestments for divine service....
in the cellar
Basement
__FORCETOC__A basement is one or more floors of a building that are either completely or partially below the ground floor. Basements are typically used as a utility space for a building where such items as the furnace, water heater, breaker panel or fuse box, car park, and air-conditioning system...
.