St. Andrew's Church ( ta, புனித அந்திரேயா கோவில்) in
Egmore
Egmore is a neighbourhood of Chennai, India. Situated on the northern banks of the Coovum River, Egmore is an important residential area as well as a commercial and transportation hub. The Egmore Railway Station was the main terminus of the Madr ...
,
Chennai
Chennai (, ), formerly known as Madras ( the official name until 1996), is the capital city of Tamil Nadu, the southernmost Indian state. The largest city of the state in area and population, Chennai is located on the Coromandel Coast of th ...
,
India
India, officially the Republic of India (Hindi: ), is a country in South Asia. It is the seventh-largest country by area, the second-most populous country, and the most populous democracy in the world. Bounded by the Indian Ocean on the so ...
was built to serve the Scottish community in Chennai. Building started 6 April 1818 and the church was consecrated in 1821. It is one of the oldest churches in Madras. Its design was modelled on
St Martin-in-the-Fields
St Martin-in-the-Fields is a Church of England parish church at the north-east corner of Trafalgar Square in the City of Westminster, London. It is dedicated to Saint Martin of Tours. There has been a church on the site since at least the mediev ...
and along with
St. George's Church, Dublin, it is considered one of the finest stylistic "daughter" churches to the famous
Trafalgar Square
Trafalgar Square ( ) is a public square in the City of Westminster, Central London, laid out in the early 19th century around the area formerly known as Charing Cross. At its centre is a high column bearing a statue of Admiral Nelson commemo ...
structure.
Architecture
The church shows prominent features of
Neoclassical architecture
Neoclassical architecture is an architectural style produced by the Neoclassical movement that began in the mid-18th century in Italy and France. It became one of the most prominent architectural styles in the Western world. The prevailing style ...
, it is inspired by
St Martin-in-the-Fields
St Martin-in-the-Fields is a Church of England parish church at the north-east corner of Trafalgar Square in the City of Westminster, London. It is dedicated to Saint Martin of Tours. There has been a church on the site since at least the mediev ...
in London. It was designed and executed by Major Thomas de Havilland and Colonel James Caldwell of the Madras Engineers. The body of the church is a circle, with rectangular compartments to the east and west. The circular part 24.5 m in diameter, is crowned by a shallow masonry dome colored a deep blue. This is painted with golden stars and supported by 16 fluted pillars with Corinthian capitals.
Dome
An architectural marvel, the dome has a framework of brick supported by an annular arch and is filled in by pottery cones. Its blue interior is formed by crushed sea shells mixed with
lapis lazuli
Lapis lazuli (; ), or lapis for short, is a deep-blue metamorphic rock used as a semi-precious stone that has been prized since antiquity for its intense color.
As early as the 7th millennium BC, lapis lazuli was mined in the Sar-i Sang mines, ...
.
Stained Glass
The stained-glass windows above the main altar, in warm, rich colors, are among the glories of the church.
Pipe Organ
Dominating the altar is the pipe organ in dull green and burnished gold. Built in New Yorkshire, England, this instrument was installed in 1883.
Tradition
St. Andrew's Church (The Kirk) is of the
Scottish Presbyterian
Presbyterianism is a part of the Reformed tradition within Protestantism that broke from the Roman Catholic Church in Scotland by John Knox, who was a priest at St. Giles Cathedral (Church of Scotland). Presbyterian churches derive their nam ...
tradition and continues to belong to it. Its form of worship and system of governance continue to be truly
Presbyterian
Presbyterianism is a part of the Reformed tradition within Protestantism that broke from the Roman Catholic Church in Scotland by John Knox, who was a priest at St. Giles Cathedral (Church of Scotland). Presbyterian churches derive their nam ...
. However, it is free to follow and does include other orders of service used by any other Church with which it is doctrinally like-minded.
Gallery
File:St.Andrew church, kirk, chennai.jpg, A view from the top
File:St. Andrew's Church 1905.jpeg, St. Andrew's Church, c. 1905
File:St. Andrew's Church, Madras (MacLeod, p.120, 1871) - Copy.jpg, St. Andrew's Church, Madras (MacLeod, p. 120, 1871)
File:Interiors of St. Andrew's Church, Madras (MacLeod, p.120, 1871) - Copy.jpg, Interiors of St. Andrew's Church, Madras (MacLeod, p. 120, 1871)
References
External links
The official site of the churchon Madrasi.info
Churches in Chennai
Presbyterian churches in India
Palladian architecture
Churches completed in 1821
Heritage sites in Chennai
Church buildings with domes
19th-century churches in India
19th-century Presbyterian churches
Neoclassical church buildings in India
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