St. Andrew's Church () in Egmore,

Chennai Chennai, also known as Madras (List of renamed places in India#Tamil Nadu, its official name until 1996), is the capital city, capital and List of cities in Tamil Nadu by population, largest city of Tamil Nadu, the southernmost states and ...

India India, officially the Republic of India, is a country in South Asia. It is the List of countries and dependencies by area, seventh-largest country by area; the List of countries by population (United Nations), most populous country since ...

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. Dedicated to Saint Martin of Tours, there has been a church on the site since at least the medieval pe ...

and along with

St. George's Church, Dublin St. George's Church is a former parish church in Dublin, Republic of Ireland, Ireland. Designed by Francis Johnston (architect), Francis Johnston, it is considered to be one of his finest works. The structure is located at Hardwicke Place, jus ...

, 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 in Central London. It was established in the early-19th century around the area formerly known as Charing Cross. Its name commemorates the Battle of Trafalgar, the Royal Navy, ...

structure.

Architecture

The church shows prominent features of

Neoclassical architecture Neoclassical architecture, sometimes referred to as Classical Revival architecture, is an architectural style produced by the Neoclassicism, Neoclassical movement that began in the mid-18th century in Italy, France and Germany. It became one of t ...

, it is inspired by

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. Originating from the Persian word for the gem, ''lāžward'', lapis lazuli is ...

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 historically Reformed Protestant tradition named for its form of church government by representative assemblies of elders, known as "presbyters". Though other Reformed churches are structurally similar, the word ''Pr ...

tradition and continues to belong to it. Its form of worship and system of governance continue to be truly

. 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 church

on 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 {{Chennai-geo-stub