Immaculate Conception Cathedral, Pondicherry

Immaculate Conception Cathedral, Pondicherry

Front view of the cathedral with Sacred Heart of Jesus statue visible.
Immaculate Conception Cathedral, Pondicherry
Immaculate Conception Cathedral, Pondicherry
Immaculate Conception Cathedral, Pondicherry
Coordinates: 11°55′59″N 79°49′50″E / 11.93299°N 79.83055°E / 11.93299; 79.83055
Location Pondicherry, Puducherry
Country India
Denomination Catholic
History
Former name(s) St. Paul's Church
Founder(s) Jesuits
Dedication Immaculate Conception of Blessed Virgin Mary
Consecrated 1791
Past bishop(s) Msgr.Michael Augustine
Architecture
Status Cathedral and Parish church
Functional status Active
Architectural type Cathedral
Style Herrerian
Groundbreaking 1699
Completed 1791
Demolished

Three time in the years:

  • 1693 by Dutch
  • Around 1730
  • 1761 by British
But church was re-built at the same site every time.
Administration
Parish Cathedral Parish
Archdiocese Archdiocese of Pondicherry and Cuddalore
Clergy
Archbishop Msgr. Antony Anandarayar
Priest(s) Rev. Fr. A. Arulanandam

Immaculate Conception Cathedral is the cathedral mother church for the Roman Catholic Archdiocese of Pondicherry and Cuddalore. It is located in the Union territory of Puducherry. It is also known as "Samba Kovil" (Tamil: சம்பா கோயில்), which is a phonetic corruption of "Saint Paul’s Kovil" where "Kovil" means church.

History

The Jesuit Fathers came to the French colony of Pondicherry as missionaries in 1689. There they bought a very large garden to the west of the French Fort. In the 1692 they, with the financial help of Louis XIV, king of France, erected a church which was demolished by the Dutch in the following year. A second Church was quickly built in 1699 but could not last long.

From 1728 to 1736 a large church was built on the site of the present Cathedral. This third church was razed to the ground by the British in 1761 during the Seven Years' War.

Erecting in 1765 provisionally (fourth in serial) a functional kind of irregular shaped shed where the Mission Press (official press depot of the archdiocese) is now, since the year 1770 the Fathers were earnest in building the present cathedral on the foundations of the 3rd Church. On 20 June 1791 the main work was finished and the Church was consecrated by Bishop Champenois. The Bell tower was built later. The choir loft was added in 1905. The Sanctuary was remodeled in the year 1970. The esplanade in front of the Cathedral was remodeled in 1987, to allow people to take part in liturgical ceremonies and special functions held outside.

The Fest of this Church i.e., Immaculate Conception of Blessed Virgin Mary falls on the 8th of December. Now the church which stands for around 300 years is also the place where the bishop house is also situated. Mass services in Tamil and English are conducted.

It is one of the oldest tourist sites in Puducherry., and was visited by Mother Teresa during her visit to Puducherry.

The Church

Statues and Altars in the Church

Cathedral Cemetery

See also

References

  1. ↑ BBC In pictures: Former French colony of Pondicherry in India
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