Christ Church, Tiruchirappalli. thehindu.com |
Located in a prime locality of this big city on Nandi Koil Street, near Teppakulam (built by the Nayak king), exactly opposite to Naganatha Swami Temple, it is steeped in history. The purpose of this church was to cater to the spiritual needs of the Christian community that lived here centuries ago. The English company had a garrison here. The land for the church was granted by the Nawab of Carnatic.
Rev Friedrich Schwartz tharangampadi.dk |
Rev. Bishop Heber buried here. Christ Church, Tiruchirapalli, TN |
The old Church, has a marble plaque that records its date of consecration - May 18, 1766 and also states that the land for the church was donated by the Nabob of the Carnatic Mohamed Ali Khan..
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Bishop Reginald Heber (1783-1826), was a well-known English missionary belonged to the Church of England. Despite his preoccupation with his compelling pastoral duties and church work, he had set aside his time for hymn-writing and other work in which he excelled. His church hymns are popular and his work - the critical study of the complete work of the 17th century Cleric Jeremy Taylor was well received and gave him recognition as a writer. Heber was formally consecrated on 1 June 1823 as Bishop of Calcutta at Lambeth Palace, by none other than the Archbishop of Canterbury.
Bishop Heber and his family arrived in Calcutta on 10 October 1823 to carry on his evangelical work. After his formal ceremonial installation by the then Governor General, Lord Amherst, Heber gave his first sermon as bishop on Sunday 12 October, in St John's Cathedral Church, still a famous church even to day.
Though an evangelist by calling, he was well remembered for his interesting and attention-grabbing travelogues related to India. He was very much impressed by the diversity of culture, languages, etc., when he was on tour across India. He undertook a long tour of India during 1824 to 1826, visiting churches from Calcutta to the Deccan in the south within his Anglican Diocese of Calcutta.
Bishop of Calcutta. Reginald Heber.jWikipedia |
Bishob Heber died in Tiruchirapally (then Madras Presidency), when he was a visit to this city. Bishop Heber gave his last sermon on the steps of the Mission House, just outside the C.S.I. Christ Church on Nandi Kovil Street, inside the Main Guard gate, Tiruchirappalli before his accidental death the same day on April 3, 1826. His death, it is believed, was brought about by his poor health, fatigue and hot, unfriendly weather conditions, He was just 42. Fate had it that he was to die closer to the holy church. Rev. Heber, Bishop of Calcutta was buried here. He left behind his spouse Ameila and two daughters. Bishop Heber College and School and busy Bishop Heber street stand as his legacy here.
In the church graveyard there are 12 graves dating from 1766 to 1797. The concrete ceiling was laid in 1978-79, replacing the original bomb-proof roof dome. Until Nov. 1980, oil lamps were widely used inside the church.