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| The Schwartz Church, near Sivaganga Park Thanjavur travelandleisureasia.com, |
The Schwartz Church, located near Sivaganga Park in Thanjavur, Tamil Nadu, stands as a testament to the open-mindedness and secular outlook of the Maratha rulers. Built in 1799 CE on land gifted by the Maratha king Raja Serfoji II, the church was constructed to honor Rev. Friedrich Christian Schwartz, a Danish missionary from Sonnenburg, Prussia. Revered as Raja Serfoji’s tutor and mentor, Rev. Schwartz played a pivotal role in the young king's life, earning admiration for his integrity and saintly demeanor.
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| interior Schwartz church,Thanjavur T.N Tourism |
The missionary’s significant contributions extended beyond spiritual guidance; he facilitated the restoration of Thanjavur’s sovereignty from the British East India Company (EIC), which sought to annex the region under the Doctrine of Lapse. Schwartz’s intervention helped secure the kingdom for Raja Serfoji, preventing its absorption into the EIC’s expanding territories.
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| Fr. Schwartz. en.wikipedia.org/ |
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| .Schwartz Church, Thanjavur: tripadvisor.cl |
Above image: Marble memorial in honor of Fr. Schwartz, mentor of Maratha Maharajah Serfoji sculpted by John Flaxman and installed in 1811. The maharajah himself was at the death bed when Rev Fr. Schwartz died. Fr. Schwartz acted as a peace maker and safeguarded the young prince and the kingdom from ''take over'' by the English using the Doctrine of Lapse (authored by lord Dalhousie) as a ruse................
Inside the church is a marble monument sculpted by John Flaxman, commissioned by Raja Serfoji in 1807 and installed in 1811. The artwork portrays the king holding the hand of the dying missionary, receiving his blessings. This iconic piece, noted by court poet Tanjore Vedanayagam Sastriar, remains a major attraction.
The church, originally called the Big Church or Christ Church, was predominantly attended by Europeans during colonial times. Measuring 90 feet in length and 50 feet in width, its foundation was laid under Major Stevens, with support from Gen. Hector Monroe and the English Resident. It is now managed by the Archaeological Survey of India, as it occupies land associated with the Big Temple.The entrance to the church is on the pathway to the Big temple tank (Kulam) where occasional Theerthavari takes place. (holy bath of the festival idol of God Shiva). The temple is more than 1010 years old (built by chola ruler Rajaraja II).
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| Schwartz church, Thanjavur, retaining buttress mg-s-msn-com |
The walls of the church are thick and supported by proportionately positioned retaining wall - something like buttress for extra strength and to reenforce walls on sides. . The church still maintains the old furniture and inside the church the wide arches support the roof. It is is a noble building with a deep chancel, having the Commandments inscribed over the holy table in English, Tamil, and Hindustani.
Rev. Schwartz was a pioneer in education, establishing Christian mission schools, including St. Peter's School in Thanjavur, one of India’s oldest schools. he was instrumental in shifting St. Joseph College, Trichy from Nagapattinam town centuries ago. His legacy continues, with institutions like Schwartz Higher Secondary School in Ramanathapuram honoring his name. Dr. A.P.J. Abdul Kalam, former President of India, was among its notable alumni. based on:2014 article. https://www.navrangindia.in/2014/10/the-schwartz-church-serfoji.html
Ref:
http://www.wmcarey.edu/carey/schwartz/schwartz
https://en.wikipedia.org/Christian_Friedrich_Schwartz
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