St. Stephen’s Church, Ooty of Tamil Nadu: A Colonial Gothic Landmark of the Nilgiris

Navrang India July 12, 2025

Stephen's church, Ooty, TN upload.wikimedia.org
Credit:  T.A.Gonsalves


St Stephen's church,Ooty, TN upload.wikimedia.org
Credit: L.Shyamal T.A.Gonsalves


Late 1800 St Stephen's church,Ooty, deccanchronicle.com

St. Stephen’s Church, one of the oldest and most prominent colonial-era churches in Tamil Nadu, stands as a striking example of Gothic architecture in the hill station of Ooty (Udhagamandalam), nestled in the Nilgiris. Its foundation was laid on 23 April 1829 by Stephen Rumbold Lushington, the then Governor of Madras, to coincide with the birthday of King George IV. The church was designed by Captain John James Underwood of the Madras Regiment and completed in 1830. It was officially consecrated on November 5, 1830, by the Bishop of Calcutta.

St. Stephen's Church, Ooty, Tamil Nadu, India.
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Stained glass window St. Stephen's church,Ooty,bp.blogspot.com

Stained glass window St.Stephens,Ooty
dreamstime.com

The church, built in classic English Gothic style, features a cream stucco finish, low tower, lancet windows, and crenelated parapets. A notable feature is the use of teak wood salvaged from Tipu Sultan’s Palace at Srirangapatnam (Lal Bagh), transported to Ooty via bullock carts—a remarkable feat given the difficult terrain and limited transport infrastructure of the time. This reuse of materials not only reflects the colonial penchant for recycling imperial symbols but also adds a layer of historical depth to the church’s construction.

Interior, Stephens Church, Ooty justdial.com

The church has long been associated with the British settlement of Ooty, often referred to as the “Queen of Hill Stations.” It served as the spiritual and community center for British officials, planters, and their families who frequented the cool Nilgiri climate during the oppressive southern summers.

Inside, the church boasts beautiful stained glass windows depicting scenes such as the Crucifixion and the Last Supper, adding solemn beauty to the interior. In its churchyard lie several colonial-era tombs, including those of the wife and daughter of John Sullivan, the founder of modern Ooty, whose funerals were held here in 1841.

Today, St. Stephen’s Church, roughly 184 years old remains a protected heritage site and an active place of worship, drawing both devotees and history enthusiasts, standing as a testament to the colonial legacy embedded in the serene hills of the Nilgiris. Way back in 2017 the Nilgiris Documentation Centre (NDC), an NGO based here in the hills, called for declaring buildings around the old St. Stephen’s church area in Ooty as an ‘English Heritage Zone’ to promote heritage tourism. It is not known whether the state government has taken any steps in this respect.

https://www.navrangindia.in/2014/12/ststephens-churchootyindiaexlusively.html