Armenian Church, George Town, Madras

 






     This was originally built in 1712 and renovated in 1772. The Armenians were a select group of merchants in the old  madras in 18th century.They dealt in silk ,spices and gems. They mostly lived in Coral Merchant st and their famous patron was Coja Petrus Uscan who built the Marmelong Bridge in 1726 and the steps leading  to St. Thomas mount. The graves of hundreds  of Armenian who lived in Madras are laid here. The church  has a famous  Bellfry tower  in which  six bells weighing  around  150 kg each installed in different years 1754, 1778 and 1837 are there. I felt like transported  to more than 200 yrs back in the church with its antique  furniture, madras terrace , eerie silence  in which  the devout pray and had a heavenly  experience.

      Before the  church was constructed in 1712 the  Armenians  of Madras performed their divine service at a place  made of Timber in the  Esplanade north  of Fort  St . George. 

      The  place was allotted by East India  Company who also paid 50 pounds annually for the priest  by a treaty with the Armenian nation dated 22nd June  1688

      The  present church was built by the Armenians with  their own funds in 1712.

       In 1833 the  East  India  Company  paid an amount of Rs 5000 from the  Lottery  funds by which the church was renovated and the verandah on the  East 148 feet by 10 feet was constructed.  

       The   cemetery was constructed in 1862 by the Government and given to the community. 

        The  Armenian Orphan Fund was established in year 1783 and  the  Armenian  School  in 1795 at 1, Armenian Street.




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