India has always been in the limelight across the world for many of the historical places where tourists gather in large numbers every year. The sites with historical significance showcase some unique features and let the visitors explore its interiors and exteriors so that they are able to appreciate the structural beauty of the place. The St. George’s Cathedral in Chennai occupies an incite people from various corners of the world to come and take a look at a reminiscence of the past, which has become an important part of the national heritage and will always be cherished for.
Location
St. George’s Cathedral is located at Cathedral Road, Chennai.
History
The construction of the church was completed in 1815, and it was opened in the same year. It is believed that this building was constructed using money raised through a lottery fund. The cost of construction is estimated to be 57,225 pagodas.
The design of the church was proposed by an engineer named Col. J. L. Caldwell, who was employed with the East India Company. The services were carried out by the Presidency Chaplain in the church, which was consecrated in the following year.
The church served as a cemetery since its inception. The present day church showcases many presents offered by different organizations, authorities and people. For example, the British forces presented the church with insignia that they had collected during a battle in 1799. The turret clock was presented by the East India Company. Other presents received by the church include the belfry, altar table, lectern, gold chalice, Litany stool, etc.
The church attained the status of a prominent cathedral of the town by 1835.
Beginning in 1947, the ambiance and setting of the cathedral was changed. Several additions were made to the existing structure. It was inaugurated as the Church of South India on September 27 in the same year.
The present day church serves to the members of more than 1200 families around the town. Several departments of the church such as The Community Welfare Centre, Leprosy Project, Sunday School, Gospel Teams, etc., have been doing fairly well since they were introduced.
The cathedral is a venue of all major diocesan events. The Cathedral’s Man’s Fellowship is involved in various social activities such as visiting the hospitals and prisons and assisting in the disbursement of refreshments after the Good Friday service.
The Women’s Fellowship gathers on a regular basis for prayers and visits the Senior Citizens Home administered by the Cathedral on every fourth Friday of the month. The Fellowship is also involved in supporting the poor people of the society.
The 40 member strong choir of the church serves during every worship service. Choirs from outside are also encouraged to participate in the church service.
Green Pastures, the environment group, organizes awareness programs and discusses issues that affect the ecology and how these issues can be overcome.
Today, the St. George’s Cathedral is considered to be one of the most important churches of the world. Located in the middle of the town, this cathedral has become one of the landmarks of the town where people gather in large numbers on a regular basis.
The church is managed by a trust. The trustees take care of the church activities, building and all assets.
Structure
The church is known for the stained glass windows. The two panels on either side depict two major events of Bible: The Baptism of Jesus and the image of Jesus after resurrection with Mary Magdalene on his side.
Equally beautiful are the panels made out of stained glass, installed atop the doors of cathedral. As the sunlight falls over the panels, the images of medieval art fall, which emerge creating a mesmerizing view for the visitors.
There is a statue of Rt. Rev. Daniel Corrie towards the left entrance of the church, holding a Bible in his hand while blessing an boy. A bas-relief image of Rt. Rev. Thomas Dealtry can be spotted as one enters the church through the main entrance.
A bust of Rt. Rev. Frederick Gell is placed at the entrance that leads to the Lady Chapel, close to the statue of Reginald Heber.
There are eight bells in the Cathedral that were presented in the Christmas of 1873. All these bells vary in size.
The church also houses several memorial and tablets to commemorate various personalities associated with the church, along with those who served in the British army. Memorials for engineers, doctors, merchants, etc., are also installed here.
Daily Service and Other Events
The morning service is held at 07:30 a.m. and the evening service is held at 06:00 p.m on Sundays.
The holy Communion is organized on the second and fourth Sunday of the month.
Best Time to Visit
Although the church is open all year long, visitors might find it feasible to visit it during the months of October to February, as the weather is favorable to commute around and explore the church and other locations of the town without having to worry about getting dehydrated or soaked in the rains.
How to Reach
Reaching St. George’s Cathedral is easy, as it is located in the middle of Chennai city, which enjoys excellent connectivity with other states and cities of India as well as major international destinations through a well developed rail, road and air network.
The international airport in Chennai is one of the busiest airports in India with more than 300 flights everyday. The railway junction of the city is equally busy with trains running in all directions throughout the day, servicing commuters without any barriers of time.
From the airport and railway station, visitors can hire a private taxi or commute through the network of MTS buses and other modes of public transportation, including the suburban railways. While the fares of the bus are reasonably priced, the fares charged by non-metered auto-rickshaws are usually high.
