St. Paul’s Church in Shivajinagar, which has the distinction of being the first Tamil Anglican Church of the erstwhile Mysore State, has planned year-long celebrations to mark its 175th year.
The inaugural service of the septaquintaquinque centennial year will be held on Thursday evening at the church. Rt. Rev. Y. William, retired bishop of Vellore would inaugurate the celebrations lighting the lamp with the eternal flame brought from St. Marks Cathedral, the parent church of the St. Paul’s Church.
“Historically, St. Paul’s church was born out of the disconnect between the city’s local Tamil-speaking populace and the English liturgy,” said Ravi Premkanth, the church treasurer . The clergy of St. Marks Cathedral helped found the church. The church was built on the premises of the St. Paul’s Tamil medium primary school that was started in 1835 and continued functioning till 1990. Today, a part of the 180-year-old school building with a tiled roof has been renovated to house the community parish hall.
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The church has been extended at least three times in its history, in 1901, 1936 and 1947.
It was also recently renovated in 2007.
Mr. Premkanth said the congregation of the church had grown by leaps and bounds over the years and had become more cosmopolitan.
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“The most unique aspect of the church is that it is located right next to the Bowring and Lady Curzon Hospital that came up two decades after the church was built. People from all communities and walks of life come here to pray for the good health of their loved ones at the hospital. The elders pray for the sick and many have got consolation from this church,” he said.