It was on April 6 in 1818 that the first stone was laid for the construction of St. Andrew’s Church, popularly known as the Kirk. With its 111 3/4 feet-tall steeple, the church is an impressive structure on Poonamallee High Road. It was consecrated in 1821.
To mark the completion of 200 years of this event, a thanksgiving service will be held at 7 p.m. on Friday at the church. A special commemorative booklet would also be released during the service with an account of the event, the construction of the church and its architecture.
According to a press release, the first stone had a brass plate with an inscription in English and Latin, with several coins of the British and Madras currency placed below it.
A parchment with the inscription in Tamil and Telugu, sealed in a bottle along with more coins of the period, was also laid with the first stone.
The church stands on what was once a marshy flood plain to the south of the Cooum.
Speaking on the significance of the Kirk, Isaac Johnson, church pastor, said the faith, belief and passion of the Scottish community at the time inspired them to build a place of worship of this scale and beauty, when the area around it was an open plain.
Dulip Thangasamy, secretary of the Kirk Session, said the church was designed and built by Major Thomas de Havilland with Colonel Caldwell as chief engineer, at a time when a number of neo-classical churches were being built in England and Scotland. St. Andrew’s follows this style of architecture. A part of the church is circular , the release added.
