Saint Mary Church of Chennai (Armenian: Սուրբ Աստվածածին Եկեղեցի), constructed in 1712 [1] and reconstructed in 1772, is one of the oldest churches of the Indian subcontinent, located in Chennai. It is famous for its belfry of six. The Church, also called the Armenian Church of Virgin Mary, is located on the Armenian Street in the neighbourhood of George Town.
| St. Mary Church Սուրբ Աստվածածին Եկեղեցի | |
|---|---|
St. Mary Armenian Church, Chennai
| |
| Religion | |
| Affiliation | Armenian Apostolic Church |
| Rite | Armenian |
| Location | |
| Location | George Town, Tamil Nadu  India |
  Shown within India | |
| Geographic coordinates | 13°05′21″N 80°17′14″E / 13.0891°N 80.2873°E / 13.0891; 80.2873 |
| Architecture | |
| Style | Armenian |
| Completed | 1712, rebuilt 1772 |
Trevor Alexander was the caretaker of the Church until 2014;[2] as on 2019, Jude Johnson, who is a relative of Trevor Alexander, is the care taker.[3]
The Church has a commemorative plaque honoring the benevolent Armenian- Coja Petrus Oscan , an Armenian merchant who settled in Chennai, India was notably generous with his wealth.Aga Shawmier succeeded Oscan as leader of the Armenian merchant settlement and this church was built (and consecrated in 1772) in his chapel grounds.[4]
The Armenians were a select group of merchants in the Madras Presidency. They came all the way from Armenia to Madras. When the British were trading cotton cloth, Armenians dealt with fine silk, expensive spices and gems.
Madras once housed a small but a thriving Armenian population. Today three families in Chennai visit the church to offer their prayers and preserve their cultural heritage. The various Armenian heritage sites and their stories including the Church have been chronicled in the Armenia Virtual Museum [4]
The six bells are all of different sizes, varying from 21 to 26 inches, and weigh around 150 kg each, They are believed to be the largest and heaviest bells of Chennai. The bells were cast at different times as noted below:
