St. Mary's Church

St. Mary's Church

If you want a flavor of Chennai of yore, you should visit the historic St. Mary’s Church. Located at Fort St George, St. Mary's Church is the oldest Anglican Church East of Suez and also the oldest British building in India. The church is popularly known as the 'Westminster Abbey of the East'. The foundations of the church was laid in the year 1678 and was completed in a span of two and a half years, in the reign of Charles the second. It was built largely from personal donations. The Church was christened St. Mary's as its foundation was laid on the Annunciation day of the Virgin Mary. As you walk through the beautiful church, you will wonder at the artistry of its several architects who over the centuries, added structures to make it the wonderful edifice it is today. The original building was a rectangular structure in brick and polished in lime, with a bomb-proof curved roof. Some of the later additions to the building were the Sanctuary, Steeple, Tower, Vestry and the Spire. The interior of the Church has beautiful wooden work and glorious stained glass arches. A huge painting of The Last Supper by an unknown artist hangs over the Altar. St. Mary's Church, with its marble plaques, tombstones and dedications stands as a reminder to a bygone era.