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ST. STEPHEN'S
CHURCH
Location: Mysore Road, Ooty
Consecrated On: November 5, 1830
Famous As: One of the oldest Churches the Nilgiris
The St. Stephen's Church, located on the Mysore road, near
the Collectorate,is one of the oldest churches in the
Nilgiris. It dates back to the days of Rt. Hon'ble Stephen
Rumbold Lushington, the then Governor of Madras, who keenly
felt the need for a cathedral exclusively for the British,
in Ooty.He laid the foundation for the church on April 23,
1829, to coincide with the birthday of King George IV. St.
Stephen's Church was consecrated by Rt. Rev. Turner, Bishop
of Calcutta, on November 5,1830,and was given the name of
the Governor since he was the driving force behind it. It
was thrown open to public communion on Easter Sunday-April
3,1831.
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An Inside View
The church has a fine pew with a raised chancel. There are
stained-glass painting on the eastern side as well as
behind the chancel depicting Mary holding baby Jesus in
her arms and the crucifixion of Christ among others. On
the Western wall, above the panelled doorways, is a large
life-like painting of the Last Supper. The vestry is in
the cellar down the chancel. The pulpit is on the left of
the chancel and attached to it is a small flight of steps.
A pleasant surprise awaits one in the attic of the third
tier of the church. Here, instead of the big metallic
bell, one comes across novel but antique hammer like
structures (four in number) tied on to inverted "V" Shaped
planks, with ropes. There are four thick iron bars on the
Eastern as well as the Western side screwed on to thick
wooden beams and they hang from above at different heights
in a slanting fashion, and face each other. There are
pulleys attached with solid wires, which operate the
hammers, and which reach the ground floor through the gaps
in between the planks on the floor. The entire structure
is housed on a tall, sturdy stool, which is open on all
the fourth sides. When the wires are pulled from the
floor, a rhythmic musical sound is produced.
Church Facts
In 1947 it came under the Church of South India.It bestows
pastoral care not only on the local parish but also on the
member of the planting community.The chaplain holds
services regularly in the tea estates. An Anglo-Indian
orphanage was maintained for long but it was wound up with
the starting of the St.George Home in Keti.
For the first time, an Indian chaplain, Rev. M. Dorai was
appointed in June 1981. Till then it was the British who
were chaplains. The last British chaplain was Rev. John
White. The 150th anniversary of the church was celebrated
in April 1981. |
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