Our Lady of Lourdes Church

Tiruchirappalli, Tamilnadu

Fig. Front View of the Church

OVERVIEW :

The Our Lady of Lourdes Church is located in the city of Tiruchirappalli, Tamilnadu. This Church is located in the premises of St. Joseph’s College and St. Joseph’s Higher Secondary School. It is one of the main landmarks in the city. It is also considered one of the oldest church which is older than 100 years. The church towers stand like a dazzling Mysterious tower, lightening the skyline which attracts the visitors quickly.

HISTORY :

The foundation of the church was laid during 1895 and the construction was completed by 1903. The church was wholly dedicated to the public on 10 February 1998 and the Christian Cross was erected in during 1999. The Main Tower stands 220 feet in height, Small Tower is 120 feet in height and finally the church bell at a height of 90 feet, and the church can be viewed clearly from a distance of 8km radius.

Fig. Aerial View of the Church.

Fig. A View of Our Lady of Lourdes Church.

In France city, a town named Well Lourdes which is famous for the Virgin Mary in the year 1858. The lady was admired by a pleasant girl for the first time in a cave and she told her mother about the lady. She was canonized as a saint by Roman Catholics as many people saw that lady and narrated the same story.

After that many healing incidents took place and the town became tremendously famous. The legend of Our Lady of Lourdes travelled far and wide and atlast reached India also with its colonists and that’s how the Church was built in Trichy (previous : Tiruchirappalli).

ARCHITECTURE BEHIND THE CHURCH :

The Architectural Style behind the church is a kind of Gothic Architecture design. Massive walls, round pillars and topped arches are typical. The Church is also a fine example of the blend of Europe and Indian sensibilities within the framework of Gothic Architecture.

A further research by the Architecture students of National Institute of Technology, Trichy (NITT) in 2002, revealed some hand- drawn pen and ink plates, which describe how the church was built to reflect both the Gothic style of European structures.

It is said that a Mastery (Mason) from Tirunelveli, Tamilnadu, named Savarimuthu, was given intensive training in such construction by the missionaries so that he could supervise the building.

Fig. Inside the Church

Fig. Plan of the Church

The Church is painted in White and Maroon. The Glass Windows are painted with different chapters in the life of Jesus. The Altar of the Church is made of Sandalwood.

Concrete was laid in the foundation filling the granite holes to a depth of nearly 20 feet (6.1 m). The Christian Cross at the top is 8 feet and acts as a Lightning Conductor.

SOME MORE FACTS :

The Church holds some of the events which attract a large number of visitors. There are four feasts held annually in the Church.

1. The feast of Our Lady of Lourdes on 11 February
2. The feast of St. Joseph on 19 March
3. The feast of St. Ignatius on 31 July
4. The feast of St. Francis Xavier on 3 December

December is considered the Advent season during which Carol Services and Special Mass is held in the Church.

SOME MORE PICTURES OF THE CHURCH :