Before attending a function at Rajah Annamalai Mandram, happened to visit this Church, on NSC Bose Road, George Town. Chennai. The “150 years” sign board displayed out side the Church attracts me to peep in to this Church.
Rev. John Anderson ( Who lived between 1805 – 1857 CE ), a Scottish missionary and strong believer in Education to the downtrodden street Children and who founded the mission ( 1837 – 1857 CE ) of the free church of England at Chennai, then Madras. It was believed that he established an Education institution in the name of “General Assembly School” at Egmore in the year 1835 and shifted to Sailor’s House, George Town ( Black town ) area in 1838 and became the Free Church of Scotland’s central shrine in 1845. This Church / Chapel was called as College Chapel and latter the Church was reconstructed.
The St Andrew’s School functioned at Randalls Road in Egmore, founded by Re. George James Laurie and Rev Mathew Bowie moved to this General Assembly School with its’ Head Master and 59 boys. It is believed that this school was upgraded to a College and moved to Tambaram in 1937, as “The Madras Christian College”. Under the leadership of Dr William Miller, an the college was expanded with Hostels and academic buildings.
John Anderson and his wife Margaret Anderson ( who died in 1887 CE ) are laid to rest in the Purasaiwakkam, Tana Street cemetery after their death. Margaret Anderson used to say that her husband Anderson’s warm sprit lives on in the church that’s a haven of quiet for street Children, beggars and weekday worshipers.
The present Church was built on the same place where College Chapel stood in 1859, 4 years of after Rev. John Anderson’s death. The first convert Rev, P Rajagopaul, has become the first minister of the Church. The alter is very simple with an wooden Cross. Jesus’s image in stained glass is on both side of the alter. Stained glass with Colourful engraving of Jesus story adorn the Windows /ventilators. In memory of those who dedicated their life to this Church was inscribed on Plaques/ tablets, are fitted on the walls.
The Alter renovation work was carried out with the generous donation of Mr A Johnson & Family ( Son of D Arulanandam ) and was dedicated by Rev. D Richard Ambrose Jebakumar M.A., B.D on 5th July 1998. This Church celebrated it’s 150th anniversary in 2009. In commemoration of the Sesquicentenial Celebrations the Church was renovated and re-dedicated by Ret. Rev. Dr Prof Devasahayam ( Bishop in Madras ) on 24th April 2011. The Church also celebrated it’s 157th anniversary and a tablet was unveiled by Ret. Rev. Dr J. George Stephen on 15th May 2016.
The Church conducts competitions to School and College students on Tamil literature in connection with Christianity through Christuva Ilakkiya Tamil Peravai – கிறித்தவ இலக்கியத் தமிழ்ப் பேரவை. The Church also encourages composing and singing of new songs on Christianity through Dalit and Adhivasikal variyam – தலித் மற்றும் ஆதிவாசிகள் வாரியம்.
The Anderson Church is under the control of CSI ( Church of South India), a protestant sect of the Christian religion. This Church is listed as one of the Landmark Heritage building by the Indian National Trust For Art and Cultural Heritage ( INTACH ), Tamil Nadu Chapter.
HOW TO REACH:
This Church is on the NSC Bose Road and about 2 KM from MGR Central Railway station.
Broad way Bus terminus, High Court Bus Terminus, High Court Metro Railway station are close to this Church.
LOCATION: CLICK HERE
PC : Web site
---OM SHIVAYA NAMA---
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