LEGACY OF THE FRENCH ARCHITECTURE IN THE CHURCHES OF PONDICHERRY
LEGACY OF THE FRENCH ARCHITECTURE IN THE CHURCHES
OF PUDUCHERRY
P.CHARLES CHRISTOPHER RAJ
M.A., M.Phil. M.I.M., M.L.I.S.C., M.C.A., B.Ed. P.G.D.T.A. P.hd.,
ASSISTANT PROFESSOR of HISTORY
DEPARTMENT OF HISTORICAL STUDIES
KASTHURBA COLLEGE FOR WOMEN
VILLIANUR, PUDUCHERRY 605 110
MOBILE: 9443723327
Email Id:ccraj18@gmail.com
Introduction
Pondicherry, the very word seems to be the correction of Pudicherry1 which means a new hamlet.
The Union Territory of Pondicherry constituted out of the four
French establishments of Pondicherry, Karaikal, Mahe and Yanam has the epoch of history of three hundred and fifty years 2. The French showed great interest in promoting the new faith i.e., Christianity apart from their economic trade and commercial motives.
The Charter of 1664 had bestowed the Royal French Indian Company perpetual concession over Madagascar and the neighbouring islands on an important condition that it should promote the Catholic faith in these areas.
Thus the company started its
evangelical mission and Pondicherry saw the beginning of the mission by two Capuchin priests, in 1674, who came to Pondicherry along with Francois Martin to spread the
Gospel among the strange population3.
Capuchins and inception of Chapel at Puducherry
The evangelical mission at Puducherry, saw its inception by St. Francis Xavier, which was made known by the two letters written by the saint himself in the year 1545.
They reveal that the vicinity of the mission was in the place called Saveriacheri and they must have experienced the saints ' evangelical work and there are evidences that the saint made some conversion among the population and since there were no priests the new religion lost its rapport in development4.
But the Capuchins, Franciscan Missionaries from 1674 accepted the offer made by Francois Martin and started their mission. The first chapel for the natives was built in
1
1686 and this was outside the Fort of Pondicherry and
OF PUDUCHERRY
P.CHARLES CHRISTOPHER RAJ
M.A., M.Phil. M.I.M., M.L.I.S.C., M.C.A., B.Ed. P.G.D.T.A. P.hd.,
ASSISTANT PROFESSOR of HISTORY
DEPARTMENT OF HISTORICAL STUDIES
KASTHURBA COLLEGE FOR WOMEN
VILLIANUR, PUDUCHERRY 605 110
MOBILE: 9443723327
Email Id:ccraj18@gmail.com
Introduction
Pondicherry, the very word seems to be the correction of Pudicherry1 which means a new hamlet.
The Union Territory of Pondicherry constituted out of the four
French establishments of Pondicherry, Karaikal, Mahe and Yanam has the epoch of history of three hundred and fifty years 2. The French showed great interest in promoting the new faith i.e., Christianity apart from their economic trade and commercial motives.
The Charter of 1664 had bestowed the Royal French Indian Company perpetual concession over Madagascar and the neighbouring islands on an important condition that it should promote the Catholic faith in these areas.
Thus the company started its
evangelical mission and Pondicherry saw the beginning of the mission by two Capuchin priests, in 1674, who came to Pondicherry along with Francois Martin to spread the
Gospel among the strange population3.
Capuchins and inception of Chapel at Puducherry
The evangelical mission at Puducherry, saw its inception by St. Francis Xavier, which was made known by the two letters written by the saint himself in the year 1545.
They reveal that the vicinity of the mission was in the place called Saveriacheri and they must have experienced the saints ' evangelical work and there are evidences that the saint made some conversion among the population and since there were no priests the new religion lost its rapport in development4.
But the Capuchins, Franciscan Missionaries from 1674 accepted the offer made by Francois Martin and started their mission. The first chapel for the natives was built in
1
1686 and this was outside the Fort of Pondicherry and
References: 12. Marie Bernarde "Bernadette" Soubirous 7 January 1844 – 16 April 1879) was the firstborn daughter of a miller from Lourdes, France, and is venerated as a Christian mystic and Saint in founded. See also Sovenir released Dedication of Sacred Heart Basilica Pondicherry, 2011 and www.pondicherryarchdiocese.org. Souvenir released Call to Asia, Missions Etrangeres de Paris (MEP) 350 years service, 2009. 18. Clement Iswar, Diocese of Pondicherry – Cuddalore (A.D 1545-2000), Puducherry, 2003, pp.198-200. 21. St. Margaret Mary Alacoque, 1647-1690, was a French Roman Catholic nun and mystic, who promoted devotion to the Sacred Heart of Jesus in its modern form bishops by a vote of 2,147 to 4 and promulgated by Pope Paul VI on December 4, 1963