The Hindu : Tamil Nadu / Chennai News : Renovated St. Mary's Church reopens for Easter

Online edition of India's National Newspaper
Monday, Apr 17, 2006

Tamil Nadu

Tamil Nadu - Chennai

Renovated St. Mary's Church reopens for Easter

Staff Reporter

The Archaeological Survey of India undertook the renovation work

CHENNAI: The cracks have been sealed and the walls sport fresh plaster.

St Mary's, the first church built by the British in Asia, opened to let in devotees for the Easter service after a sprucing up.

The Sunday morning service saw devotees trooping into the 325-year church that was shut down in March 2005 for renovation.

"The work, which was supposed to be over by October, got delayed by the rains," says Sarah Chanda, convenor of the 325th year celebration committee.

The Archaeological Survey of India fixed the cracks and plastered the walls with a mixture of sand, jaggery and egg white.

"It is smooth as a marble and does not need a coat of paint.

The ASI spent Rs. 16 lakh on this work," says Ms. Chanda.

However, the process of plastering requires a lot of curing and drying.

"But we decided to open the church for Easter and rededicate it despite the wet patches," she says.

Repair to clock

The authorities are planning to finish repairing the clock and bring the shine back to the chipped stained glass and the black and white chequered floor soon.

The service on Sunday started with rededication of the church in the presence of Bishop-in-Madras reverend V. Devasahayam.

Reverend Ebenezer Emmanuel received a stethoscope and a bundle of books in memory of the establishment of the first hospital (General Hospital), and library (Connemara Public Library) in Madras.

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