Famous Churches and Dargha in Tirunelveli

Holy Trinity Cathedral  (Oosi Gopuram)

The Holy Trinity Cathedral a small, elegant and beautiful Church  was built in 1826 by Rev Rhenius and opened to public for worship on 26 June 1826.  It took only 175 days for its construction which cost about  Rs.2000/-  This small church with an oblong edifice measuring 64 ft. by 30 ft still serves as a nucleus for this massive Cathedral which developed in later years.  This amount came as donations not only from Christians, but from Hindus and Muslims as well.  Venga Mudaliar had donated 168 acres of punjai land for the maintenance of this Church.   Many renovations and additions were made to this structure.

In the year 1845, a tall stately steeple of 158 feet  soaring  into the skies was added by Rev. Pettilt and  has made the church a landmark all over the  district. This church is locally well known as "Oosi Gopuram" as a land mark. The resonant bell gifted by friends in England and installed in 1850 has unfailingly chimed the hours, calling the faithful to worship over the years and the clock set in the tower is relied upon by the entire town as its beloved Big Ben.  Many improvements, extensions and renovation works have taken place subsequently in the years 1846,1850,1853,1869,1870,1876,1926,1932,  1937 and 1998.  In 1940 Bishop Stephen Neil raised its status as the Holy Trinity Cathedral.  Painting, flooring and other extensions were made in the following years.  This Church is involved in many social services like paying visit to hospitals. This Church plays a vital role not only in spiritual upliftment of its people but also in the material upliftment like providing education, distributing free food and clothing and helping them in the construction of their houses etc.

Kappal Matha Church, Uvari  

                                                                                                             A small church for St. Mary which was under the control of pastors of Goa mission existed here.   In course of time, in 1903, this church was converted into a school.  On important occasions as per the wishes of the people, festivals were conducted and prayers were offered to her.  There was a custom among the young maidens to go to the nunnery in the night and sleep there.  On one such occasion they saw a bright light surrounding this Selvamatha statue even though nobody lit a candle.  Many people of Uvari witnessed this light which was there for over an hour.

 

This incident occurred on 18^th September which is celebrated as a festival.   People used to keep this statue in a chariot and come around this town to bestow the blessing of Mary to the people of Uvari.  Due to sea erosion the old church got damaged.   Therefore the people decided to construct a new church for which the foundation stone was laid down by Fr.Thomas in 1970, 25^th January and the work was finished on 1974.   This church designed as a ship, is called Kappal Matha church after its design.  It is  beautiful church facing the blue sea.  The waves rolling near this church gives us an impression that this ship shaped church is sailing on the sea which is a feast to eyes.


Pottalpudur Dargha

 

The centre of attraction of this place is the oldest dargha built around the year 1674.  This dargha attracts not only the Muslims but  Hindus and  Christians also in equal numbers.  This has been built adopting Hindu temple pattern.  If the prayers of the pilgrims are answered, they pay their offerings, through the dargha in large numbers during Kanthuri festival with great reverence.   In this dargha where the lebbais act as priest, customs almost similar to that of Hindus are followed in the rituals.  Here holy ashes obtained from tamarind bark, ghee, and flowers called nerchai are distributed to the devotees.  

 

For this Andavar, sheep and fowls are brought by all the classes of people and sacrificed before him as they do before the local Amman deities.   Now refined people offer fruits for their worship rather than fowls and sheep.  Sandal paste is prepared in a pot on a large scale during the time of the kanthuri and is sent to the Hindu village of Ravanasamudram, from where it is brought back to this dargha with great pomp.  This is offered to the Andavar.  Afterwards this sandal paste is distributed to the eagerly awaiting crowd without discrimination as to caste, creed or religion.  This stands as an example of communal harmony and secularism.  This Dargah is considered as a pious and a sacred  one equal to the Nagore dargha and only next to Baghdad by the people of this place.