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CSI Home Church, Nagercoil

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CSI Home Church
Home Church
Home Church in 2020
Map
LocationNagercoil, India
CountryIndia
DenominationChurch of South India
Previous denominationLondon Missionary Society
Websitehttp://Nargercoilhomechurch.com/
History
StatusDistrict Church
Founded2 March 1819
Founder(s)Rev. William Tobias Ringeltaube
Architecture
Functional statusActive
Heritage designationIndia
Architect(s)Rev. William Tobias Ringeltaube
Architectural typeGreek style
Groundbreaking1816
Administration
DioceseCSI Kanyakumari diocese
Clergy
Bishop(s)Rev. A R Chellaiah[1]

CSI Home Church is one of the largest and oldest churches in Asia.[2] It was built in 1819 under the supervision of Rev. William Tobias Ringeltaube an Prussian, who had come to Nagercoil via Madras and Rev Charles Mead.[3][4] The land on which the church was built was donated by the then British Travancore Resident, General John Munro, 9th of Teaninich, who had acted as a catalyst between the Missionary and the government of Madras and the Kingdom of Travancore.[5][6] This helped in the Theological Education for about two Centuries.[7][8] The church hosted the wedding of linguistic scholar Robert Caldwell in the year 1844. He died 28 August 1891, and was buried in Tirunelveli.[9]

Architecture

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The building is in Greek style is 140 ft × 70 ft (43 m × 21 m). This is one of the oldest and biggest of the Protestant churches in South India. The edifice can provide accommodation for nearly 2500 people at a time.

Engraving from the magazine, Sunday at Home, dated 1872
Church building with light decoration for Christmas celebrations, 2021

References

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