St. Andrews' Church (1642-1752), at St. George Fort, Chennai
Fr. Ephrem de Nevers OFM.Cap., dedicates the First Church of Madras to St. Andrews’
Fr. Ephrem built a Church, dedicated to St. Andrew the apostle in 1642 and it was made of a timber shed.[1] Catholics were privileged to have built the first Church in St. George which was a non-Catholic fort.[2] It was an indication of the broad and tolerant spirit of the East India Company at the time that they allowed to erect a Catholic Church even before an Anglican Church was built. Fr. Ephrem conducted all the religious ceremonies in this Church.[3] Since the Portuguese priests knew no English or Tamil, the English, the Irish and the Tamil Catholics always came to St. Andrew’s Church because Fr. Ephrem was a linguist. Love H.D says that it was also called Portuguese Church, because the majority of the people who attended it were Portuguese and the homilies were mostly in Portuguese. Besides the Catholic worship at St. Andrew’s, even other denominations of Christians held their worship at different times.[4]
After 33 years, the Capuchins under the supervision Fr. Ephrem replaced the timber shed church in 1675 with a magnificent, handsome and fabulous Church.[5] On the day of consecration, the English Governor Sir WilliamLanghore ordered a salute of great guns from the fort and 3 volleys of small shots by all the soldiers in the garrison.[6] The Protestants were very much displeased with the generosity and kindness of the Governor towards the Catholics at the consecration of St. Andrew’s Church.[7] So, they complained to the Court of Directors of the East India Company in London, about Sir William Langhoreliberality towards the Catholics. The Court of Directors too expressed displeasure at his conduct and recalled him in 1677. [8] The first Church of Madras and of the Capuchins was destroyed by the English in 1752.
The French at St George Fort
A British squadron of four vessels was sent out to India and arrived atMadras in 1745.[9] The British commander prepared to attack Pondicherry. The French were unfit to withstand a siege and the French Governor Duplex atPondicherry persuaded the Nawab of the Carnatic to forbid hostilities within his dominions. Therefore the English withdrew. Meanwhile the French under La Bourdonnais bombarded St. George Fort and captured Madras on 7th September 1746.[10] The Admiral De La Bourdonnais entered the St. George Fort and first went to the Capuchin Church to celebrate the French victory, a ‘Te Deum’ was sung.[11] This event of jubilation in the church of St. Andrew’s induced the English to take action against the Capuchins, when they returned to Madras in 1749.[12]
The French had achieved a great and unexpected success in capturingMadras.[13] But this victory was spoilt by the quarrel that immediately ensued between the Governor Duplex and the Admiral La Bourdonnais over the share of the profits. The Admiral sailed to France, while Duplix seized and plunderedMadras. In mid-1748 British fleet under Boscaven captured French Pondicherry. The French commander, who promised to protect the missionaries and their institutions, soon destroyed a great part of Black Town to improve the defence ofMadras.[14] Capuchin Father Severini in charge of Vepry chapel retied to Pulicat, while another Capuchin Father Renatus did not go to Pulicat but remained in the Fort and became the Superior of the Capuchin mission. The treaty of Air-La-Chapelle in 1748 restored Madras restored to the British in exchange for Louis berg.[15]
The Re-establishment of the English at St. George Fort
The English returned to the Fort St. George after three years by August, 1749.[16] The English suspected the Capuchins and the Roman Catholics for their fall to the French. When the English found enough evidences of treachery, they wanted to confiscate the properties of Catholics and expel the guilty from the Fort. The Capuchins were also under suspicion of a dubious part therefore the Court of Directors in London ordered to expel them from St. George, Fort.
Expulsion of the Capuchins from St. George Fort
The East India English Company suspected the Capuchins of giving the French intelligence of the strength and condition of the Garrison before the attack of Madras. The Court of Directors in London issued an order to the English governer in Madras to expel the Capuchins and the Roman Catholics from St. Geroge Fort.
“Having suffered greatly by the Number of Priests and Popish Inhabitants at Madrass, who have acted a very Treacherous Part to Us continually in that place, especially when it was attacked, therefore We strictly forbid your suffering any Romish Church within Our Bounds, Or any of their Priests to dwell among you, or that Religion to be openly professed. And in case any Papists have crept into places of Trust in Our Service, they must be immediately dismissed. You are not to deem this Order to affect the Armenians of the Greek Persuasion (P. from Eng., vol. Li., 27th Jan., 1747 [1748]).” [17]
The new English Admiral Boscawen expelled the Capuchin Frs. Severiniand Victor and the Catholics from the Fort.[18] While Fr. Rene whom the English accused as guilty departed him to Lisbon. The Capuchins moved to a small house in the cemetery in the Armenian street.
Confiscation of the Catholic Churches
The Humble Petition of Father Severini of Savoy and of Father Bernard likewise of Savoy, Capuchins of the Order of St. Francis, Apostolick Missionaries at Madras, performing the Curial Office in the Portuguese Church there…having received Intimation the 13th November 1749…that the Honourable East India Compasny does take poession of the said Portuguese Church…likewise of a Chappel and Habitation situvated to the West Madrass called Vepour; and that they and other Roman Catholicks must depart the White Town with their Effects and Appurtenances within One week from that notice;
….But as they must be extremely Embarrass’d to Remove in so short a time….have been Collecting for the Space of 107 Years past, the Duration of this Church in Madras; Your Petitioners do Humbly beg your Honour, &c., to prolong the Term…(F. St. D. Cons., vol. Xvii., 16thNov., 1749).[19]
The Capuchins who had been directed to hand over St. Andrew’s Church by the 20th November 1749 and they asked for more time and an extension until 1st December was granted. The English as a part of penal measures against the Roman Catholics, decided to confiscate the Vepery chapel, Our Lady of Miracles, its house and garden.[20] An Armenian merchant Peter Woskan, in which he wanted to be interred, newly built it.[21]Since a Capuchin priest Sevirini was in charge of the chapel, the English must have thought that it was a Roman Catholic property.[22] Peter Woskan chapel was confiscated and handed over to the Lutheran missionaries.[23] Everybody in Madras knew that the confiscation of this chapel was illegal for Woskan always remained loyal to the English Company. Moreover the land belonged to the Capuchin Father Severini, who had always remained loyal throughout to the English.
Demolition of St. Andrews Church, St. Geroge Fort
The Court of Directors in England issued an order to demolish St. Andrewsthe Church of the Capuchins.
The Situation of a Roman Catholic Church in the very Heart of our Settlement has been very injurious to us; and, if continued…. You are therefore, immediately on the Receipt of this, without fail to demolish the Portuguese Church in the White town at Madrass, and not suffer it to stand on Pretence of setting the Danish Missionaries in it, its usefulness for Warehouses, Storehouses, or any other Purposes Whatsoever (P. from Eng., vol.lv., 23rd Aug., 1751).[24]
When Thomas Saunders took charge of the administration of Fort St. George (1752-1755), he pulled down St. Andrew’s Church, built through the long and strenuous efforts of the Capuchins. [25] The English wanted to pull down St. Andrew’s because during the occupation, the French misused and bombarded St. Mary’s Church of the Anglicans. St. Andrew’s Church was completely destroyed on 5th July 1752.[26] The Capuchins were expelled from the Fort of St. George and permitted to carry away the materials of the demolished Church and were also given the bells which later on they used St. Mary’s Church.[27] Thus, the firstChurch of Old Madras a rich historical monument disappeared from the soil of Madras.
Fr. A. Thainis, OFM.Cap.,
[1] Arullappa, 19. St. Andrews was erected under Cogan’s orders of the 8th June, 1642. Cf. Love H.D, 44f; The Capuchins build St. Andrews, the first church in Madras in the Fort in 1642. Cf. S. Muthiah, Rediscovered, 414. This Capuchin chapel was sited approximatly between what is now called Fort House by the Army and the towering new block in Portuguese Squre. This was the site Cogan had granted Father Ephrem de Nevers in 1642. Cf. S. Muthiah, Rediscovered, 38.
[2] Here and the following, Mundan, 43.
[3] Here and the following, Peter Celestine, 102 & 114.
[4] S. Muthiah, “The Portuguese reminder”.
[5] S. Muthiah, “The Early Capuchins”, The Hindu, vol., no., Monday, Chennai: April 03, 2006.
[6] Love H.D, vol., ii, 19.
[7] Here and the following, J. Talboys Wheeler, 46f.
[8] Here and the following, Peter Celestine, 115.
[9] Here and the following, S. Reed Brett, A History of the British Empire, London: Thomas Nelson and Sons Ltd, 1941, 149.
[10] Peter Celestine, 121.
[11] Love H.D, vol., ii, 366.
[12] Peter Celestine, 122.
[13] Here and the following, Percival Spear, The Oxford History of Modern India 1740-1975, Delhi: Oxford University Press, 1977, 15.
[14] David Packiamuthu, 102f.
[15] Reed Brett, 150.
[16] Here and the following, David Packiamuthu, “The Beginnings of Protestant Missions in Madras,” ICHR, vol., xxxiv, no., 2, December 2000, 103.
[17] Here and the following, Cf. Love H.D, ii, 396-397.
[18] Here and the following, Peter Celestine, 123.
[19] Here and the following, Love H.D, ii, 403.
[20] David Packiamuth, 106.
[21] Hambye, 149.
[22] David Packiamuth, 106.
[23] Hambye, 149. See also. David Packiamuthu, 107.
[24] Love H.D, ii, 426.
[25] Here and the following, S. Muthiah, “A Portuguese reminder”
[26] Peter Celestine, 124.
[27] Arulappa, 19.
Fr. Ephrem de Nevers OFM.Cap., dedicates the First Church of Madras to St. Andrews’
Fr. Ephrem built a Church, dedicated to St. Andrew the apostle in 1642 and it was made of a timber shed.[1] Catholics were privileged to have built the first Church in St. George which was a non-Catholic fort.[2] It was an indication of the broad and tolerant spirit of the East India Company at the time that they allowed to erect a Catholic Church even before an Anglican Church was built. Fr. Ephrem conducted all the religious ceremonies in this Church.[3] Since the Portuguese priests knew no English or Tamil, the English, the Irish and the Tamil Catholics always came to St. Andrew’s Church because Fr. Ephrem was a linguist. Love H.D says that it was also called Portuguese Church, because the majority of the people who attended it were Portuguese and the homilies were mostly in Portuguese. Besides the Catholic worship at St. Andrew’s, even other denominations of Christians held their worship at different times.[4]
After 33 years, the Capuchins under the supervision Fr. Ephrem replaced the timber shed church in 1675 with a magnificent, handsome and fabulous Church.[5] On the day of consecration, the English Governor Sir WilliamLanghore ordered a salute of great guns from the fort and 3 volleys of small shots by all the soldiers in the garrison.[6] The Protestants were very much displeased with the generosity and kindness of the Governor towards the Catholics at the consecration of St. Andrew’s Church.[7] So, they complained to the Court of Directors of the East India Company in London, about Sir William Langhoreliberality towards the Catholics. The Court of Directors too expressed displeasure at his conduct and recalled him in 1677. [8] The first Church of Madras and of the Capuchins was destroyed by the English in 1752.
The French at St George Fort
A British squadron of four vessels was sent out to India and arrived atMadras in 1745.[9] The British commander prepared to attack Pondicherry. The French were unfit to withstand a siege and the French Governor Duplex atPondicherry persuaded the Nawab of the Carnatic to forbid hostilities within his dominions. Therefore the English withdrew. Meanwhile the French under La Bourdonnais bombarded St. George Fort and captured Madras on 7th September 1746.[10] The Admiral De La Bourdonnais entered the St. George Fort and first went to the Capuchin Church to celebrate the French victory, a ‘Te Deum’ was sung.[11] This event of jubilation in the church of St. Andrew’s induced the English to take action against the Capuchins, when they returned to Madras in 1749.[12]
The French had achieved a great and unexpected success in capturingMadras.[13] But this victory was spoilt by the quarrel that immediately ensued between the Governor Duplex and the Admiral La Bourdonnais over the share of the profits. The Admiral sailed to France, while Duplix seized and plunderedMadras. In mid-1748 British fleet under Boscaven captured French Pondicherry. The French commander, who promised to protect the missionaries and their institutions, soon destroyed a great part of Black Town to improve the defence ofMadras.[14] Capuchin Father Severini in charge of Vepry chapel retied to Pulicat, while another Capuchin Father Renatus did not go to Pulicat but remained in the Fort and became the Superior of the Capuchin mission. The treaty of Air-La-Chapelle in 1748 restored Madras restored to the British in exchange for Louis berg.[15]
The Re-establishment of the English at St. George Fort
The English returned to the Fort St. George after three years by August, 1749.[16] The English suspected the Capuchins and the Roman Catholics for their fall to the French. When the English found enough evidences of treachery, they wanted to confiscate the properties of Catholics and expel the guilty from the Fort. The Capuchins were also under suspicion of a dubious part therefore the Court of Directors in London ordered to expel them from St. George, Fort.
Expulsion of the Capuchins from St. George Fort
The East India English Company suspected the Capuchins of giving the French intelligence of the strength and condition of the Garrison before the attack of Madras. The Court of Directors in London issued an order to the English governer in Madras to expel the Capuchins and the Roman Catholics from St. Geroge Fort.
“Having suffered greatly by the Number of Priests and Popish Inhabitants at Madrass, who have acted a very Treacherous Part to Us continually in that place, especially when it was attacked, therefore We strictly forbid your suffering any Romish Church within Our Bounds, Or any of their Priests to dwell among you, or that Religion to be openly professed. And in case any Papists have crept into places of Trust in Our Service, they must be immediately dismissed. You are not to deem this Order to affect the Armenians of the Greek Persuasion (P. from Eng., vol. Li., 27th Jan., 1747 [1748]).” [17]
The new English Admiral Boscawen expelled the Capuchin Frs. Severiniand Victor and the Catholics from the Fort.[18] While Fr. Rene whom the English accused as guilty departed him to Lisbon. The Capuchins moved to a small house in the cemetery in the Armenian street.
Confiscation of the Catholic Churches
The Humble Petition of Father Severini of Savoy and of Father Bernard likewise of Savoy, Capuchins of the Order of St. Francis, Apostolick Missionaries at Madras, performing the Curial Office in the Portuguese Church there…having received Intimation the 13th November 1749…that the Honourable East India Compasny does take poession of the said Portuguese Church…likewise of a Chappel and Habitation situvated to the West Madrass called Vepour; and that they and other Roman Catholicks must depart the White Town with their Effects and Appurtenances within One week from that notice;
….But as they must be extremely Embarrass’d to Remove in so short a time….have been Collecting for the Space of 107 Years past, the Duration of this Church in Madras; Your Petitioners do Humbly beg your Honour, &c., to prolong the Term…(F. St. D. Cons., vol. Xvii., 16thNov., 1749).[19]
The Capuchins who had been directed to hand over St. Andrew’s Church by the 20th November 1749 and they asked for more time and an extension until 1st December was granted. The English as a part of penal measures against the Roman Catholics, decided to confiscate the Vepery chapel, Our Lady of Miracles, its house and garden.[20] An Armenian merchant Peter Woskan, in which he wanted to be interred, newly built it.[21]Since a Capuchin priest Sevirini was in charge of the chapel, the English must have thought that it was a Roman Catholic property.[22] Peter Woskan chapel was confiscated and handed over to the Lutheran missionaries.[23] Everybody in Madras knew that the confiscation of this chapel was illegal for Woskan always remained loyal to the English Company. Moreover the land belonged to the Capuchin Father Severini, who had always remained loyal throughout to the English.
Demolition of St. Andrews Church, St. Geroge Fort
The Court of Directors in England issued an order to demolish St. Andrewsthe Church of the Capuchins.
The Situation of a Roman Catholic Church in the very Heart of our Settlement has been very injurious to us; and, if continued…. You are therefore, immediately on the Receipt of this, without fail to demolish the Portuguese Church in the White town at Madrass, and not suffer it to stand on Pretence of setting the Danish Missionaries in it, its usefulness for Warehouses, Storehouses, or any other Purposes Whatsoever (P. from Eng., vol.lv., 23rd Aug., 1751).[24]
When Thomas Saunders took charge of the administration of Fort St. George (1752-1755), he pulled down St. Andrew’s Church, built through the long and strenuous efforts of the Capuchins. [25] The English wanted to pull down St. Andrew’s because during the occupation, the French misused and bombarded St. Mary’s Church of the Anglicans. St. Andrew’s Church was completely destroyed on 5th July 1752.[26] The Capuchins were expelled from the Fort of St. George and permitted to carry away the materials of the demolished Church and were also given the bells which later on they used St. Mary’s Church.[27] Thus, the firstChurch of Old Madras a rich historical monument disappeared from the soil of Madras.
Fr. A. Thainis, OFM.Cap.,
[1] Arullappa, 19. St. Andrews was erected under Cogan’s orders of the 8th June, 1642. Cf. Love H.D, 44f; The Capuchins build St. Andrews, the first church in Madras in the Fort in 1642. Cf. S. Muthiah, Rediscovered, 414. This Capuchin chapel was sited approximatly between what is now called Fort House by the Army and the towering new block in Portuguese Squre. This was the site Cogan had granted Father Ephrem de Nevers in 1642. Cf. S. Muthiah, Rediscovered, 38.
[2] Here and the following, Mundan, 43.
[3] Here and the following, Peter Celestine, 102 & 114.
[4] S. Muthiah, “The Portuguese reminder”.
[5] S. Muthiah, “The Early Capuchins”, The Hindu, vol., no., Monday, Chennai: April 03, 2006.
[6] Love H.D, vol., ii, 19.
[7] Here and the following, J. Talboys Wheeler, 46f.
[8] Here and the following, Peter Celestine, 115.
[9] Here and the following, S. Reed Brett, A History of the British Empire, London: Thomas Nelson and Sons Ltd, 1941, 149.
[10] Peter Celestine, 121.
[11] Love H.D, vol., ii, 366.
[12] Peter Celestine, 122.
[13] Here and the following, Percival Spear, The Oxford History of Modern India 1740-1975, Delhi: Oxford University Press, 1977, 15.
[14] David Packiamuthu, 102f.
[15] Reed Brett, 150.
[16] Here and the following, David Packiamuthu, “The Beginnings of Protestant Missions in Madras,” ICHR, vol., xxxiv, no., 2, December 2000, 103.
[17] Here and the following, Cf. Love H.D, ii, 396-397.
[18] Here and the following, Peter Celestine, 123.
[19] Here and the following, Love H.D, ii, 403.
[20] David Packiamuth, 106.
[21] Hambye, 149.
[22] David Packiamuth, 106.
[23] Hambye, 149. See also. David Packiamuthu, 107.
[24] Love H.D, ii, 426.
[25] Here and the following, S. Muthiah, “A Portuguese reminder”
[26] Peter Celestine, 124.
[27] Arulappa, 19.
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