153-year-old church being spruced up after 42 years

153-year-old church being spruced up after 42 years

The city’s oldest church is getting a facelift after 42 years.

The CSI Christ Church at Palayam is being repaired ahead of a re-dedication planned in November, when the church will celebrate its 153rd birthday, vicar Rev Raju Jacob said.

‘’Three major works have been started on the church. One, the roof is being repaired as some of the old rafters have to be changed. Two, the bell tower is being strengthened and re-plastered. And, three, we are quite short of space now. So a porch is being constructed on the northern side,’’ he said.

The works are estimated to cost the Madhya Kerala Diocese of the Church of South India (CSI), which manages the church, Rs  20 lakh. Any construction that is undertaken will be in sync with the basic structural design, the vicar said. The last time a major extension work was undertaken on the church was in 1970, when architect Laurie Baker constructed two wings to accommodate more worshippers.

 CSI Christ Church dates back to November 15, 1859, when it was started as a small place of worship for Englishmen serving in Travancore. Situated opposite the Legislative Assembly complex, the church sports a spare, elegant design with pointed arches, wooden pews and a sprawling green campus.

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