Sacred Heart Shrine, Idaikattur
Sacred Heart Shrine | |
---|---|
Sacred Heart Church | |
Sacred Heart of Jesus | |
Architecture | |
Functional status | Active |
Architectural type | Gothic |
Administration | |
Diocese | Sivagangai |
The Sacred Heart Shrine is a Catholic church in Idaikattur in Tamil Nadu. It is noted for being a replica of Reims Cathedral in France.[1]
History
In 1866, a thatched shed was constructed, which functioned as St. James church for Idaikattur parish. Fr. Ferdinandus Celle, SJ, the parish priest travelled to France in 1886 to gather funds for the construction of a church building. An Anglican woman named Mary Anne who was suffering from an acute heart ailment received a miraculous cure after praying a Catholic
During the church construction, a portion of the church on the northern side was unintentionally built on a piece of land belonging to the temple. Fr. Celle offered to purchase the land, but the villagers refused. A commission was dispatched from
Architecture
The church is in the Gothic style with a vaulted roof supported by columns with cantilever beams. These columns are connected to a circular terracotta ring which is shaped into rows of garlands, flowers, beads, etc. It was constructed by local masons who used a model of the Rheims Cathedral as a reference. In commemoration of the dream of the commission head, Fr. Celle placed statues and paintings of 153 angels in and around the church walls.[1] The tomb of Fr. Ferdinandus Celle stands on the right side of the altar. Hollow bricks were used in the construction of the church, which helps keep the interior cool.[2]
References
- ^ a b c d "Namma Madurai: The sacred French connection". The Hindu. 3 October 2012. Retrieved 1 September 2023.
- ^ a b "Idaikattur Church / Church of Sacred heart of Jesus in Madurai (History, Timings & Phone) - Madurai Tourism 2023". maduraitourism.co.in. Retrieved 1 September 2023.