Tracing the evolution of city churches
The twin cities, gearing up for Christmas, have some of the finest churches with historical and architectural importance, including a little known church in Jahanuma in the Old City that dates back to the 16th century.
The original structure of the over 400-year-old Our Lady of Sorrows Church has been replaced by a new one, and includes a memorial, in the 17-acre St Marks Boys Town School premises, it has a cherished history.
The late Archbishop Mark Gopu gave this property to the Brothers of St Gabriel in 1955 who started an orphanage and constructed a church in the place of the old shrine in 1970. It has a beautiful statue of Our Lady of Sorrows, brought to India by Portuguese missionaries.
Going by historical evidence, the oldest church in Hyderabad was built by the French Army, while another one was built in the same period by the Portuguese army what is now Subhash Road near Mahankali Temple, in the premises of St Antony’s Girls High School, Secunderabad, according to Fr Aloysius Ephrem Raju Alex of St Joseph’s Cathedral, Abids.
Another little known church is the St. Thomas Church in the congested Kutbiguda, Badi Chowdi, Sultan Bazaar, which was reportedly constructed in 1800 AD. “This is the second oldest church in Hyderabad and the first to house a cemetery. The area was then called Chader-ghat,” said parish priest Richard John.
Father Solomon Thanugundla, a retired pastor, who wrote Structures of the Churches in AP, said, “In Hyderabad, the oldest church was built in Jahanuma for French troops in the 16th century. The St Mary’s Church, Secunderbad (1840), St Joseph’s Cathedral, Abids (1875), All Saints Church (1900), St Francis Xavier Church (1903) came up later. The French and Portuguese troops were Catholics and built their own churches while Protestant churches came up during the British rule,” Father Solomon told this newspaper.
The history of the Church of Our Lady of Sorrows at Jahanuma goes back to the 16th and 17th centuries when Nizam had his palace in the Old City. The Catholic officers were Portuguese and the French trained the Nizam’s Army.
“There is a story of how this shrine came into existence. A devoted French missionary priest lived in a cave on the Jahanuma hill, spending time in prayer, penance and fasting and performing miracles,” said Father Daniel and Brother George.
During a severe drought, the Nizam came to know about this priest, called him and asked him to pray for rain. He agreed but on the condition that the Nizam would provide a piece of land to build the church for Our Lady of Sorrows. The Nizam agreed. The priest fasted and prayed and there was heavy rain, he said.
The Nizam kept his word and gave the priest a piece of land, where the first church in this part of the country was built.
In Secunderabad, the Church of St John the Baptist, was constructed in 1818 in what was then called Lancer Lines. The church, built in the Indo-European style in the shape of a crucifix, served the spiritual needs of British troops.
The lines from the Bible — “O Lord open Thou our lips / And our mouth shall show forth Thy praise” — is engraved on the steps leading to the Chancel.
Rev. Charles Wesley of the church said the pipe organ became an integral part of the church to enhance liturgical worship. The Holy Trinity church, All Saints church and St George’s church also have pipe organs.
St Joseph’s cathedral with its baroque architecture has five bells in an open tower which was installed in 1892. The five bells flow the tradition of names and inscriptions. The bells are named after the Saints Peter, Joseph, Thomas and Francis Xavier. Inscribed with the words “Ora Pro Nobis” (Pray for us) and the date, the bells when rung in sequence chime to the tune of Ave Maria.
The clock on the tower of St Joseph’s Cathedral is over 100 years old and was gifted by the Nizam. Dr. Thumma Bala is the head of the Catholic community of the Telangana state region.
The All Saints Church located opposite Military Hospital, Trimulgherry, was dedicated by the Rt. Rev. Fredrick Gell, the then Bishop of Madras Diocese of the Church of England, in 1860 AD. The church is a classical representation of Gothic architecture in all its grandeur and beauty. The majesty of the structure is brought out in its stately columns, splendid arches, massive buttresses and majestic spires, capped with a serrated bell tower. The Medak Cathedral, the seat of the Church of South India in Medak, is known for its architectural splendor and majestic stained glass that was obtained from Italy, depicting the crucifixion of Jesus. The Church of South India covers 4.5 lakh in the Telangana state is headed by His Grace Rt. Rev. A.C. Solomon Raj, the eighth Bishop of CSI (Church of South India) who was consecrated recently at Chennai. In Telangana, Protestants outnumber Catholics.
Converts hide faith for quota
Christians in Telangana are largely concentrated in the undivided Ranga Reddy district, Hyderabad and Medak. According to the 2014 household survey conducted by the Telangana state government, Christians constituted 1,29,107 households, or 1.27 per cent of the population.
The undivided Ranga Reddy district had the highest 43,813 households, followed by Hyderabad 21,888 and and Medak 13,405 households.
A study conducted by the Centre for Policy Studies found conflicting population figures given by the government survey and Christian institutions as many converted Christians choose to hide the fact so as to continue enjoying the special privileges given to certain castes.
It found undivided Andhra Pradesh to be a special example of this fuzziness. The Christian population was rising consistently up to 1971, when it reached its peak value of 18.23 lakh in the then undivided state. After 1971, the number began falling sharply, dropping to 14.33 lakh in 1981 and to 11.30 lakh in 2011.
The share of Christians in the total population had risen from 1.68 per cent in 1911 to 4.39 per cent in 1971; it dropped to 2.68 per cent in 1981 and came down to 1.34 per cent now, the report said.
“This sharp decline in the number of Christians in the Census is directly related to a corresponding rise in the number of Scheduled Castes. This can mean two things: Either, the converts to Christianity are choosing to deny it before the Census and other secular authorities; or, they have chosen to revert to their original faith. The former seems more likely from the great divergence between the number of Christians counted by the Census and those estimated by the international church,” the report said.
