Ancient Kerala churches make way for modern shrines

Ancient churches in Kerala are either being renovated or pulled down to give way to modern, more spacious churches, causing concern to archaeologists.

Several ancient churches are storehouses of rich mural paintings, wood carvings and have immense value due to the architectural designs of the buildings and altars, according to Archaeological Survey of India (ASI) sources. But of late, they are either being demolished or renovated.

The architecture in ancient Christian churches in Kerala has a western influence, especially Portuguese. The demolition or renovation of such old churches would harm these traditional structures, according to P K Gopi, registrar, Centre for Heritage Studies, Kochi.

The centre, which conducted a survey on the mural traditions in churches in Kerala, inspected 120 churches and found that approximately 40 of them, belonging to the 16th and 20th centuries, had either been demolished or renovated.

"This is not a good trend," says Bishop Sebastian Adayanthrath, auxilary bishop of Ernakulam-Angamally. "When the parish priest or parish council decides to pull down or renovate a church, we advise them to try and retain the old structures as far as possible. Only in cases where it cannot be maintained, are they totally demolished," he said.

In Irinjalakuda in Thrissur district, the ancient St Mary's church was demolished last month by a section of parishioners immediately after an order notifying the government's intention to protect the monument was released. According to the parishioners, the old church was brought down as it was affecting the construction of the new church.

In Kochi, the over a century-old St Francis Xavier's church at nearby Edapally, built in 1290, was pulled down and a new church recently constructed.

According to church authorities, the ancient church was in a dilapidated state and was unable to accommodate the faithful during Sunday mass and special prayers. The devotees were facing a lot of hardship as the church was overcrowded during Sundays, they said.

Another church, at least 50 years old, was also demolished and rebuilt at nearby Kalamassery recently. According to the parishioners, the old church was brought down as it was affecting the construction of the new church.

However, some churchgoers are not too happy with the demolishing of ancient churches. "Many memories"" happy and sad, are associated with the old churches. Can we forget all those? building new churches is one way of flaunting your money power," they say.

The archaeologists say that the Irinjalakuda church was an important monument in the history of the state and the catholic community.

Historians say it could have been built somewhere between 1568 and 1599. According to them, the church has been mentioned in the historic Portuguese document, released in 1606.

The need and requirement to rebuild, renovate or pull down an old church comes from the local people. The parish council then decides whether or not to renovate or demolish old churches. The bishop concerned has to give the final nod, the church sources said.

If ancient churches are set apart as monuments, their maintenance will become difficult. At nearby Udayamperoor, a 16th century church, built during the pre-Portuguese era, which has been kept as a monument, is in a dilapidated state.

However, the pomp and show associated with new churches should be avoided, the sources added.