Where Is The Oldest Church In India?

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Which Is The Oldest Church In India?

St. Thomas Syro-Malabar Catholic Church is the oldest church in India. It was founded in 52 AD.

Where Is India’s Oldest Church Located?

The oldest church of the country is located at Palayur or Palayoor in the Thrissur district of the southern Indian state of Kerala on the west coast of the nation.

History Of The Oldest Church In India

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The St. Thomas Syro-Malabar Catholic Church was established by Saint Thomas in 52 AD. Saint Thomas, often referred to as 'The Apostle of India' by the Holy See, lived and traveled within the country for 17 years. He preached Christianity extensively and set up seven churches including the oldest one in India. Most of the churches cease to exist now or have been replaced with newer buildings or relocated. However, the one at Palayur continues to exist at the same site but with significant remodeling over the centuries. In the 17th century, Reverend Fenichi made significant improvements to the church.

When Saint Thomas arrived in Palayur, the place was a boat jetty called “Bottukulam” in the local language. Today, however, it is dry land. Palayur found the place to be inhabited by Hindu Brahmins and Jewish merchants. Several legends circulate as to how Saint Thomas convinced the locals to accept Christianity and build a church at a time when the religion was completely new in the region. One such legend mentions that Saint Thomas performed a miracle with water to convince the locals that his religion was above all. No written records of any such occurrence have been found. 

What To See?

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India’s oldest church has an architectural design that is a fusion of Hindu architectural and Persian Church styles. In fact, the church was built by incorporating a deserted Hindu temple. The tower has a raised tower-like roof above the nave. The entrance to the building is like a Hindu style mandapa. The ancient church was built in old teak wood. Later a new structure was built around in and the old one was demolished. The altar consecrated by Saint Thomas, however, is still retained. 

How To Visit India’s Oldest Church?

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The Palayoor church is easily accessible by various modes of transport. The nearest airport, the Nedumbasserry International Airport, is only 80 km away. The nearest large town Thrissur is 28 km away on the State Highway. Trains from Thrissur also stops at Palayoor. 

Other Attractions In Palayoor

One can visit the Boat Jetty where Saint Thomas is believed to have landed. Chinna Malai, the place where Saint Thomas is believed to have attained martyrdom in 72 AD, is located nearby. A small historical museum is also located near the church that displays ancient relics.