INDIA-L Archives

From: "Peter Bailey" <>
Subject: [India-L] Churches in Armenian Street, Madras
Date: Sun, 17 Dec 2000 15:45:06 -0000

This is the situation as I understand it:

Prior to 1746 both the Armenians and the Roman Catholics had been permitted
to construct churches inside Ft. St. George by the Company. Following the
capture of the Fort by the French in 1746 and its restitution in 1748, the
Court of Directors ordered the removal of all Catholics from their service
and the Catholic churches from inside the fort. In fact, the RC church had
been run by French Capuchin friars who were blamed for acting as 'fifth
columnists'!

The area against the north wall of the fort was the old Blacktown through
which the French had infiltrated to capture the fort. So, this was raised
circa 1748 giving rise to the 'Esplanade' - a clear area a few hundred yards
wide. Blacktown was rebuilt to the north of this again. The Armenians then
built their church just to the north of the Esplanade and the Roman
Catholics (now given to the Portuguese) built theirs a couple of hundred
yards further north again on the same street which is known as Armenian
Street. They are both still there today. The RC Church (the Co-Cathedral of
St. Mary of the Angels) claims its origin as 1642 but this was the date of
the original Capuchin establishment in the area. The original RC church
inside the fort dated from 1675. In fact this latter had been known as St.
Andrews and the Capuchins who were expelled moved to a chapel which they had
also established at the time at Vepery. St. Andrew's at Vepery is now a
further important RC church in the area.

Hope this reduces the confusion somewhat - Peter Bailey, Weybridge UK.

This thread:

• [India-L] Churches in Armenian Street, Madras by "Peter Bailey" <>