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Church Buildings in Vellore Diocese

Click on the small photographs below for a larger version which can be printed, or used with an interactive whiteboard.

There are many different styles of church buildings in Vellore Diocese from small village churches made of palm leaves to large impressive buildings of stone. 

Some buildings facts:

• Some of the buildings were constructed before the Church of South India existed by different foreign missionary societies, and these are usually built in the style of European churches.
• Some of   the church buildings were built in the style of Hindu temples, although, of course, they do not have the statues of Hindu gods all over them!
• The village churches are usually built by the villagers themselves and may be made of clay bricks with either a palm leaf roof or a corrugated iron roof, or even made entirely of palm leaves.
• Most churches are whitewashed inside and out.
• Most churches have a belltower.  This can be a freestanding tower or a spire on the main church building.
• The churches do not usually have glass in the windows and some have open sides, most of them also have ceiling fans.  This is very important because of the heat and the need to keep air circulating. 

Church Layout:

• The altar or communion table is at the east end of the church and there is normally a communion rail in front of it to mark off the sanctuary. A few of the larger town churches have a stained glass window at the east end behind the altar.
• The seats for the pastor and other church leaders are beside the altar.  There will also be a reading stand or lectern beside the altar, or a book stand on the altar.
• The music group or the choir sit between the communion rail and the congregation.  Even the smallest churches will have a music group probably consisting of drummers and possibly an harmonium player.
• Most churches have either pews, benches, or individual plastic seats for worshippers.  In village churches people usually sit on the floor on mats, although there may be a bench for the elderly worshippers at the back.  In some churches families sit together, but often you will find the women sit on one side of the church with the children, and the men sit on the other.  Some churches are so small that the women and children sit inside and the men sit outside.

Building New Churches:

Many of the churches in the Diocese of Vellore are too small for the size of their congregation!  If a new church building is needed it is the responsibility of the congregation to raise the money for the building work – of course this can take many years. In the villages the villagers will form a building committee and do as much of the building work as they can themselves, but in the towns a team of builders will be employed.

When the site for the church has been bought, and before the first stone is laid, the congregation will have a service to dedicate the site and erect a foundation stone.  Often the bishop is invited to this very special occasion.   A second service will take place to dedicate the building when it is finished, and the bishop will return for this.  You can see some pictures of these celebrations below.

Decorating Churches:

All churches will have a cross and a painting of Jesus, a few will have a stained glass window. You may also find the altar and lectern will be decorated, there are also sure to be flowers. Follow this link for a selection of photographs of church interiors.

	This is St John’s Church in Vellore – the oldest church in the Diocese.  You may be able to guess from the design of the building that it was built by the British in the 1860s.  It stands inside the fort , and used to be the main church for the soldiers of the garrison and the administrators.  Now it is the only church in the Diocese where the Sunday services are in English. See St John's Website
	The Diocese of Vellore does not have a cathedral, but if it did this would be it – this is Central Church, the largest church in the Diocese and built right in the centre of the town of Vellore.  This church has a large room in the basement where over three hundred children come each Sunday for Sunday School.  The main Diocesan services take place in this church and the huge compound around it where several thousand people can gather at a time.  The church was built in the 1960s in the middle of the British cemetery, and many of the tombs from the nineteenth century are still in place in the grounds.
	These are the altar and eastern ends of the churches at Bagayam on the outskirts of  Vellore town and Christchurch at Gandhi Nagar, both have one of the rare stained glass windows.  The theme of Jesus as the Good Shepherd is a popular one in Indian Christian art, although these sheep look more British than Indian!
	This church at the Christukul Ashram near Tirrupatur is built in the style of a South Indian temple with a tall carved gateway and an open sided main building.  Compare the church with the Hindu temple at Vellore in the third picture..
	Village churches are usually very small and often the whole congregation will not be able to get inside.  At this first little church in Vandranthantal about one hundred women and children sit inside on the floor while the men and older ladies sit on benches outside the windows and doors. The second church is in a tribal area of the Jalwadi Hills - is is so remote that the pastor has to travel by motorbike for four hours from his home to hold the Sunday services.
	One of the most unusual churches in Vellore Diocese – the largest boulders are used as the altar and pulpit, and the congregation sit on the smaller stones.  It is in the Jalwadi Hills and only used occasionally for special events.    The second outdoor chapel is at the Rural Institute in Madurai.
	Churches need to be used for many different purposes as well as worship. This church at Muttadoor is also used as a school and a creche. Here the pupils pose proudly in front of the building.
	This photograph shows Bishop William unveiling the foundation stone of a new church to be built in the village of Ammavarapalli.
	Many congregations in the Diocese of Vellore are growing so fast that they need larger churches.  Here are the two churches in Katpadi side by side – you can see how much the new building was needed!  The old church is now used as a hall and for small services. The second photograph shows building underway on a new church at Ranipet.
	Most churches have a high bell tower to call the people to services.  Here are typical bell towers at Latteri and Vandavasi.   See also the spectacular freestanding tower with the statue of Jesus which belongs to the Roman Catholic Cathedral in Vellore.
	Ponai Dam is a very special church built in the Indian open-sided style.  A small village congregation comes here to worship every Sunday, but once a year there is an enormous three day festival service here for all Christians in the northern part of the Diocese.
	Some town churches have large billboards outside with a Christian message – this one is at Gingee.
	Church windows do not have any glass because the fresh air needs to circulate.  They may have metalwork or shutters, or both.  This photograph shows one of the specially designed metalwork window frames in the church at Gingee – it shows up well against the red curtain behind.