Country India Founded 1855 (1855) Architect(s) Louis Guerre Dedication Our Lady of Lourdes | Denomination Catholic Functional status Active Status Parish church | |
 | ||
Location Rue Dumas, White town, Puducherry Similar Our Lady of Angels Church - K, St Andrew's Church - P, Immaculate Conception Cathedral, Basilica of the Sacred Heart of J | ||
Our Lady of Angels Church (also called Eglise de notre Dame des Anges, White Chapel, Kaps Koil) is the fourth oldest church in Puducherry, a Union territory in South India. The original structure was built in Greco Roman architecture by Napolean III in 1855, with the architect being Louis Guerre. It is the only church that offers mass in three languages namely French, Tamil and English.
Contents
Our Lady of Angels Church is a working church with hourly prayer and daily services and follows Roman Catholic sect of Christianity. The chapel was controlled by Capuchin priests, Holy Spirit Fathers subsequently and finally during 1887 changed hands to Foreign Mission Fathers from Paris. It is one of the most prominent landmarks in Puducherry and faces the Bay of Bengal.
Architecture
The church is built in Greco-Roman architecture with the main chappel with two pillars on either sides. The two pillars were originally used to house the clocks, which are not functional in modern times. Originally they used to strike every two hours with the singing of Ave Maria. The shrine faces the East facing the sea towards Bay of Bengal. The altar is originally believed to have a statue of Our Lady of Angels, but houses a Holy Cross in modern times. There is a statue of Joan of Arc donated to the church by the then Mayor of Puducherry, Goubert. The original chapel was painted white in colour both from the inside and the outside, giving the name White Chapel. A special mixture of paint, egg and limestone were used to paint the walls. The colours of the exterior were changed during 1900s and interiors during the 2000s. The bells in the temple are believed to have been procured from France. The bell had a complex mechanism with pulleys and ropes connected to a rope all the way downstairs. During 2012, after a renovation of the chapel, the operation of the bell has been suspended on account of vibrational effects causing hindrance to neighbouring structure.
History
Based on records in National Archives in Pondicherry 1777, historian Jayasheela Stephen argues that the Capuchins, the original monks, wanted the church to be with a height of 40 ft (12 m) in 1746 and planned to build it close to the fort. As per the rule of the Governor of Pondicherry, no building could be built 200 m (660 ft) close the fort and with a height above 50 ft (15 m). The proposal was rejected stating the risk and the monks withdrew the idea. Our Lady of Angels Church is the fourth oldest church in Puducherry. The original structure was built in Greco Roman architecture by Napolean III (c. 1852-70) in 1855, with the architect being Louis Guerre. It is believed to be based on Notre Dame de Paris in Paris and the Basilica at Lourdes. Napolean III visited the chapel as the first place when he visited Pondicherry. It is understood that there were four churches in the campus and British demolished the church and converted it into two orphanages. It is believed that king Napolean III donated an oil painting of Our Lady of Assumption to the church.
Worship practises
The priests in the church were originally only French, but during modern times, Tamil people were also allowed. The chapel was controlled by Capuchin priests, Holy Spirit Fathers subsequently and finally during 1887 changed hands to Foreign Mission Fathers from Paris. The Church got its name, Kaps Kovil from Capuchin Monks, who were the first monks in the church. It is the only church that offers mass in three languages namely French, Tamil and English.