Draft:Our Lady of Immaculate Conception Church, Chrishthupalayam
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| Our Lady of Immaculate Conception Church | |
|---|---|
| Amala Annai Alayam | |
புனித அமல அன்னை ஆலயம் | |
 Side View of this church | |
 | |
| 12°33′16″N 77°45′28″E / 12.55447°N 77.75777°E | |
| Location | Christhupalayam, Krishnagiri district, Tamil Nadu |
| Country | India |
| Denomination | Catholic |
| History | |
| Status | Parish |
| Founded | 1670 |
| Founder | Fr. Auzuech |
| Dedication | St. Mary |
| Cult present | Latin Rite |
| Architecture | |
| Functional status | Active |
| Architectural type | Church |
| Style | Renaissance architecture |
| Groundbreaking | 1999 |
| Completed | 2001 |
| Administration | |
| Archdiocese | Pondicherry and Cuddalore |
| Diocese | Dharmapuri |
| Episcopal area | TNBC |
| Deanery | Denkanikottai |
| Parish | Christhupalayam |
| Clergy | |
| Archbishop | Francis Kalist |
| Bishop | Lawrence Pius Dorairaj |
| Priest | Fr. Syril |
Our Lady of Immaculate Conception Church is a Roman Catholic parish church located in Christhupalayam, near Denkanikottai in Krishnagiri district, Tamil Nadu, India. It functions under the jurisdiction of the Diocese of Dharmapuri. The parish traces its origins to the 17th century and has played a significant role in the growth of Christianity and education in the region.
History
[edit]Christianity is believed to have been introduced in Marudanapalli around 1670. According to Rev. Fr. M. S. Joseph, between 1859 and 1875 the Christians of Marudanahalli relocated from their earlier settlement, Siluvaipalayam, to a new village called Christukuppam, which later came to be known as Christhupalayam [1].
Rev. Fr. Legrand M.E.P. recorded that the name “Christupalayam” appeared for the first time in 1901 in the parish records of Mathigiri Church, indicating that the Christian settlement founded in the 1860s had acquired its present name by the early 20th century.
The first chapel in Christhupalayam was built by Fr. Auzuech, M.E.P., who served in Mathigiri parish between 1897 and 1902. Christhupalayam remained a substation of Mathigiri Parish until 1930, and later became a substation of Madagondapalli Parish until 1951.
In 1951, Christhupalayam was established as an independent parish, with Dasarapalli as its substation. The first parish priest was Rev. Fr. Solvignon, M.E.P., followed by Rev. Fr. Gravier (1952–1955) and Rev. Fr. A. L. Irudhayam (from 1955). In 1956, a presbytery was built at Dasarapalli and the parish priest relocated there, making Christhupalayam once again a substation church under Dasarapalli Parish from 1957 until it was re-established as an independent parish in 1979 under Fr. A. Belavendram[2].
Present Church
[edit]The parish grew steadily under the leadership of successive priests. Rev. Fr. P. Lourdu Samy initiated the construction of the present parish church and completed the Our Lady of Lourdes Grotto in 1998. During his tenure, the new parish church was completed and consecrated on 26 April 2001 by Bishop Joseph Anthony Irudayaraj of the Diocese of Dharmapuri. A new presbytery was later built and inaugurated on 2 February 2003[3].
Substation Church
[edit]The Kembathpalli substation church, originally under Dasarapalli Parish, was attached to Christhupalayam Parish in 1999. A small chapel had existed there since 1936, later replaced by a new church built on donated land around 1960. The new St. Francis Xavier Church was completed and opened to the public in May 2022. It is now a mission church, no longer part of the Christhupalayam Parish.
Educational institutions
[edit]The St. John de Britto School was founded as a primary school in 1965, upgraded to a middle school in 1984, a high school in 1987, and a higher secondary school in 1998[4].
A new campus for St. John de Britto Higher Secondary School was established about 1.8 km from the parish church, along the Thally–Denkanikottai state road (TNSH-17B). The land and buildings were developed through the initiative of Fr. Legrand, M.E.P. Construction began on 29 October 1985, and the school building was inaugurated on 6 October 1986. A student hostel that had initially operated in Christhupalayam was moved to the new school campus in 1986. A permanent hostel building was completed in 1999 and opened in June 2000. These institutions reflect the vision of Rev. Fr. Legrand, who made a lasting contribution to the educational mission of the parish.
Religious congregations
[edit]The Franciscan Servants of Mary (F.S.M.) Sisters arrived in 1990 to assist in educational and healthcare ministries. Initially residing in the teachers’ quarters, they moved into their new convent in 1991. The sisters established a girls’ hostel in 1994 and a hospital in 2000, continuing to serve the local community through their charitable and social work[5].
References
[edit]- ^ Susairaj, A. History of Dharmapuri Diocese [தர்மபுரி மறைமாவட்டம் வரலாறு] (in Tamil). Dharmapuri, TN, India. Archived from the original on 28 October 2022. Retrieved 31 December 2012.
- ^ Jose, Mathapuram; A, Susairaj; et al. (Syril Paulraj). "Our Lady of Immaculate Conception Church" [936 தூய அமல அன்னை ஆலயம், கிறிஸ்துபாளையம்]. Alayam Arivoom (in Tamil). Chrishthupalayam.
{{cite web}}: Missing or empty|url=(help) - ^ "Parishes". Dharmapuri Diocese. Archived from the original on 2022-10-28.
- ^ "JOHN BRITTO HSS - AIDED". Schools in Krishanagiri District. schools.org.in. Schools in Tamilnadu. Denkanikottai, TN, India. Retrieved 29 October 2025 – via Kelamangalam Block> Denkanikottai.
- ^ "FMS Sisters - Our Presence". bangalore.fsmsisters.org.in.
