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Chennai's Hidden Victorian Chapel Revealed
4 Sep
Summary
- A rare 1883 red brick chapel with a Celtic cross exists in Chennai.
- The chapel serves only schoolchildren and is not open to the public.
- Its architecture features a fish scale tiled roof and a rose window.
Nestled within Chennai's St. George's Anglo-Indian school in Shenoy Nagar lies a hidden architectural treasure: St. Mary's chapel. This quaint red brick structure, built in 1883, evokes the charm of an 1800s English countryside chapel. Its design incorporates a steep fish scale tiled roof, a square bell tower, exposed brickwork, and a rose window, elements rarely found in the city's surviving churches.
The chapel was originally constructed for the children of the school and orphanage, not for public use. Today, it remains exclusive, with services held only on weekend evenings for the schoolchildren. The striking tall bell tower, a prominent feature, is currently inaccessible.
Recognized as a CMDA-recognized heritage structure, the chapel is part of St. George's School campus, which itself dates back to the early 1700s. The chapel's architecture is a blend of British colonial planning and local sensibilities, as noted in 'The Architectural Heritage'.
It is described as one of the city's most interesting churches by INTACH Madras due to its unique roof and tower. The property was once the garden house of British donor Brig T H S Conway, adding to its historical significance.
