St.John's Church, Vellore Fort, Vellore, Vellore District, Tamil nadu.

09^th September 2018.

The present St. John’s Church was built in the year 1846 CE. The process of building this Church has been a long story since 1798 CE. The story goes like this.

Vellore had a Chaplain since 1798 CE, to cater East India Company’s European officers. It was felt that there was a need for a Chaplain to cater to the native converted Christians. In 1773, Fabricius of Vepery built the first Church with the contributed funds (Fabricius contributed 60 pagodas, and the Madras Government 10 pagodas, and the rest was contributed by the officers and Soldiers of the Company Regiment) inside the Fort to be used for the native congregation. The Church was used for Sunday Services, and on the rest of the days, the School was functioning. After the second Anglo-Mysore war, the Church was taken by the military to accommodate their personnel, and 300 pagodas were given as a purchase price.

In 1792, William Harcourt Torriano, a civil representative of the Madras Government and a friend of Schwarz, constructed a new Church from his own funds. This was dedicated to Gericke and J P Rottler, a missionary from Tranquebar in 1793 CE, who lasted for 30 years. After the Sepoy mutiny in 1806 CE, the Military station was shifted from Vellore Fort to Arcot, and a large Church was built there. In 1830 CE, the Gospel of Foreign Parts (authorized by SPG), which holds the Vellore mission, allotted 200 pounds for the construction of the New Church in 1835 CE for the use of Europeans and Natives.

In 1837, Rev W Tomes recommended refurbishing Torriano’s Church to put it to use for the Europeans at an estimated cost of Rs 510. Due to poor stability, a new proposal was initiated to construct the Church in Vellore City. This proposal was also shelved due to objections raised by the Military personnel, considering the safety reasons. In 1837, the Public Rooms inside the Fort were used for conducting Sunday service, and a monthly rental of Rs 35 was paid to the Military officers who owned the Public Rooms (used for Dance, Drama, and entertainment).

In 1844, the construction of a new church was approved within the fort and completed in 1846 CE at Rs 5559, with an extra Rs 500  for the furniture and fittings. Major C G Ottley was paid Rs 500 as remuneration for the design and construction. The Church was named St John’s Church, which was never consecrated. (Since once used for dancing, acting, and other entertainment). The Church could accommodate 280 people supported by the columns. The Church measures 50 x 41 ft, the sanctuary in the east 15 x 18 ft, and 2 vestries 10 x 8 ft. The Church was refurbished in 1862 CE and 1883 CE. 

From the inscriptions,  the Colours (Flags) of the 10^th Madras infantry raised at Vellore as the 14th Native Battalion in 1766, becoming the 10th REC M.N.I in 1824, Converted into the 1st Burma Rifles in 1890, inscribed Carnatic Mysore 1792, Ambur 1749, ASSAI 1803, AVA 1852, and Burma 1885-87, were deposited in St. John's Church, The Fort Vellore in 1893. Two tablets were also erected inside the Church in memory of the trustees Henry Allen Waring (1875- 1906), Madras Police, Principal Police Training School, by his brother officers. The other one was for Denniston Stewart, Agent of the Imperial Bank of India, Vellore, by those who knew him, respected him, and loved him from the voluntary subscriptions received. 

LOCATION OF THE CHURCH: CLICK HERE

---OM SHIVAYA NAMA---