C.S.I. Brough Memorial Church, Erode, Erode District Tamil Nadu.

05^th April 2019.

This Indo-saracenic style Church was started in 1927 and completed in 1930 AD. This Church was dedicated by Bishop Asariya and named after Brough as “Brough Memorial Church”. It was told that the basement is equivalent to the depth of the wall height above the ground level. Only lime mortar instead of cement was used for constructing the Church. Plastering of walls was done with a mixture of lime and polished using egg. The required stone doors and windows are brought from Karur, about 60 KM from Erode.  Since Brough’s wife Rosetta Jane died before the completion of the Church, she was buried inside the Church Complex.

The word God is one “கடவுள் ஒருவரே” ( யாகுதா ) is written at the entrance of the Church in Tamil and Urdu.  These inscriptions and the Indo-Saracenic Style architecture adopted for  constructing this Church were to attract the Muslim population of Erode. It is worth noting that there is no cross or statue of Jesus / Mother Mary in the  Altar.  There is also anther inscription tablet, reads as “இயேசு கிறிஸ்து தாமே மூலைகல்”.

BRIEF HISTORY OF “ANTHONY WATSON BROUGH”.

Anthony Watson Brough, an Australian Protestant  born in 1861 CE, joined London Christian missionary after completing his priest training.  In 1894 CE he was appointed at Coimbatore and transferred to Erode to take care of Mission activities in 1897 CE. He came along with his wife Rosettajane Brough and his son Herbert Brough.

During his stay in Erode, he started 14 schools in Suburban and 80 schools in urban areas around Erode. One of the Schools was a boarding school with a hostel and food facilities.  He also holds a higher position in Erode Municipality. When an epidemic of Plaque, Malaria, and smallpox erupted at Erode, he brought Dr Miken C Rees from Vellore.   After She left Dr. Miss Halda Bolard took charge of the medication, in a tent erected in front of Brough’s House. He was also instrumental in setting up a Hospital at Erode.

After his son died in World War, he started a hospital in Chennimalai named after him. In 1934 CE, Brough retired from missionary returned to Australia and died in 1936 CE. In memory of Brough, the Road between Panneerselvam Park and General Hospital is named Brough Road, and the Small Village near Thingalur, Perundurai is also named Brough Nagar.  (Now the Brough Road name is controversial. Tamil Nadu Govt.  wants to change it to Meenakshi Sundaram Road for which about 300 applications were submitted to the District Revenue Officer not to Change the name).

LOCATION OF THE CHURCH: CLICK HERE

---OM SHIVAYA NAMA---