The
visit to Our Lady of Angels Church at Puducherry was a part of “Visit to Shiva,
Vishnu, & Jain temples and Christian Churches in and around Pondicherry /
Puducherry”, on 07th June 2025.
Landmarks
of the History of Our Lady of Angels Church, Pondicherry…
In 1632
CE, the first batch of French Capuchins arrived at Pondicherry with the
French traders
In 1634
CE, the French closed its sea company, and the Capuchins too left Pondicherry.
In 1642
CE, the second batch of Capuchins arrived at Pondicherry but left soon.
In 1673
CE, the third batch of Capuchins arrived at Pondicherry with the French Settlers.
Francois Martin founded the city of Pondicherry. He officially invited the
French Capuchins from Madras for the spiritual ministry and the missionary
activity in Pondicherry.
In 1674
CE, on 15th January. Fr. Cosme de Gien founded the Capuchin mission
in Pondicherry.
In 1686
CE, Frs. Jacques de Bourges, Lawrence d'Angoulêma, and Espirit de Tours
arrived.
In 1693
CE, the Dutch captured Pondicherry and expelled the missionaries.
In 1699
CE, The Missionaries again returned to Pondicherry. The Tamil Christian community
was constituted as a parish under the diocese of Mylapore. Fr. Jacques de
Bourges was appointed the first Parish Priest of Pondicherry. Within a few
months, the Jesuits were appointed exclusively for the Tamils, and the Capuchins
for the Europeans and the Eurasians. This bifurcation is considered to be the
beginning of the parish of Our Lady of Angels.
In 1707
CE, the first Church of the Capuchins dedicated to Our Lady of Angels was built.
In 1738
CE, the Capuchin Church became a parish in the diocese of Mylapore. Fr.
Dominique de Valence was appointed as the first Parish Priest.
In 1739
CE, the first Church of the Capuchins, dedicated to Our Lady of Angels, built in
1709 CE, was structurally weakened. So, it was demolished and a new Church was built
from 1739 CE to 1758 CE.
In 1761
CE, the English captured Pondicherry and destroyed the second church built in 1758
CE.
In 1765
CE, the third Church of Our Lady of Angels was built from 1765 to 1770 CE. The
church with its bell tower exists to date adjacent to the Presbytery on n'l,
Rue Surcouf.
In 1776
CE, on 23 September, Pope Pius VI gave his consent for the erection of the
Apostolic Prefecture in Pondicherry, and Fr. Sebastian de Navers was appointed as
the Prefect Apostolic of the Europeans and the Eurasians. The church of Our
Lady of Angels became the seat of the Apostolic Prefecture.
In 1792
CE, the French Revolution affected the development of the Capuchin Prefecture.
In 1811
CE, the end of the missionary labour of the French Capuchins of the Province of
Tours. The Italian Capuchins came to Pondicherry to continue the Mission at Our
Lady of Angels for the Europeans and the Eurasians.
In 1828
CE, the Capuchin mission for the Europeans and the Eurasians came to on and in
Pondicherry and was transferred to the French Priests of the Holy Spirit
Congregation.
In 1828
CE, on 14 June, Fr. Pierre Jean Norbert CAI MILS became the Parish Priest of
Our Lady of Angels. He was not a Spiritan but chosen by the Congregation of the
Holy Spirit Fathers to start their mission in Pondicherry
In 1840
CE, on 5th March, Fr. Pierre-Jean-Norbert CALMELS became the
Apostolic Prefect of Pondicherry for the Europeans and Eurasians.
In 1851
CE, on 14th May, the foundation stone for the construction of the
present Church of Our Lady of Angels was laid, and the construction was carried
out by Architect Louis Guerre.
In 1855
CE, the now and the present church of Our Lady of Angels was blessed and opened
in the month of May. It became the Church of an Apostolic Prefecture. It is also
known by other names like 'Cops Koll' and 'White Parish.
In 1886
CE, on 1st September, Pope Len XIII's by his Bull 'Humanac Salutis
Auctor, erected the Indian Hierarchy, abolishing the Apostolic Prefecture. Pondicherry
became an Archdiocese with Mgr. Laoucnan is becoming the Archbishop. Our Lady of
Angels became a Parish in the Archdiocese of Pondicherry.
In 1887
CE, On 27th April, Mgr. Corbet the Last Protect Apostolic of
Pondicherry handed over the Parish to the Priests of Sociéte des missions
étrangères de Paris (MEP), thus bringing to an end 59 years (1828-1887 CE) of
missionary work of the Holy Spirit Fathers.
In 1887
CE, on 28 April, the mandate of Archbishop Laouenen reinstated that Our Lady of
Angels would continue to remain as the Parish for the Europeans and the
Eurasians.
In 1984
CE, Fr. Dusscignc was the last M.E.P. priest who served as the Parish Priest
for 23 years from 1984 to 20th September 2007.
In 2008,
CE, the 11th November 2007, Fr. Michael John Antonysamy was the
First Indian to become the Parish Priest in the line of succession from the
French Capuchins, Italian Capuchins, French Spiritans, and ME.P priests, who
were shepherding the Parish from 1674 CE.
In 2009,
A major renovation of the Parish Church was carried out with the help of the
Catholic Faithful, Tourists, Association Les Amis du Patrimoine Pondichérien,
the French Ministry for Culture, and the Foundation Vieilles Maisons Françaises.
In 2012,
on 4 March, Archbishop Antony Anandarayar blessed the renovated Church of Our
Lady of Angels.
In 2015,
on 13th September, Archbishop Antony Anandarayar appointed Fr. Cyril
SANDOU as the Parish priest of Our Lady of Angels.
In 2016,
on 14 August, a new Grotto, dedicated to Our Lady of Angels, was constructed. It
was blessed and opened by Archbishop Antony Anandarayar.
2017,
The renovation of the three huge bells of the Church was carried out at was blessed
and inaugurated on Sunday, 26th November 2017, on the Solemnity of
Christ the King.
The
details of an inscription tablet installed on the wall…
D.O.M
CETTE
ECLISE CONCUE ET BATIE SOUS L’ ADMINISTRATION DE
M.
M. LALANDE DE CALAN, A. BEDIER ET
VERNINACT
MAUR GOUVERNEUR S’, FUT
EN
MAI 1851 ET TERMINE’E EN MARS 1855 TROISIEDIE ANNE’E DU
RÈGNE
DE NAPOLEON III. D APRES LES PLANS ET SOUS LA
DIRECTION
DE MR LOUIS GUERRE INGENIEUR COLONIAL
The
above inscription in English….
THIS
CHURCH, DESIGNED AND BUILT UNDER THE ADMINISTRATION OF
M.
M. LALANDE DE CALAN, A. BEDIER AND
M.
VERNINACT MAUR, GOVERNOR, WAS
COMPLETED
IN MAY 1851 AND COMPLETED IN MARCH 1855, THE THIRD YEAR OF THE
REIGN
OF NAPOLEON III. ACCORDING TO THE PLANS AND UNDER THE DIRECTIONS OF MR. LOUIS
GUERRE, COLONIAL ENGINEER
HOW
TO REACH
The
Church is on Dumas Street at White Town, Puducherry, in front of Joan Arc
Park, 100 meters from Puducherry beach, 1.3 km from Puducherry Railway Station,
3 km from Bus Stand, 30 km from Cuddalore, 41 km from Viluppuram, and 169 km
from Chennai.
The nearest Railway Station to Puducherry.
LOCATION
OF THE CHURCH: CLICK HERE
---
OM SHIVAYA NAMA ---
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