Annexure-1

RPROFORMA FOR LISTING OF HISTORIC BUILDINGS & SITES

Serial No. Map Reference:

Photo Reference:
Name: St. Mary's church
Present Name:St.Mary's church

Past Name:St.Mary's

1. Location
Address: Fort george ,chennai
Approach: The church is located in the St .George Fort which is 4.5 km from Egmore railway
station and 1.5 km from the Fort railway station
2. Property Type:
Precinct/Building/Stucture/Landscape/Site:building
Subtype:religious
3. Age

Precise Date: 28 October 1680

Approximate Date: 28 October 1680

Source Of Information: wikipedia
4. Ownership:
Single/Multiple : multiple
Public/Private : public
 Any other (Specify)
Name of Owner:
Address:
5. Property Use
Abondoned/In Use: In use
Present Use: Church
Past Use: church
6. Significance:

Historic Significance: From 1639, when madras was founded, until 1678, when Streynsham
Masterwas appointed the English East India Company's Agent at Madras, religious services were
conducted in the dining-room of the Factory House. It was at Master's initiative, and without the
sanction of the Directors of the Company, that a subscription was started for the construction of the
church.
The sum collected amounted to 805 pagodas with the Governor and other officers contributing.
Construction was started on 25 March 1678 - Lady Day, whereby the church acquired its nameThe
church was rendered the only bomb-proof building at the time, in the Fort, on account of a peculiarly
designed roof, details of which are provided under Architecture.
Construction was completed in the course of two years and the church was consecrated on 28 October
1680 by the chaplain Rev. Richard Portman. The ceremony was marked by the firing of small arms
and cannon by the fort's garrison.
On account of its peculiar roof-structure, the church was used as a barrack and granary between
December, 1758 and January, 1759 during the Second Carnatic War, when the French besieged
Madras and again when Hyder Ali invaded the town in the late 18th century.
.
Culture Significance: This ancient prayer house solemnized the marriages of both Robert
Clive and Elihu Yale. He was a governor of Fort St. George, and a vestryman and treasurer of St
Marys Church. His later gift of money to Cotton Mather helped in the foundation of Yale
University in the United States of America. On 6 October 1968, the 250th anniversary of the naming
of Yale College for Elihu Yale, the classmates of Chester Bowles, then the American ambassador to
India, donated money for lasting improvements to the church and erected a plaque to commemorate
the occasion.
Among those interred within the walls of the church are four other governors of Fort St. George –
Sir Thomas Munro, Bt., George, Lord Pigot, the Rt. Hon. Vere Henry, Lord Hobart and Sir Henry
George Ward.
Numerous memorial-plaques and monuments exist within the church of which two, that of Sir Barry
Close, who was Adjutant General to Gen. George Harris at the Siege of Seringapatam, and gave his
name to Closepet, and that of Lt. Col. Joseph Moorhouse, who was killed at the Siege of Bangalore,
in the Third Anglo-Mysore War, would be of particular interest to the historian.
Bird artist Elizabeth Gwillim (d. 1807) is also buried here.

Social Significance:
Associational Significance: Run by the Archaeological Survey of India
Local Legends:
7. Physical Description:
Architecutural Style: European style
Site & Surrounding: Located on the Fort St. George, Chennai .Founded in 1639 ,Earliest
territorial possession of British in India ,Acted as seat of Government from the British
times till recently

Plan:

Façade:

Decorative Feature:
 Building Material &

Construction Techniques: The internal dimensions of the building are 86 feet by 56 feet, with the
outside walls 4 feet thick and the walls separating the nave from the aisles, 3 feet thick. The
extraordinary thickness of the walls was to protect the building from attack and damage during
storms.
One of the unique and cunning features that was incorporated in its design was a bomb-proof roof
approximately four feet thick and rounded in the manner of a wagon's roof, so as to cause cannonballs
to ricochet. However, it must be kept in mind that the bombs it was designed to withstand were
seventeenth century cannonballs. Also, wood was avoided as much as possible in the original design
to obviate fires
The arches were first de-plastered because they had moisture content. Replastering was done using
mortar of "kadukkai, jaggery and lime." Then lime-rendering with yolk of eggs was done to give a
marble finish.

Two to Three photographs atleast 3 x 2 inches in size to show the architectural style and

condition:

8. Condition Description:
 Sign of Distress: Cracks and moisture .

Structural Problem: : During the British rule, whenever the roof leaked, another roof was
added. This had led to three-feet of overburden, which weakened the building and its arches
Repairs and Maintenance: The ASI had now removed the extra weight of the dead mortar and
the tar sheet, filled the cracks, done water tightening, "restored the original double-vaulted
roof, brought it to its original level and replastered it using traditional methods."
Additions & Alterations : In the 1930s and the 1940s, a tar sheet was laid on the roof.
Threats to the Property: Various encroachments are not restricted. Only conservation and
preservation of building are given importance.Construction near the site might create
pollution that would damage the church since it has 300 years history

9. State Of Conservation:
Good/Fair/Showing Signs of Deterioration/
Advanced State of Decay/Danger Of Disappearance : Fair

10. Other Remarks:

12. Grade:
Archaeological: A/B/C : A
Architectural: A/B/C : A
Historical: A/B/C : A
Associational: A/B/C : B
Social/Cultural: A/B/C : A
Final Grading: I/IIA/IIB/III : I
13. References:
Reference Notes : WIKIPEDIA ,THE HINDU WEBPAGE
Maps/Plan/Drawings

Listers Listers
Name:Preethi Jenisha Name:Reka
Address: Chennai Address:chennai
Date Of Listing: 7-04 -2019