CULTURAL HERITAGE

SANTHOME BASILICA CATHEDRAL

ADAPTIVE REUSE AND RECYCLING

PRESENTATION BY
SAMYUKTA
RAKESH
VARNIKHASRI
 SANTHOME BASILICA CATHEDRAL

LOCATION : CHENNAI, TAMILNADU

STATUS : MINOR BASILICA
DEDICATION : SAINT THOMAS
RELICS HELD : BONE OF ST. THOMAS
HERITAGE DESIGNATION : NATIONAL SHRINE
STYLE : NEO-GOTHIC
COMPLETED : 1523
(CURRENT BUILDING 1896)

Length 64 metres (210 ft)

Width 12.2 m (40 ft)
Nave width 10 m (33 ft)
Spire height 47.2 m (155 ft)
 HISTORY
▪ SAN THOME CHURCH IS ALSO KNOWN AS ST.THOMAS CATHEDRAL BASILICA AND
NATIONAL SHRINE OF ST.THOMAS, IS A ROMAN CATHOLIC MINOR BASILICA IN
SANTHOME.

▪ BUILT IN 16TH CENTURY BY PORTUGUESE EXPLORERS, OVER THE TOMB OF SAINT

THOMAS, ONE OF THE 12 APOSTLES OF JESUS.

▪ IN 1893, IT WAS REBUILT AS CHURCH WITH THE STATUS OF CATHEDRAL BY BRITISH.

1905
▪ IN 1956, IT WAS MADE INTO A BASILICA.

▪ WHEN THEY EXCAVATED AT THE TIME OF PORTUGUESE, THEY FOUND METAL LANCE
HEAD , BLOODSTAINED EARTH IN A POT ND BONES OF THE SAINT.

▪ THE STATUE OF VIRGIN MARY ENSHRINED WITHIN THE CHURCH WAS BELIEVED TO
HAVE COME FROM PORTUGAL.

NOW
▪ IT IS ONE OF THE ONLY THREE
KNOWN CHURCHES IN THE WORLD BUILT
OVER THE TOMB OF AN APOSTLES OF JESUS

- ST. PETER'S BASILICA, IN ROME

- SANTIAGO DE COMPOSTELA CATHEDRAL

IN GALICIA ,SPAIN.

▪ FIRST CHURCH OF MYLAPORE IN MADRAS

 Neo Gothic architecture is inspired from
old Victorian cathedrals. The elaborate and
Italian ornate stained-glass window is
another feature, which allows for greater
illumination within the interiors of the
church

The Santhome church has slender

towers, which reach a maximum of
almost 155 ft from the ground. The tall
towers impart a feeling of strong
verticalness giving an added height to
the entire structure
Continuing the theme of the
interiors of a Neo Gothic
The church has been constructed church; the confession box
keeping in mind the Neo-Gothic style of near the back entrance is
architecture, this style was particularly also of a similar shade, and
favored by the British architects of the ornamental detail
19th century. Decorative tracery with
pointed windows is an essential feature
of this style of architecture
 Cutout niches allow one to look into
the church from the outer rooms, also
allowing light to enter the otherwise
darker interiors

The nave has a cool, dark, coffee

brown ceiling which is covered with
elegant chandeliers, this is iconic of
Gothic architecture

Geometrical
design and
pinnacles are also
archetypal of Neo
Gothic
The central area of the church is colossal, architecture, as
measuring about 112 feet by 33 feet it is seen in the
known as the nave. The polished brown exteriors of
ceiling of the nave is about 40 feet high Santhome Basilica
and supported by white, curved arches
on both sides
Paintings with neo-gothic
style frame

Brown polished ceiling

Pointed arches windows

allows light inside

Pointed arches and

stained glass windows

Altar

Wooden furniture

Marble flooring
 DEMOLITIONS & RENOVATIONS
THE CHURCH WAS
REFURBISHED AND DECLARED A MINOR
MADE INTO A BASILICA
CATHEDRAL

1523 1606 1893 1956 2002

RENOVATED FOR THE FIRST TIME IN 106
ARMENIAN AGAIN IN DISREPAIR YEARS, A NEW PASSAGEWAY TO THE TOMB
MERCHANTS SHOWED WAS DEMOLISHED TO FROM OUTSIDE WAS ADDED ALONG WITH A
THE TOMB TO THE GIVE WAY FOR THE MUSEUM OF ST THOMAS MEMOROBILIA
PORTUGESE WHO PRESENT ONE TO PREVENT THE AESTHETIC SPLENDOUR
REBUILT THE SHRINE FROM FALLING APART, THE PEELING
PLASTER & WALLS WERE ATTENDED TO
 RARE ANTIQUITIES & MEMORABILIA

THE CATHEDRAL BECAME THE CENTRE OF CONVERSATION

WHEN THE TSUNAMI THAT DEVASTATED AREAS ALL
AROUNDLEFT THE NEWLY – RENOVATED CHURCH
UNTOUCHED.

FOLKLORE HAS IT THAT ST THOMAS MOUNTED A LOG OF

LANCE–HEAD USED TO STONE RECEPTALES
KILL ST THOMAS AND MEDALLIONS WOOD AT THE TOP OF THE STEPS LEADING TO THE
CATHDRAL SAYING THE SEA WOULD NOT PASS THAT POINT.

PEOPLE BELIEVE THIS “MIRACULOUS POST” KEPT THE SEA

AWAY ON THAT FATEFUL DAY.
 REASONS TO VISIT

THE SACRED TOMB

THE EXACT PLACE WHERE ST THOMAS
WAS BURIED

MUSEUM & ANITIQUITIES ARCHITECTURE

CLOSE TO THE BEACH
ONE CAN HEAR THE WAVES OF THE OCEAN A SUN DIAL FROM THE OLD SITE IS PLACED CALM & COMFORTING INTERIOR HAS AN
WHILE SITTING IN THE BASILICA IN THE REAR OF THE BASILICA AURA OF PEACE TO IT
The elaborate and ornate stained-
glass window is another feature,
which allows for greater
illumination within the interiors of
the church
Standing tall against the azure There is intricate tracery and
blue Chennai skyline, the spotless details within the stained-glass
white structure of the Santhome windows behind the main altar
Basilica is indeed imposing that also illuminate the church
The tall slender towers impart a feeling of strong verticalness
giving an added height to the entire structure.
The beautiful Santhome Church is a must visit place in the city of Chennai. Santhome Basilica (or St. Thomas
Cathedral Basilica) is a stunning piece of architecture steeped in religious history.