C.S.I CHURCH
The white solid granite of Medak Church, standing at 173 meters, can be part of the "Incredible India", but is in a state of utter neglect.
As a visitor goes outside the city of Hyderabad airport, a large photograph beckons. It is an image of Medak Church is put as part of the "Incredible India".
In a sense, reflects how the church is being promoted or not be marketed by tourism officials. "Should not be in the arrival hall instead of being in the departure lounge," asks a visitor.
No wonder then that almost no visitors to the church. On average, only 25-odd visitors come to the church daily for a dekko. But on Sunday, this could increase to 2,000, with two lectures are taking place in the church. Most visitors are from nearby Zaheerabad, Bidar, Nizamabad, Nalgonda, Warangal and Mahbubnagar district.
The church is a mere two hours drive by road from Hyderabad. Although it is part of the incredible India campaign launched last year, very little has been done to maintain the church, which owes its name to 'methukulu' (ie, rice in Telugu), so the place is also called Medak.
In 1896, when the district was beaten by hunger, the Rev. Charles Walker Posnett, a missionary, developed the "food for work" program. If the villagers helped build the church, which could turn the food wins. That set the ball rolling for this renowned Gothic structure.
From 1914 to 1924, farmers worked to build the church and Thomas Edward Smith, the architect, left no stone unturned in building the cathedral. For the floor, ceramic tile famous were sent from England. Then, the Italian workers were brought from Bombay for placement. The tile design is a complex one in six colors: red, brown, black, chocolate, yellow and gray. The marble on the floor of the sanctuary and the altar after Holy Communion is from Italy.
What sets the church apart are the three windows, created by Salisbury Sir Frank O 'in London. They are "the gospel trilogy 'in art - the birth, crucifixion and ascension. Made of solar glass, the windows appear in all its glory when its bright and sunny. All windows have inscriptions in English, Hindi and Telugu. The Hindi inscription came later, at the request of Vijaylakshmi Pandit, Pandit Jawaharlal Nehru's sister, who felt that the national language should find a mention in the window.
The church, the largest diocese in Asia and second largest in the world after Vatican is built on solid granite white. The tower is 173 feet high, with four pinnacles. Had it not been for the Nizam, the church would have been higher. The old saying that when the cathedral was to be built, the Nizam had a condition that the church should not be higher than the Charminar
The grounds of the church expansion has 13 institutions, including a B.Ed college, school, children's shelters, nursing home, an office to take over the property and an agricultural center.
Dhanraj father, who is writing a book on the history of the churches rues: "Fifty years ago, there was a 100-bed hospital in the local church. Now is bad. There was a seminar too, where the shepherds would trained. Now, since pastors are trained in Hyderabad, so it is useless. "
Bhaskar Benny, an advocate of high court AP says: "According to the Church of South India (CSI), the constitution, the bishop should remain in the vicinity and monitor the health of the Church. However, the current bishop, BP Sugandhar is housed in the premises of the Wesley College Boys ".
The roof of the church, a sound, now opened holes. Because of this, the birds frequenting the place dirty it. The pipe organ, also of London, is lying unused because officials in Church Street, which almost no one who can fix it. However, the father Dhanraj finds sufficient musicians who can repair the pipe organ. The last time the body was used 30 years ago.
In the gallery, bats flit around and their droppings are all over the place. Some of the Victorian style lights are broken, but the glass has been replaced, the Father says.
The pilgrim center of rest, a few meters from the church, is in an old building in ruins. It was not like before. Suvarna Rao, a lay member of the Diocese of Medak, said that church members would stay there. But now, since they do not, there is almost no maintenance. However, Rev. Wilson, priest in charge of the church, said that steps are being taken to maintain the church. "A mixture of coconut oil and kerosene used to clean the windows and tiles. While the glass is cleaned once a week, the tiles are kept on a daily basis. A proposal to clean the granite stone, usually glass wool is called, is also on the anvil. "
But Dhanraj father believes that from time to time, the metal must be painted and requires a special application of oil. Adds Rao: "In the basement, there is an extra piece of stained glass and remains just. Ironically, it is intended to replace any of the windows, if it breaks."
M Balasubramaniam Reddy, deputy director of Andhra Pradesh, tourism, says the Church is being promoted as a tourist attraction. "A guest house has been built for tourists. A museum explaining the history of the Church is being built."
Meanwhile, questions about the availability of funds. Rao said that while the state government wanted to take over maintenance of the church, the current bishop, BP Sugandhar, wanted the funds transferred to the church at Medak.
"Two years ago, (first Bishop of the Diocese of Medak) Bishop Presley visited the grandson of the Church and gave the funds. However, none of which has been used," he adds. Sugandhar Bishop was unavailable for comment, recuperating in a hospital in Vellore.
Despite claims and counter a spectator, the structure and the surrounding area certainly needs updating. May be then, the Church justifies the search for a mention at the entrance and not in the departure lounge of the airport!
As a visitor goes outside the city of Hyderabad airport, a large photograph beckons. It is an image of Medak Church is put as part of the "Incredible India".
In a sense, reflects how the church is being promoted or not be marketed by tourism officials. "Should not be in the arrival hall instead of being in the departure lounge," asks a visitor.
No wonder then that almost no visitors to the church. On average, only 25-odd visitors come to the church daily for a dekko. But on Sunday, this could increase to 2,000, with two lectures are taking place in the church. Most visitors are from nearby Zaheerabad, Bidar, Nizamabad, Nalgonda, Warangal and Mahbubnagar district.
The church is a mere two hours drive by road from Hyderabad. Although it is part of the incredible India campaign launched last year, very little has been done to maintain the church, which owes its name to 'methukulu' (ie, rice in Telugu), so the place is also called Medak.
In 1896, when the district was beaten by hunger, the Rev. Charles Walker Posnett, a missionary, developed the "food for work" program. If the villagers helped build the church, which could turn the food wins. That set the ball rolling for this renowned Gothic structure.
From 1914 to 1924, farmers worked to build the church and Thomas Edward Smith, the architect, left no stone unturned in building the cathedral. For the floor, ceramic tile famous were sent from England. Then, the Italian workers were brought from Bombay for placement. The tile design is a complex one in six colors: red, brown, black, chocolate, yellow and gray. The marble on the floor of the sanctuary and the altar after Holy Communion is from Italy.
What sets the church apart are the three windows, created by Salisbury Sir Frank O 'in London. They are "the gospel trilogy 'in art - the birth, crucifixion and ascension. Made of solar glass, the windows appear in all its glory when its bright and sunny. All windows have inscriptions in English, Hindi and Telugu. The Hindi inscription came later, at the request of Vijaylakshmi Pandit, Pandit Jawaharlal Nehru's sister, who felt that the national language should find a mention in the window.
The church, the largest diocese in Asia and second largest in the world after Vatican is built on solid granite white. The tower is 173 feet high, with four pinnacles. Had it not been for the Nizam, the church would have been higher. The old saying that when the cathedral was to be built, the Nizam had a condition that the church should not be higher than the Charminar
The grounds of the church expansion has 13 institutions, including a B.Ed college, school, children's shelters, nursing home, an office to take over the property and an agricultural center.
Dhanraj father, who is writing a book on the history of the churches rues: "Fifty years ago, there was a 100-bed hospital in the local church. Now is bad. There was a seminar too, where the shepherds would trained. Now, since pastors are trained in Hyderabad, so it is useless. "
Bhaskar Benny, an advocate of high court AP says: "According to the Church of South India (CSI), the constitution, the bishop should remain in the vicinity and monitor the health of the Church. However, the current bishop, BP Sugandhar is housed in the premises of the Wesley College Boys ".
The roof of the church, a sound, now opened holes. Because of this, the birds frequenting the place dirty it. The pipe organ, also of London, is lying unused because officials in Church Street, which almost no one who can fix it. However, the father Dhanraj finds sufficient musicians who can repair the pipe organ. The last time the body was used 30 years ago.
In the gallery, bats flit around and their droppings are all over the place. Some of the Victorian style lights are broken, but the glass has been replaced, the Father says.
The pilgrim center of rest, a few meters from the church, is in an old building in ruins. It was not like before. Suvarna Rao, a lay member of the Diocese of Medak, said that church members would stay there. But now, since they do not, there is almost no maintenance. However, Rev. Wilson, priest in charge of the church, said that steps are being taken to maintain the church. "A mixture of coconut oil and kerosene used to clean the windows and tiles. While the glass is cleaned once a week, the tiles are kept on a daily basis. A proposal to clean the granite stone, usually glass wool is called, is also on the anvil. "
But Dhanraj father believes that from time to time, the metal must be painted and requires a special application of oil. Adds Rao: "In the basement, there is an extra piece of stained glass and remains just. Ironically, it is intended to replace any of the windows, if it breaks."
M Balasubramaniam Reddy, deputy director of Andhra Pradesh, tourism, says the Church is being promoted as a tourist attraction. "A guest house has been built for tourists. A museum explaining the history of the Church is being built."
Meanwhile, questions about the availability of funds. Rao said that while the state government wanted to take over maintenance of the church, the current bishop, BP Sugandhar, wanted the funds transferred to the church at Medak.
"Two years ago, (first Bishop of the Diocese of Medak) Bishop Presley visited the grandson of the Church and gave the funds. However, none of which has been used," he adds. Sugandhar Bishop was unavailable for comment, recuperating in a hospital in Vellore.
Despite claims and counter a spectator, the structure and the surrounding area certainly needs updating. May be then, the Church justifies the search for a mention at the entrance and not in the departure lounge of the airport!