Armenian Church, Chennai

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The Armenian Church, Chennai, constructed in 1772, is one of the oldest churches of the Indian subcontinent. It is famous for its belfry of six. The Church, also called the Armenian Church of Virgin Mary, is located on the Armenian Street, Chennai, South India.

Current caretaker (2005) of the Church is Michael Stephen [1].

[edit] Bells

The six bells are all of different sizes, varying from 21 to 26 inches, and weigh around 150 kg each, They are believed to be the largest and heaviest bells of Chennai. The bells were cast at different times as noted below:

One bell, with Armenian inscription dates to 1754. This was recast in 1808 and also bears Tamil inscription.
One bell’s inscription indicates that it dates to 1778.
Inscriptions on two bells indicate that they were given to the Church in memory of 19 year Eliazar Shawmier, buried in the Church’s garden. Shawmier was the youngest son of a leading Armenian merchant of the city of Madras (now Chennai) on whose private chapel ground the present Church stands.
The remaining two bells with inscriptions “Thomas Mears, Founder, London” date to 1837.