Zion Church, Tharangampadi, Nagapattinam
Zion
Church is one of the oldest churches in Tharangampadi (Tranquebar), a Danish settlement in Nagapattinam district in the South
Indian state of Tamilnadu. It is in the premises of Fort
Dansborg, built in the land ceded
by Thanjavur king Ragunatha Nayak in an agreement with Danish Admiral Ove
Gjedde in 1620 and acted as
the base for Danish settlement in the region during the early 17th century. The
Church was built in 1701 by Rev. Bartholomaus Ziegenbalg and has records from
the 18th and 19th centuries.
He is
believed to be the first Protestant missionary in India and the Church is
believed to be the first Protestant Church in India. Zion Church is a working
church with hourly prayer and daily services and follows Protestant sect of Christianity. In modern times, it is under the dominion of Trichy
– Tanjore Diocese of the Church of South India. It is one of the most prominent landmarks of Tharangampadi.
History
The Dansborg
Fort was the most important gateway in the trade route from Europe to
Coramandel for the Danish Empire. Protestant missionaries were sent from
Denmark by king Fredric IV, who was also the head of Lutheran
Church of Denmark. Two of them,
namely, Bartholomäus Ziegenbalg and Heinrich Plutschua came to Tranquebar on 9
July 1706, established the Tranquebar Mission, learnt Tamil in a few years and were the first to translate and
print The New Testament of the Bible in Tamil in the
printing press inside the fort.
The
Danish mission was the first Protestant mission in India and from its
inception, was staffed by German missionaries trained at Pietist schools and
seminary founded by Francke at the end of 17th century. The Danes built
the Zion Church in 1701 by Rev.
Bartholomaus Ziegenbalg (10 July 1682 – 23 February 1719), believed to be
the first Protestant Church in India and the New Jerusalem Church in 1717 and was
renovated between 1782 - 84, during the Danish period. During
1919, a Tranquebar manifesto targeting a single episcopacy for all of Anglican,
Lutheran, Presbyterian, Congregational and Wesleyan over South India was
discussed at this Church, but failed to arrive at a conclusion.
Zion
Church, which Rev. Ziegenbalg established, is
believed to be the first Protestant Church in India and was built for
the Governors, while the other Church, the New Jerusalem Church
(built in 1718), for soldiers and the community. Incidentally
Rev. Ziegenbalg later became a popular missionary in this region
and a scholar in Tamil. Ziegenbalg was the first pastor of the church and
he preached in Tamil.
Architecture
Zion
Church is enclosed in Fort
Dansborg along with a set of
buildings, the notable ones being the fort built in 1620, the Masilamani Nathar
Temple built in the 13th century, New Jerusalem Church built in 1718, the Town Gateway built in 1792, the
Danish Governor Bungalow built in 1784 and a series of tomb stones built during
the 17th and 18th centuries. The settlement inside the citadel is modeled like
a small European town with a land gate and wooden doors leading to the main
street, namely, the King's Street.
The
church is located two blocks away from the Bay
of Bengal and has an exterior
made of brick, stained glass windows and tiled brick spire. The architecture
indicates common features in Indian structure of the time. The altar houses
conventional Methodist images and a prayer hall for the devotees. The plaques
of Jesus Christ and some of the apostles are housed in glass chambers in
standing posture on the walls facing the devotees.
The
church was partially modified in 1782, which is believed to be the structure in
modern times. There is a historic bell tower in the church and numerous
tombstones. Zion Church is an active venerated place with hourly prayer and
daily services and is under the dominion of the Trichy-Tanjore Diocese of
the Church of South India (CSI).
Culture
In
modern times, the Lutheran Mission administers the New Jerusalem Church, while
the Zion church is under the dominion of the Trichy
– Tanjore Diocese of the Church of South India (CSI). The Danish built the Zion Church for the
Governors and the New Jerusalem Church for soldiers and the community.
Ziegenbalg was the first pastor of the church and he preached in Tamil. There are records from the Church during the
period of 1781 to 1814 indicating the burials carried out in the church. They
indicate the expenses incurred for building the tombs, funeral services and
maintenance of the cemetery.
The
Church along with other buildings in the fort were renovated twice in modern
times, once by Tranquebar Association with the help of the Danish royal family
and the State Archaeology Department in 2001 and secondly by a project named
Destination Development of Tranquebar by the Department of Tourism of the
Government of Tamilnadu in 2011.
Connectivity
Tharangampadi
is located at about 283 kms (176 miles) from the state capital Chennai and 30 kms from
Mayiladuthurai, in Nagapattinam District. Nearest Railway Station is located at
Mayiladuthurai & Nearest Airport is located at Trichy.
