106-old church in Kerala caught in renovation row

Mangalore Today News Network

Thiruvalla, July 26, 2017: Reports are rife that  church committee’s decision to renovate the 106-year-old Immanuel Mar Thoma Church at Eraviperoor, near Thiruvalla, has kicked up a controversy with a group of church members demanding that the building be maintained as a heritage monument.

 

Rev. Daniel Varghese, vicar of the church, and Revr. Rency Thomas George, assistant vicar, told media that the church committee’s decision to renovate the building was unanimous and was accepted even by those who were now opposing it.

Rev. Varghese said the parish had 750 families comprising not fewer than 4,000 members.

He said the century-old building was hard-pressed to accommodate at least a portion of the laity who thronged the place for the Sunday service.

Fr. Varghese said the committee’s decision was to extend the building to both sides and the rear, keeping the majestic façade intact. The design, prepared by renowned architect N. Ramaswamy, had further stressed the importance of retaining the old wooden balcony and stairs, he said.

Meanwhile, the Church Protection Committee leaders: K.V. Oommen, former church trustee, Aneesh Thomas, former church committee member, and Thomas Oommen, member of the Sankaramangalam Kudumba Yogam that reportedly claimed ownership of the land, have alleged corruption behind the move for a new church building.

Oommen said the caveat petition filed by the church committee stated that “the general body of the church has decided to construct a new church building, replacing the existing small and old structure.”

This statement itself showed the deceitful attitude of the committee leaders, he alleged.  Oommen claimed that a majority of the church members were for protecting the old building, the first tiled-roof place of worship of the Mar Thoma Church, as a heritage monument.

Eapen Varghese, former Chief Town Planner and chief technical advisor of the church renovation committee, told media that the controversy was unfortunate as the proposed renovation ensured preservation of the heritage character of the structure.

Rev Varghese said the church committee had the possession certificate for the land and has been unfailingly remitting land tax.

He said a majority of the church members were in favour of the renovation proposal and the Metropolitan Joseph Mar Thoma had blessed the foundation stone in the presence of Metropolitan Emeritus Philipose Mar Chrysostum at a function on February 5.

Old information on the church:

An apse comprising a rare laterite dome. A history of 120 years. The wood that
went into its making was hauled along the Manimala river. The Immanuel Mar Thoma Church in Eraviperoor is not without its share of historical and archaeological importance. Believers also claim it is the first church to have tiled roofing among the state’s Mar Thoma Churches.

Why wouldn’t the believers then oppose a move by some members and the clergy to demolish the church? The experts at Vasthuvidya Gurukulam in Aranmula – the government agency for the promotion of traditional architecture under the Culture Department – had said in its 2006 report the apse of the church is an example for rare laterite dome construction.

“The church is in good condition. Five-hundred people can be accommodated with full visibility and audibility. If a CCTV is installed, the number of people can be increased up to 650,” the Gurukulam report said.One of the complainants to the Pathanamthitta District Collector, K VOommen Karikkattu, told Express the whole of Eraviperoor had participated in the constructionof the church.“The materials were brought through the Manimala river,” Oommen said.

“Those days, there were neither vehicles nor any equipment. Giant logs of wood were brought through the river by mere manpower. The balcony, wooden steps, walls and other segments were constructed with unique techniques. Our pioneers said the roof tiles were brought through the river in a country-boat and transported.