St. Peter's Church, Chennai - A 19th century unknown Church

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St. Peter's church, located near Royapuram Railway Station, India's oldest surviving train station, is a lesser-known but one of Chennai's oldest churches. Called "Madha Koil" by the locals, it was built in 1829 CE. In Tamil, people call St. Peter as Rayappar. Thus the locality was named as Royapuram after Rayappar church, as claimed by a few. However, others do not agree with this viewpoint.

When Madras did not have a proper harbor, goods were mainly transported by boats. In the 1770s, many boatmen shifted from Chepauk to the Royapuram locality. They embraced Christianity, and this chapel was built in the 1800s for them.

It's a picturesque church having heritage significance.


Happy travelling.









Visit my site, krishnakumartk.com, to know more about the travel guides and other books that I have written.

Location: Chennai, Tamil Nadu, India

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