Vasco Da Gama's Tomb at St. Francis Church, Fort Kochi
The Franciscan Church, also known as St. Francis Church, located in Kochi (Cochin), Kerala, is a historic landmark as the oldest European church in India. The church has an impressive facade with arched entrance.
In 1503, Francisco de Albuquerque arrived in Cochin and constructed Fort Emmanuel, the first European fort in India. Within the fort, the Franciscan friars who accompanied Albuquerque built a small wooden chapel dedicated to St. Bartholomew. A friar named Gaston was the preacher.
Francisco de Almeida, the then Portuguese viceroy, reconstructed the wooden buildings with stone and masonry in 1506. The wooden church was also rebuilt, and a tiled roof was added. The construction was completed in 1516, and it was then dedicated to St. Antony, the patron saint of Portugal, and named Santo Antonio church. A public clock was also attached.
When the Dutch conquered Cochin in 1663, they demolished all Catholic churches and convents built by the Portuguese, except for this one. They converted the church into a Protestant place of worship and renovated it in 1779. Adjacent to the church lies an old Dutch cemetery. Though the British captured the place in 1795, they allowed the Dutch to retain the church. Inside the church, there is a register documenting baptisms and marriages from 1751 to 1804.
The church was handed over to the Anglican communion in 1804, becoming an Anglican church. In 1806, the British planned to blow up the church, with barrels of gunpowder already placed inside. Fortunately, at the last moment, the commanding officer changed his mind, saving this historical monument from destruction.
Renovated in 1886 and renamed St. Francis Church, it has been a part of the Church of South India since 1947. In front of the main entrance is a small stone war memorial erected in 1921 to honor 10 British officers and an Indian, Lieut. K. H. Bhat from Cochin, who lost their lives in World War I (1914-18).
The floor of the nave was once adorned with carved and inscribed tombstones of esteemed Portuguese and Dutch officials and merchants until 1867. However, due to safety concerns, they were removed and now stand upright along the side walls of the nave. The oldest Portuguese inscription dates back to 1562, while the earliest Dutch record is from 1664. Some of the heraldic designs and armorial bearings depicted above the old epitaphs are remarkably well-crafted.
Vasco da Gama, the first European navigator from Portugal to India, visited Cochin in 1502. Gama died at Cochin in 1524 during his third voyage to India, and his body was initially interred in this church. Fourteen years later, in 1538, Gama's remains were transported to Lisbon by his son, where he now rests in the Monastery of Jeronimos. The plaque on his tomb reads, "Here lay buried Vasco da Gama who died on the Christmas eve of the year 1524 at Cochin until his remains were removed to Portugal fourteen years later."
"Flashes of Kerala History" mentions that the body of St. Francis Xavier was brought from Malacca to Cochin in December 1553 and was publicly displayed here for three days for veneration before being taken to Goa.
In 1503, Francisco de Albuquerque arrived in Cochin and constructed Fort Emmanuel, the first European fort in India. Within the fort, the Franciscan friars who accompanied Albuquerque built a small wooden chapel dedicated to St. Bartholomew. A friar named Gaston was the preacher.
Francisco de Almeida, the then Portuguese viceroy, reconstructed the wooden buildings with stone and masonry in 1506. The wooden church was also rebuilt, and a tiled roof was added. The construction was completed in 1516, and it was then dedicated to St. Antony, the patron saint of Portugal, and named Santo Antonio church. A public clock was also attached.
When the Dutch conquered Cochin in 1663, they demolished all Catholic churches and convents built by the Portuguese, except for this one. They converted the church into a Protestant place of worship and renovated it in 1779. Adjacent to the church lies an old Dutch cemetery. Though the British captured the place in 1795, they allowed the Dutch to retain the church. Inside the church, there is a register documenting baptisms and marriages from 1751 to 1804.
The church was handed over to the Anglican communion in 1804, becoming an Anglican church. In 1806, the British planned to blow up the church, with barrels of gunpowder already placed inside. Fortunately, at the last moment, the commanding officer changed his mind, saving this historical monument from destruction.
Renovated in 1886 and renamed St. Francis Church, it has been a part of the Church of South India since 1947. In front of the main entrance is a small stone war memorial erected in 1921 to honor 10 British officers and an Indian, Lieut. K. H. Bhat from Cochin, who lost their lives in World War I (1914-18).
The floor of the nave was once adorned with carved and inscribed tombstones of esteemed Portuguese and Dutch officials and merchants until 1867. However, due to safety concerns, they were removed and now stand upright along the side walls of the nave. The oldest Portuguese inscription dates back to 1562, while the earliest Dutch record is from 1664. Some of the heraldic designs and armorial bearings depicted above the old epitaphs are remarkably well-crafted.
Vasco da Gama, the first European navigator from Portugal to India, visited Cochin in 1502. Gama died at Cochin in 1524 during his third voyage to India, and his body was initially interred in this church. Fourteen years later, in 1538, Gama's remains were transported to Lisbon by his son, where he now rests in the Monastery of Jeronimos. The plaque on his tomb reads, "Here lay buried Vasco da Gama who died on the Christmas eve of the year 1524 at Cochin until his remains were removed to Portugal fourteen years later."
"Flashes of Kerala History" mentions that the body of St. Francis Xavier was brought from Malacca to Cochin in December 1553 and was publicly displayed here for three days for veneration before being taken to Goa.
Comments