New Velankanni shrine to rise from debris in Besant Nagar

CHENNAI: The Annai Velankanni shrine campus is set to get a new place of worship following the demolition of the biggest church on the premises.

Rev. Fr. B K Francis Xavier, rector and parish priest of the shrine, told TOI that the new church would cater to a large congregation coming here from all parts of the city for worship. “The roof of the existing church is slowly breaking off and once a piece of it fell during one of the liturgical gatherings, but thankfully there were no casualties,” he said. As the structure did not permit any further renovation, a new church was needed, he said.

The priest said the existing church was also too small to accommodate all the faithful, with many standing outside the church during services due to lack of space. Fr. Francis Xavier said pilgrims visiting the shrine often stayed overnight in the open air which was unsafe for women and inconvenient during the rainy season. The new church would address these problems, he said, adding, “It has been a long desire of the faithful of Annai Velankanni shrine in Besant Nagar to have a beautiful parish church as it quite steadily emerges to be the epicentre of Marian devotion in northern Tamil Nadu.”

Fr. Francis Xavier said appeals have been made for people to contribute towards the cost of construction of the new church. Tenders will be called for the construction shortly and the church will be completed within two years, he said. A second smaller church also exists on the campus.



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