Controversy over overnight demolition of church

Mangaluru: A controversy has erupted in Kayyar following the demolition of the 70-year-old Christ The King Church building under the Diocese of Mangalore, with a conservation group alleging the structure was brought down overnight despite requests to preserve it.The Kayyar Church Conservation Committee said the church, built in 1953 and inaugurated on April 25,1956, under Rev Fr Lawrence S Pais, was a Roman-Gothic landmark and an important cultural and religious symbol for the village and surrounding areas. The committee claimed that structural feasibility inputs, including a report from NITK Surathkal stating the building was in good condition, were ignored before the demolition.
Wilson JP D'Souza, parishioner and member of the conservation committee, told reporters on Saturday, that the group had met Bishop Peter Paul Saldanha on Nov 28, and as directed, 11 members submitted written undertakings to take financial and physical responsibility for maintaining the old church. He alleged that both the NITK structural stability report and an independent conservation architect's report were not considered.He further alleged that the demolition was carried out in haste, while construction of the new church at a different site was not even 50% complete, forcing religious services to be held in a mini hall. He claimed the old structure did not obstruct new construction and could have been preserved as a memorial. The group also alleged that heavy machinery was used at night, and demanded an explanation, warning of protests if their concerns were not addressed.In response, the Christ The King Church parish council defended the demolition, stating the building was dilapidated and removed after obtaining official clearances. The council said the Paivalike panchayat issued a demolition certificate on Nov 21, 2025, and the Diocese of Mangalore granted approval on Feb 12.The council said the tower had remained unrepaired for nearly a decade, and the cross, damaged by lightning, could not be safely relocated. It added that a 2023 survey showed strong support for rebuilding, and demolition was approved by parish committees and a general assembly of 552 members.