St. Mary’s Cathedral Church

Boasting a bell tower and an eclectic mix of European, Roman, and Continental architectural design that dates back to 1840, The Church of Our Lady Dolours, esteemed as the St. Mary’s Cathedral Church is one of the oldest shrines in Madurai. In 1840, the land on which the present cathedral stands was bought by Fr. Joseph Bertrand who was amongst the four pioneers of the New Madurai Mission, and in 1841 a small church was built by Fr. Louis Garnier. Later in 1912, to make it more spacious, the construction of a new church was planned in Gothic Style architecture, which the present architecture boasts.

This place is worth checking out because of its quaint ambiance and pristine aura and impressive artwork. Moreover, the church was bestowed with the status of a Cathedral in 1969 and since then it is serving as a revered tourist attraction in Madurai.

History of St. Mary’s Cathedral Church

Built in 1841, St. Mary's Cathedral is more than 150 years old. Initially, this church was built as a small chapel by Fr. Garnier over a piece of land bought in 1840 by Fr. Bertrand SJ. He had settled around 30 families of the sailor who were out-casted by W. Pudupatti Church. This area later shows high increases in the number of Catholics to accommodate whom it was expanded a few times by Fr. Hibolite SJ and Br. Lamothe SJ.

The present structure of this church was built in 1916. And in 1938, when Madurai Diocese was established, St. Mary's Cathedral was bestowed with the status of a pro-Cathedral, and the Bishop’s throne was also brought in at the church. However, it was in 1969 that this church got the status of a Cathedral. This cathedral is the seat of the Madurai Roman Catholic Archdiocese.

At present, this parish is consisted of around 15 substations and about 1600 catholic families. Some of its associations are Vincent de Paul, Family welfare team, Bible Society, St. Mary’s Youth, Legion of Mary, St. Mary’s Altar Boys, etc.

Architecture of St. Mary’s Cathedral Church

Still standing majestically and captivating visitors with its incomparable architectural beauty, St. Mary's Cathedral is a place worth exploring in the historical city of Madurai. An impeccable amalgamation of various architectural styles such as European, Continental, and Roman, the present building of this cathedral was built in 1969.

It has many captivating features. Two tall bell towers which have been constructed beautifully in the style of Roman architecture allure everyone. With a height of 42 meters, these towers stand majestically. Another attractive part of this cathedral is its façade.