Mysore :
St Bartholomew’s Church , the oldest church in Mysore, is preserving a bit of history that dates back to the 17th century.
Bartholomew’s Church was established in 1830 for Europeans in the region. The single-storey church is known for its history and architectural qualities, but its fascinating association with the past is not quite well known.
A well-kept secret, the place of worship on the ever-busy Bangalore-Nilgiri Road is home to a relic from 17th century. The Church Bell which is still in use was cast in France in mid 17th century for the French Army Base Church at French Rocks Erode village (now Pandavapur), some 25km from Mysore. After Mysore ruler Tipu Sultan was defeated in the war in 1799 and his ally, French Army, left from the area and the capital was moved to Mysore.
About 125 years later, the French Rocks church was broken down when Mysore administrators started building Irwin Canal (now Visvesvaraya canal). The dismantled materials from the church was gifted by the British Army to the then Chaplain Rev G A A Wright of this church. In this way, the majestic bell came to adorn this church, according to a stone plaque at Belfry of St Bartholomew’s church.
Some records claim that the church was reserved for European worshippers for sometime and British VIPs while they were touring the region. It is also said that governor general Lord William Bentinck while on visit to Mysore in 1834 visited this church.
Wilson Dev Prasad, a senior member of Bartholomew’s church, told TOI that before the present Belfry was constructed in front of the church in early 2000, the bell was at the rear end of the church.
According to the commemorative inscription, the foundation stone for the Belfry was laid on October 30th 2002 and was dedicated on December 30th, 2002, by Rev Dr C L Furtado, then Bishop of Church of South India, Karnataka Southern Diocesan. Rev Premkumar Soans was presbyter-in-charge of the church then.
Bartholomew’s Church presbyter-in-charge K P Devkumar says the bell is used every Sunday before the church service commences, during celebrations and marriages. He confirmed that the church bell is over two centuries old.
source: http://www.timesofindia.indiatimes.com / Home> City> Mysore / by Lawrence Milton & H M Aravind, TNN / December 08th, 2012