St Francis Church, Cochin, Kerala, India.

Repro ID: H5179

Description: St. Francis Church at Cochin (Kochi) in Southwest India was the first European church to be built in India. Originally built in wood by the Franciscan friars that accompanied the Portuguese expedition of 1500. By 1516 the church was built in stone with a tiled roof. The church was dedicated to St Anthony and remained in Portuguese hands until 1663, when it came under Dutch control and became a Protestant church. Finally in the nineteenth century the church was handed to the Anglicans and rededicated to St Francis of Assisi. At present the church belongs to the Church of South India.

Creator: Clifford J Pereira

Date: 2003-02

Credit line: Clifford J Pereira