CHURCH ARCHITECTURE

  

The main entrance of St. Mary’s church, Kumbalam, is on the western side of the tall building with a long, steep sloping tiled roof. It has an attractive steeple in front, which has an elevation of about 20 meters. It is facing the vastness of Vembanad ‘Kayal’, backwater, and the view across is awesome.  A flag mast stands in the front yard. The pillars  inside the church and other architectural ornaments are constructed in Gothic style. The granite pillars and altar has resemblance to the rock-cut pillars and altar in the rock cut Buddhist Vihars of the Ajanta and Ellora caves. The church is arranged east-to-west, with the interior structured into three levels: the ‘Madbaha’ (sanctuary), the ‘Qestroma’ (choir) and the ‘Haykla’ (nave). The ‘Madbaha’ is arranged in the topmost platform at the eastern part of the building, represents “Heaven” and the ‘Madbaha’ is protected with rails. The primary altar is separate and not attached to the eastern wall. The painting behind the altar of St. Mary’s church in beautiful colour combinations and shades is eye-catching. This makes the portraying the front elevation of the church with its steeple. The painter, who hailed from Trichur made diverse colours by blending the juices of barks, leaves and flowers of varied trees. The old sacristan, Paily’s failing memory, could not recollect the name of the creator of this masterpiece. He still remains an unknown genius.

The ‘Diaqonikon’ (sacristy) is the adjacent room further east of the ‘Madbaha’; to the south-west is the baptistery. An oil lamp within the sanctuary is kept glowing perpetually to represent the presence of God. The ‘Madbaha’ is connected to the sacristy by openings on either side of the wall. The ‘Qestroma’ contains seats for the choir and lower clergy. Worshipers stand before the altar, with separate seating for men and women. One large tower bell and another small bell are installed in the back yard to signal the timing of the ritual services. Certain rhythmic chimes from this big bell herald the death of a church member, or to inform the public of calamities.

Excerpts from

MEMOIRS

An autobiography

by

Joseph J. Thayamkeril

Lawyer, Kochi, Kerala, India.

josephjthayamkeril.blogspot.com