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{{Infobox church
| name = Sacred Heart Church
| other name = Irudhiya Andavar Church
| coordinates = {{coord|12.60616|77.85722|display=inline,title}}
| fullname =
| native_name = இருதய ஆண்டவர் ஆலயம்
| native_name_lang = ta
| image = Sacred Heart Church, Kelamangalam.jpg
| caption = Front View of this church

| location = [[Kelamangalam]], [[Krishnagiri district]], [[Tamil Nadu]]
| country = [[India]]

| denomination = [[Catholic Church|Catholic]]
| religious institute = [[Society of Jesus|Jesuit]]
| cult = [[Latin liturgical rites|Latin Rite]]
| founded date = 1968
| founder = Fr. Ignatius Kalathil

| status = [[Parish church]]
| functional status = Active
| former name = St. Antony Church
| dedication = [[Jesus]]
| architectural type = [[Church (building)|Church]]
| style = Modern Architecture
| groundbreaking = 2002
| completed date = 2003

| parish = [[Kelamangalam]]
| deanery = [[Denkanikottai]]
| archdiocese = [[Roman Catholic Archdiocese of Pondicherry and Cuddalore|Pondicherry and Cuddalore]]
| diocese = [[Roman Catholic Diocese of Dharmapuri|Dharmapuri]]
| episcopalarea = [[Catholic Bishops' Conference of India|TNBC]]

| archbishop = [[Antony Anandarayar]]
| bishop = Lawrence Pius Dorairaj
| priest = Fr. Joseph Rozario
}}

The '''Sacred Heart Church''' in Kelamangalam is Roman Catholic Church situated in the Krishnagiri district of Tamil Nadu, India. In the 17th century, many Catholics and priests settled in this village for their [[Missionary|missionary activities]], making it one of the origin places for Catholic Christians in its Diocese.<ref>https://www.ucanews.com/directory/parishes-stations/india-dharmapuri/62/10</ref>

==History==
During the early stage of the [[Roman Catholic Diocese of Mysore|Mysore missionaries]], Kelamangalam came under their missionary jurisdiction. According to the 1668 to 1674 census, around 420 Catholics were recorded in this village. During that time, Kelamangalam became the residence of many missionaries. The Mysore missionaries referred to this place as '''Kappinahathi''', which was located on the northern side of Kelamangalam. Over the centuries, now it became part of Kelamangalam Village now the word Kappinahathi is not in use.<ref>http://www.etamilnadu.org/kelamangalam-block-365.html</ref>

Multiple letters were sent between 1673 and 1674 to the Mysore Mission regarding Kelamangalam issue. These letters mentioned the political pressure faced by Catholics, but it also highlighted the support given by a widow named Bangavamma, who stood with the Catholics and helped resolve the political issues peacefully.<ref> {{cite book |last= |first= |editor-last1= J.A. Dubois MEP|title=Mysore Mission From Jesuits To MEP |url= |location= |publisher=ISPCK Publishers |page=305 |isbn=8184650043|author=}}</ref>

In March 1674, a British officer from Hosur heard positive feedback about Fr. Immanuel Goryové, a priest serving in Kelamangalam. In a meeting, the officer requested Father Emmanuel to take charge of the administration of 30 villages around Kelamangalam. However, Father Emmanuel declined, stating that he came to serve the people, not to rule over them. The officer admired his commitment and ordered his music band team to play music in front of the church on Easter Sunday as a sign of respect. In Kappinahathi, there was St. Antony's church, and the priest resided in the church. Unfortunately, the church was demolished after the invasion of the Marathi military in 1682, leading the priests to move to [[Anekal]] for some years.<ref>{{cite book |last= |first= |author-link=Peter de la Lane|title=Mission and Tamil Society |url= |location= |publisher=Taylor & Francis |page=305 |isbn=9781000153460|editor-last1= Henriette Bugge}}</ref>

===First Martyr of Dharmapuri Diocese===
In 1708, Fr. Emmanuel de Cunha, who resided in Kappinagathi and carried out missionary activities till Kangundi. Kangundi is located in Andhra Pradesh, 19 km east from Kuppam. During his time, Fr. Emmanuel built a church in Kangundi, but the villagers and Kangundi zamindhar opposed it. In a riot, Fr. Emmanuel was attacked and expelled from the village. He then traveled for three days with high injury and settled back in Kelamangalam. Unfortunately, after some weeks on June 1, 1711, he died in Kelamangalam, earning the distinction of being the first martyr of the Dharmapuri Diocese.<ref>https://dharmapuridiocese.org/cms/public_view/history</ref>

In the 1720s, the Mysore mission records mention the service of Fr. Raynor and Fr. Viayor in Kappinahathi. After 50 years, villages like Kappinagathi, [[Mathigiri]], Eddappalli (Chinnapatti), and [[Denkanikottai]] were mentioned in their records. However, in 1784, during the invasion of [[Tipu Sultan]], Edappally Church was demolished, and there are no further records found regarding Kelamangalam and Kappinahathi Village.<ref>{{cite book |last= |first= |author-link=Peter de la Lane|title=A Jesuit Missionary’s Description of India |url= |location= |publisher= |page= |isbn=|editor-last1= David Long}}</ref>

===20th Century===
After a century-long hiatus, in 1960, some Catholics resettled in Kelamangalam, with the families of Dr. Amos and Periya Nayagam being key members. During this time, priests from the [[Dasarapalli]] Parish would visit their homes and conduct Masses for the villagers.<ref>{{cite book |last= |first= |editor-link1=Surhone|editor-link2=Lambert M|editor-link3=Tennoe|editor-link4=Mariam T.|editor-link5=Henssonow|editor-link6=Susan F.|title=Roman Catholic Diocese Of Dharmapuri |url= |location= |publisher=Taylor & Francis |page= |isbn=9786134574136|editor-last1=}}</ref>

Later, on January 25, 1965, Fr. Ignatius Kalathil, the priest of Dasarahalli Parish, purchased an acre of land in Kelamangalam.<ref>https://salemdiocese.org/necrology/</ref> On February 6, 1968, the Sacred Heart Church was built and opened to the public with the blessings of former [[Roman Catholic Diocese of Salem|Salem Diocese]] Bishop [[Venmani S. Selvanather|V.S Selvanather]]. Initially, it served as a sub-station church of Adikalapuram Parish, with Vincentian congregation fathers took care the church for many decades.<ref>{{cite book |last= |first= |title=VINCENTIAN CONGREGATION DIRECTORY 2015 |url=http://vincentiancongregation.org/files/media/resources/1479703688_2015%20-%20Directory.pdf |format=PDF|publisher=Vincentian Generalate, Edappally|page=65 |isbn=|editor-last1= }}</ref> Later, Fr. Henry Boyal completely renovated the church, and with the blessing of Bishop [[Joseph Anthony Irudayaraj]] of the [[Roman Catholic Diocese of Dharmapuri|Dharmapuri Diocese]], it was reopened to the public on February 23, 2003. In 2004, the church was promoted to a Parish Church.

==See also==
* [[Christ the King Church, Dasarapalli]]
* [[St. Francis Xavier Church, Kovilur]]

== References ==
{{Reflist}}

{{Roman Catholic Diocese of Dharmapuri}}

[[Category:Roman Catholic churches in Tamil Nadu]]
[[Category:Churches in Krishnagiri District]]
[[Category:Archdiocese of Pondicherry and Cuddalore]]

Sacred Heart Church, Kelamangalam - Revision history

Devraj soni: Just completed a new chapter.