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{{Short description|Roman Catholic Church in Tamil Nadu, India}}
{{Infobox church
| name = Vinnarasi Madha Church
| coordinates = {{coord|12.54390|78.31107|display=inline,title}}
| fullname = Our Lady Of Queen Of Heaven Church
| other name = Queen of Heaven Church

| image = Vinnarasi Madha Church, Kandikuppam.jpg
| caption = Front View of the church

| location = [[Kandikuppam]], [[Bargur]], [[Krishnagiri]], [[Tamil Nadu]]
| country = [[India]]

| denomination = [[Catholic Church|Catholic]]
| religious institute = [[Society of Jesus|Jesuit]]
| cult = [[Catholic devotions]]
| founded date = 1929
| founder = Fr. Ignatius & Fr. Dominic

| status = [[Parish church]]
| functional status = Active
| architectural type = [[Church (building)|Church]]
| style = [[Medieval architecture|Medieval]]
| years built = 1977

| parish = [[Kandikuppam]]<ref>{{cite web | url=https://dharmapuridiocese.org/parishes/lists.html | title=Dharmapuri Diocese | access-date=2022-10-28 | archive-date=2022-10-28 | archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20221028070952/https://dharmapuridiocese.org/parishes/lists.html | url-status=dead }}</ref>
| deanery = [[Krishnagiri]]
| 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]]
| district = [[Krishnagiri district|Krishnagiri]]
| archbishop = [[Francis Kalist]]
| bishop = Lawrence Pius Dorairaj
| priest = Fr. M. Albert William V.F.
}}

'''The Vinnarasi Madha Church''', also called ''Our Lady of [[Queen of Heaven]] Church'', is a Roman Catholic [[Parish]] Church in [[Kandikuppam]] village, [[Krishnagiri district]], in the Indian state of [[Tamil Nadu]]. It is situated on the Krishnagiri - Bargur National Highway [[National Highway 48 (India)|NH48]]. It is the place of worship for about 3000 [[Roman Catholic (term)|Catholics]] living in that village. Under this parish administration there are 4 Churches ([[Chapel]]s), a Divine center and Middle School. This church is servers under the administration of [[Roman Catholic Diocese of Dharmapuri|Dharmapuri Diosceses]].

==History==

Since 1792, there have been Catholics around [[Kandikuppam]] village.

According to Rev Fr. Leo Debian's record <ref>History of Elthagiri Parish by - Rev Fr. Leo Debian</ref> at first settlement of Catholics happened in Kockanoor village near Kandikuppam. This record states were two families (Jaadi Manim and Kollapatti families) lived in Maruderi Village in the banks of [[Ponnaiyar River|South Pennar River]] near [[Kaveripattinam, Krishnagiri|Kaveripatinam]]. After the invasion of Tipu Sultan, they moved to present-day [[Punganur]] in [[Andhra Pradesh]] then returned to South and settled in Kockanoor, while their branch families settled in [[Elathagiri]].
Kandikuppam became a sub-station of [[Elathagiri]] in 1929. A primary school was built during this time, then in 1973 the school became St. Xavier Middle School. Elathagiri Parish Priest Rev. Fr. Joshua [[Paris Foreign Missions Society|MEP]] bought a plot of land in 1954 in Kandikuppam near the [[National Highway 48 (India)|Madras Highways]] (where the present Church is located). Later, additional lands were acquired in 1965, 1972, 1973, and 1985 to surround this Church land.

Fr. Jean Pierre Martin [[Paris Foreign Missions Society|MEP]] was born in [[France]] on 29-12-1881, became a priest on 29-6-1905, and came to India on 16-8-1905 to serve in the [[Roman Catholic Diocese of Kumbakonam|Kumbakonam Diocese]]. After that he served in various parishes including Michaelpatti, Thooluurpatti, and Kottapalayam. He served as a lecturer at [[St. Peter's Pontifical Seminary|St. Peter's Seminary]], [[Uzhavarkarai]], [[Puducherry (union territory)|Pondicherry]], from 1919 to 1930. In 1930, [[Roman Catholic Diocese of Salem|Salem]] became a new diocese, and from 1930 to 1932, he served as parish priest at [[Our Lady Of Refuge Church, Elathagiri|Elathagiri Church]]. From 1933 to 1960, he was a professor at [[Salem, Tamil Nadu|Salem]] Suramangalam [[Seminary]]. After 1960, he moved back to Kandikuppam and worked with local people, helping them with their education and missionary service. He spent the rest of his days in [[Wellington, Tamil Nadu|Ooty-Wellington]] Missionary homage due to his age, he died on 10-2-1969, and his graveyard is still present in [[Roman Catholic Diocese of Salem|Salem Bishop House]].

[[File:Vinnarasi Madha Church Inugration board.jpg|thumb|200 px|left|Foundation Stone]]

Elathagiri men's hostel Warden Rev. Fr. Ignatius Kalathil and Elathagiri St. Anthony's School headmaster Rev Fr. Dominic showed interest in building a church in Kandikuppam with the help and support of local people and Salem diocese charity Vinnarasi Madha Church was built. On 15-9-1977, this church started its service to Kandikuppam villagers with the blessing of [[Roman Catholic Archdiocese of Pondicherry and Cuddalore|Pondicherry]] [[Archbishop]] [[Venmani S. Selvanather|V. S. Selvanathan]]<ref>History of Dharamapuri Diocese - by Rev. Fr. A. Susairaj</ref>

Kandikuppam became a parish on 1-6-1979 with Rev. Fr. Felix Rafel [[Paris Foreign Missions Society|MEP]] as its first parish priest. Fr. Felix was born in [[France]] on 7-2-1915 and became a priest in 7-10-1945. in 7-10-1945 and came to India to serve under [[Roman Catholic Diocese of Salem|Salem Diocese]]. He served in various places like Perunkuruchi, [[Denkanikottai]], Kosavampatti, and [[Vellalapalayam]] before serving in Kandikuppam as Parish priest from 1979 to 1981. Then till 1992 he Severed in [[Pudupalayam]] Parish then he went back to his home land France and he died in 11-4-1997.

In 1981 to 1986 Rev. Fr. Ignatius become a 2nd Parish priest for during his time [[Congregation of the Immaculate Conception|CIC Madurai Sisters]]<ref>https://cicmadurai.org</ref> stayed in Kandikuppam and started their service to church and Schools.

Rev Fr. Henry George promoted [[Kottur, Bargur|Kottur]] St Antony's Church into a Parish Church for [[Bargur]] on 23-1-1998. Rev Fr. Maria Joseph built a new priest stay house on 28-4-2003 with in the Church campus. During the period of Rev. Fr. Arulsamy, the Ambiyam project was successfully implemented with in all families with the help of the Dioceses. A shopping complex was also constructed in the east side of the church, which contributes to the revenue of the church.

== Substations ==

''There are five substations comes under Kandikuppam Parish.''

*In 1990 a land was brought in '''[[Achamangalam]]''' during the period of Rev. Fr. Henry George. From 20-5-1999 [[Infant Jesus of Prague|Kulandhai Yesu]] Church was constructed and started this service for Achamangalam villagers.
*For the Catholics who live near '''Kamraj Nagar''' (Adaikalapuram) a Chapel was built in 1996 in the name of [[Our Lady of Laus|Adaikala Annai]]
*[[Our Lady of Good Health|Arokiya Mary Chapel]] was built for '''Kockanoor''' villager and started its service since 8-9-1999.
* In 2005 [[Anthony the Great|Vanathu Anthoniyar]] Chapel was built for the Catholics who live near '''Thandavanpallam''' village.

{{Gallery
|title=Sub-stations churchs of Kandikuppam Parish
|width=200 | height=170
|align=center
|footer=photo:aultabulta
|File:Infant Jesus Church, Achamangalam, Kandikuppam.jpg
|alt1= Infant Jesus Church, Achamangalam, Kandikuppam
|Infant Jesus Church, Achamangalam, Kandikuppam.
|File:Our Lady of Refugee Chapel, Adaikalapuram, Kandikuppam.jpg
|alt2=Our Lady of Refugee Chapel, Adaikalapuram, Kandikuppam.
|Our Lady of Refugee Chapel, Adaikalapuram, Kamaraj Nagar, Kandikuppam.
|File:Velankanni Madha Chapel, Kandikuppam.jpg
|alt3=Velankanni Madha Chapel, Kandikuppam
|Velankanni Arokiya Madha Chapel, Arokiya Nagar, Kockanoor, Kandikuppam
|File:Vannathu Chinappar Chapel, Kandikuppam.jpg
|alt4=Vannathu Andhoniyar Chapel, Kandikuppam
|Vannathu Andoniyar Chapel, Andhoniyar Nagar, Thandavanpallam, Kandikuppam
}}

== List of Parish Priests ==
[[File:Vinnarasi Madha Church, Interiour, Kandikuppam.jpg|thumb|300 px|right|Vinarasi Madha Church Interior]]

{| class="wikitable sortable"
|+
|-
! Years served !! Name<ref>https://www.church.catholictamil.com/p/765.html</ref>
|-
| 1979-1981 || Rev. Fr. Felix Rafel MEP
|-
| 1981-1986 || Rev. Fr. Ignatius Kalathil
|-
| 1987-1989 || Rev. Fr. Thomas Keeranchira
|-
| 1989-1991 || Rev. Fr. M. Dominic
|-
| 1991-1992 || Rev. Fr. A. Rosario
|-
| 1992-1994 || Rev. Fr. S. Arokiyasamy
|-
| 1994-1999 || Rev Fr. s. Henry George
|-
| 1999-2004 || Rev. Fr. S. Mario Joseph
|-
| 2004-2008 || Rev. Fr. M. Arulsamy
|-
| 2008-2013 || Rev. Fr. S. Sowariyappan
|-
| 2013-2015 || Rev Fr. S. Arokiya James
|-
| 2015-2018 || Rev. Fr. A. Arpudharaj
|-
| 2018-2021 || Rev. Fr. A. Madhalaimuthu
|-
| From 2021 || Rev. Fr. M. Albert William
|-
|}

== References ==
{{Reflist}}

{{Roman Catholic Diocese of Dharmapuri}}
{{Authority control}}

[[Category:Churches in Krishnagiri district]]
[[Category:Roman Catholic church buildings in Tamil Nadu]]
[[Category:Roman Catholic church buildings in the Diocese of Dharmapuri]]

Vinnarasi Madha Church, Kandikuppam - Revision history

MyronMccreary8: info