St. Peter’s Church

St. Peter’s Church, Nagapattinam, serves a congregation of about 120 families. The pastorate’s wider fellowship includes rural congregations, among them St. Andrew’s Church at Kattampadi and the church at Poigainallur.

A Legacy Reaching Back to the Dutch Era

St. Peter’s Church is remembered as a historic place of worship with a heritage associated with the Dutch presence on the Coromandel Coast. Its construction is placed about 248 years before this history was written and is associated with the Dutch traders who came to Nagapattinam and the neighbouring coastal region. The church is said to have been built as a place of worship for the Dutch community.

The church building is said to be distinctive in its design, measuring about 135 feet in length and 40 feet in width. Its front portion is a notable feature of the building’s architectural form.

Rural Congregations and Living Faith

St. Andrew’s Church at Kattampadi serves a village congregation of about 40 families. Many members are engaged in building and construction work, and the congregation’s faith and witness form part of the wider life of the Church.

The congregation at Poigainallur is said to have a history of about a century. Its members include families who settled in the area after moving from other places. These congregations reflect the enduring Christian presence and community life in the Nagapattinam region.

Worship, Fellowship and Community

One of the congregations in the pastorate observes the feast of St. John the Baptist on 24 June each year. The celebration brings the community together for worship and fellowship, with members sharing in a common meal. The church’s ministry continues to provide a spiritual foundation for congregational life and mutual support.

A Continuing Story

The history of St. Peter’s Church, Nagapattinam, is part of the wider story of the Church of South India and its long witness in the coastal region. As the Church of South India marks its journey through the generations, the Nagapattinam congregation continues to cherish its heritage and carry forward its life of faith, worship and service.