Basilica Of Our Lady Of Graces
A church that is located 19 km in the north-west of Meerut in Sardhana that is part of Uttar Pradesha state in India is named as the Basilica of Our Lady of Graces. This church belongs to the Roman Catholics and is the largest in the entire North India. The architect who designed this church was an Italian and her name is Antonio Reghellini. She was an Italian in the Begum’s service. The theme of the church is quite similar to St Peter’s that is in Rome city and also has a touch of Palladio for Raghellini and that is also a native of Vicenza and it also has a touch of the India’s architecture. It has a mammoth both in its interiors and exteriors.
This church of the Basilica of Our Lady of Graces has been associated to Virgin Mary. A Muslim lady Begum Samru who has been said to build this church later married a European mercenary soldier Walter Reinhardt Sombre. Begum Samru then went on becoming a catholic Romanian in the year 1718 and then changed her name to Joanna Nobilis. This lady Joanna Nobilis is the only ruler of India who was Catholic and ruled on the Principality of Sardhana for 18th and 19th century.
History
In the year 1778 after the death of Begum Samru’s husband she then innate the Jagir of Sardhana. After this she took the decision of building the Church of Sardhana that was devoted to Virgin Mary. A total cost of Rs. 4 lakh was spend on building the Church and this amount was considered as the huge amount during those days. During the construction of the church the top masons were hired at the cost of 25 paise per day and the other labourers in shells. The church has two huge lakes that were formed due to the mud that was removed from the nearby to use as the construction material for building the church. Mr. K. M. Munshi who was a famous historian has declared the date of the church in the year 1809. This date was followed by many people since the inscription in the Latin on the entrance of the church says to be dedicated in 1822. Second date was given by Fr. Keegan after he made a study on Begum Samru in the year 1820.
Architecture
An Italian architect Antonio Reghellini who belonged to the city of Vicenza was the architecture who has been behind the beautiful architecture of the Church named as Basilica of Our Lady of Graces. The architecture of the church is very similar to the St. Peter’s Basilica in the city of Rome and has a touch of Palladio and also is inspired and has a flavor of the Indian architect. The dais and the surroundings of the church have beautiful colored marbles that adds to the beautification of the church. The church has been mostly beautified with the use of marbles and is the art of high craftsmanship. The sunlight enters through an octagon shaped dome and it illuminates the entire church.
The construction of the church took 11 years. The amenities of the church are semi-precious stones, raised dais and the painted glasses. A structure of Begum Samru smoking hookah was impoted from Italy to Kolkata via ship and then suing boats and bullock carts. This structure also has the structure od her adopted son David Dyce Sombre and her diwan who has been the great-grandfather of Motilal Nehru.
Upgradation to Minor Basilica
Pope John XXII on the date 13th December 1961 declared that he would enhance the Church. This kind of enhancement is done of very few historical churches.
Photo Gallery
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