Heritage at Risk - Save the twin churches of Ramapuram, St. Augustine Church and St Mary's Church

1. The Tale of the Twin Churches of
RamapuramDr. Binumol Tom, Professor and
Conservation Architect, Department of
Architecture, Rajiv Gandhi Institute of
Technology, Kottayam

2. The ecstasy and agony of owning a Twin church
Santa Maria in Montesanto, built in 1679
Santa Maria dei Miracoli, built in 1681 Rome, Italy
Piazza San Carlo and twin churches in the city center of
Turin, Italy 1834
St. Augustine Church built in 1450
St. Mary’s Church built in 1864, Ramapuram, Kottayam

3. 1
2
3
4
1450 – first church in the
name of blessed virgin
1599- rededication to St.
Augustine
1864 – St. Mary’s church
2005 – Church authorities
decide to build a new church
2007 – Preliminary
notification to protect the
churches
2009 – Protected monument
status

4. St. Augustine Church,
1450• Land granted free by Vallichira
Kaimal, church fructified in 1450.
• Rebuilt in 1559 and re dedicated
to St. Augustine
• Consists of diminutive altar,
broad nave and a sacristy room .
Portuguese facade treatment.
• Long covered veranda running
parallel to the nave on southern
side.
• An additional chapel on the
northern side of the nave. The
chapel on the northern side of
the nave enters through the door
in the façade wall

5. St. Mary’s
Church,
1864

6. Residence of
Thoma
Kathanar

7. Pallimeda Entrance with
vadyapuras

10. 2008 2011 2013 2015
2016 2018 2019
2009 – Protected monuments
2010 – New Church construction
1972 regulation – NOC
RTI- says no specified distance as per AMASR
1968

11. AB
C
Violation of
Rules
HERITAGE
CRUCIFIED

12. UNESCO Guidelines for Management of Heritage sites
1972

13. A
B
C
A – Hall on the Northern side of the church
B – Two floors at the Western end
C- One room on the second floor above
Sankeerti
HERITAGE
CRUCIFIED

16. NOW!
THEN!
UPTO
2009
Mr. Joseph
Zaccarias,
Parishioner
Adv. Santosh
Paul, Sr.
Advocate,
Supreme Court
Mr. Sohan, Ex.
State
Convenor,
INTACH
Adv George
Kuruvila,
Kappil

17. Parishioners of Church Emmaus (Emmaus-Kirche), constructed 750 years ago and located in
German village Hojersdorf (Heuersdorf), transported on a special platform in Born’s nearby city
(Borna) which is located in 12 km from the previous site.
LESSONS LEARNED FROM
MOVIE church
transportation
3.mp4

18. S. Francisco Convent, Coimbra Portugal
LESSONS LEARNED FROM THE

19. Dominican church transformed as a bookstore in the Dutch city of
Zwolle
LESSONS LEARNED FROM THE
WEST

20. Cathedral of Our
Lady
LESSONS LEARNED FROM

21. To any
generation, an
identifiable
past offers a
line of
communication
with others;
between the
living, the dead
and those still
to be born…..
Save St Raphael's Church, Ezhupunna from demolition
St. Joseph's Church Varappuzha
St. Francis Xavier’s Church Velur

22. Heritage is slowly but surely vanishing
we talk more do less…….
we are proud of our possessions but we don’t know how
to preserve them…….

23. Jesus Christ and his 12 disciples = Christianity all over the
world
14 Apostles = Can’t we
cover the Religious
heritage of Kerala?
List, Document, Grade,
Notify and declare as
heritage
THANKY
OU