St Mary's church in Fort St George

St Mary's Church in Fort St George is said to be the oldest english building in India. Its probably correct that St Mary's Church was the first substantiale english building in India. From 1639, when Madras was founded, until 1680 religious services were conducted in the dining-room of the Factory House. Inside Fort St George there were Barracks and store rooms but these were all much less substantial structures. Building the church was initiated by the English East India Company's Agent at Madras who had the magnificent name of Mr Streynsham Master. Work started in 1678 and completed in 1680.

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