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| Immaculate Conception Church, Pune. jagadishchristian.com |
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| Our Lady of Immaculate Conception Church, Pune.hindustantimes.com |
Pune’s Our Lady of Immaculate Conception Church, also known as City Church, is the oldest church in Maharastra and came up before the British built the St Mary’s Church off Staveley. Its history is closely well-knitted with the Peshwa's army. Located in the crowded Nana Peth area, its 225th anniversary was celebrated by the Catholic community in early December 2017. This Puna's first church was under the purview of Archdiocese of Goa.
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| Our Lady of Immaculate Conception Church, Pune..churchtimings.com |
Toward the end of the 18th century, Peshwa Madhavrao II, the de facto leader of the Maratha Empire, realized his catholic soldiers from Goa had no church to meet their spiritual needs. The idea of a Church was mooted by the Portuguese officer Dom Minguel de Noronha in the army of Peshwa. Historians are of the view that the Peshwa hired de Noronha to strengthen his army to face raids by the European armies who had good artillery power. Peshwa Madhavrao thought Portuguese should have their own place of worship and historical records mention that he donated four acres of land in the Quarter Gate area of the city (once a separation point between the British confines in the cantonment and the civilian line), right at the edge of the Pune Cantonment in 1791 to have a church built, thus facilitating the opening of the Catholic Church in Pune, now a big sprawling city. It was built in Gothic style in 1852 replacing a mud building. It is said the Peshwa also made contribution to the construction of the structure.
The church’s first services began on December 8, 1792 and the mass was held on the Christmas day in by priests in the presence of two bishops of Pune and the Archbishop of Goa at the altar. They felicitated during the mass Peshwa descendants – Vinayakrao Peshwa and his nephew Mahendra Peshwa for the munificence of the Maratha rulers. Said an old parishioner ''honoring of the Peshwa descendants “a great gesture” by the parish priest, Father Salvador Pinto. According to the old timer and a Parishner Ambrose, the church has been part of many parishioners who, though have moved away from this area, have a link with this historic church and attend the feast masses and Christmas.
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| Peshwa Madhavrao II. Image credit: James Wales/Wikimedia Commonsscroll.in |
It is to be noted that the Maratha's had good relation with the Portuguese as evidenced by the presence of 200 Goan Catholics and 100 Portuguese soldiers in the Maratha army by 1788 - according to PS Pissurlencar’s 'Portuguese Mahratta Relations.' The reason was the Portuguese had good knowledge of artillery, something the Marathas lacked. So, they treated the gunners in the army well. In the 17th century the Europeans had an advanced knowledge of artillery“ and the Indian rulers sought their services for the army. From 1819, the church had received grants from the British government.
Often known as the mother church of the Deccan, today the church offers services in English, Konkani, and Marathi. Invariably the congregation is a mix ethnic Goan or Mangalorean Catholics.
Goan culture is part of this church The heritage value of this oldest church in Pune is, to some extend is being retained. However, the interiors - the halls and the altar underwent changes. In 1840 the British gave additional land and funds for refurbishment but most parts are untouched, particularly the facade The elements of Portuguese architecture are visible.
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