St Francis Church, Kochi, Kerala - Religious belief and its beautiful structure

Monuments, Monastery, Church

Being the first European Church constructed in India, St. Francis Church occupies significant place in the glorious past. This beautiful church is the only proof how European nobles struggled in India and the King of Kochi in 1503 granted the permission to Alphanso Alburquerque to build this place of worship. He used to construct a wooden church devoted to St. Batholomew within the premises and later on in 1516, a new church was also built devoted to St. Anthony. Though the church went through many folds but it retains great piousness and religious importance till today in the heart of the people of Kochi.