16th century Goa church brought back to former glory

A three-year long renovation effort by the state government has restored a centuries-old church in Goa, noted for its remarkable architecture in India.

The Church of St. Ann, nestled in the hills of Santana, Talaulim, was brought back to its former glory at a cost of Rs 4.8 crore.

"The church has now received a new lease of life. If the church is maintained well, nothing can happen to it for centuries," said RC Aggarwal, principal director, Indian National Trust for Art and Cultural Heritage (INTACH).

Said to be one of the oldest and biggest in Asia, the church has long been a victim of neglect despite the fact that it was one of the largest surviving monument of its kind.

The 1577-founded church was declared a National Monument by the colonial Portuguese regime in March 1931.

INTACH, according to a Times of India report, executed a structural rehabilitation of the monument and conservation of its woodwork, including five altars, pulpit and 27 sculptures.

"Its neglect after the last conservation effort in the mid-seventies was showing badly," Ketak Nachinolkar, consultant conservation architect to INTACH, was quoted saying.

"It was important to save the structure as whatever was precarious in the edifice was hanging out of balance," Nachinolkar said.

The decay of the 16th century church was reportedly caused by its weak roof. Rainwater falling from the roof was seeping into the foundations.

Thanks to INTACH's renovation work, the entire roof and wooden trusses were re-laid.

Principal Director of INTACH, Nilabh Sinha, said it was satisfying that the woodwork of the church could be preserved at right time. The altars, sculptures and pulpit have been scientifically restored to their original layer, he said.