Medak Cathedral

Medak Cathedral is one of the most visited churches in South India, which was built by Charles Walker Fasnet of British Wesleyan Methodists and consecrated on 25 December 1924. It is the single largest diocese in Asia and the second-largest in the world after the Vatican located in Medak town.

 

Medak Cathedral is the seat of the Bishop in Medak for the Church of South India (comprising Wesleyan Methodist, Congregational and Anglican missionary societies). The church complex is an Architectural Marvel spread in more than 300 acres. The cathedral is 100 ft (30 m) wide and 200 ft (61 m) long, and conforms to the Gothic Revival style and can accommodate about 5,000 people at a time.

 

The mosaic tiles were imported from Britain and Italian masons were engaged for laying the decorative flooring. Massive pillars built with fine-hewn and well-dressed grey stone support the gallery and the whole edifice. The roof of the church is made sound-proof by means of hollow sponge material and has an impressive style of vaulting. The bell-tower is 175 ft (53 m) high and visible from few miles.
The biggest attraction of the Cathedral is its stained glass windows depicting different scenes from Christ’s life – Ascension behind the altar, Nativity in the west transept, and Crucifixion in the east transept. This magnificent Cathedral is the quintessence of impeccable craftsmanship and attracts more than three million tourists per annum from across the country.

 

The nativity window was installed in 1947 and the crucifixion window was installed in 1958. The Medak Church is renowned for its large pointed stained glass windows that tell the story of the Bible in a kaleidoscope of colors though visible only in sunlight.
The mosaic tiles, decorative flooring, large pillars, pure white granite, sound proof roof and the bell tower (175 feet high) add to the grandeur of the church.