Hyderabad:Members of the 110-year-old CSI Wesley Church at Clock Tower, Secunderabad, have opposed the construction of a building, proposed by the church committee, adjacent to the notified heritage structure. The church committee has demolished the adjoining Parish Hall at the site to build the new building.

Responding to the criticism, the church's governing body said the Parish Hall, which had a tin-sheet roof, was removed to make way for a permanent building with the approval of committee members. It said the proposed building was required to cater to the growing congregation and provide space for church meetings.

Dr John Ravinder, former principal of Wesley Junior College and a senior member of the church, said, “A complaint has been registered with the GHMC in this regard. After the inspection, GHMC has issued an immediate order to stop the demolition activity. The order was served and pasted on the site. However, with scant respect for the order, the current committee has gone ahead and demolished the Parish Hall.”

“Our concern is to safeguard this heritage structure, as I am the second generation attending this church; we want this church to stand for another 100 years,” he explained.

The heritage structure was recognised for its maintenance on World Heritage Day in April this year by the Indian National Trust for Art and Cultural Heritage (INTACH). The church is built in the neo-Gothic architectural style.

During the presentation of the award, the jury mentioned, “This building’s aesthetic is defined by its impressive use of teak and rosewood, complemented by elegant stained glass and a framework of solid wooden beams and rafters.”

The presbytery in-charge of the church, Rev Andrew Prem Sukumar, said, “This proposal is very old. The committee members agreed to the proposal in view of the growing size of the congregation. The old Parish Hall, which was a tin shed, was leaking. There is no Sunday school building; the children are made to sit in the temporary sheds. The pastors have no proper accommodation. The church committee, which brought in the professional to construct this building on the advice of the heritage consultants.”

M. Paul Vedanth, a church member opposing the project, said, “Clarifications have been sought from the town planning office, GHMC, HMDA, Heritage Telangana, and the management of the CSI Medak Diocese. Response from the authorities and church management is awaited. We urge competent authorities to clarify whether the structural removal was expressly authorised and whether any proposed replacement building has obtained mandatory municipal, planning, structural, and fire-safety approvals”


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