ShivaniSikri at 02:09, 2 March 2026

2026-03-02T02:09:33Z

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{{Short description|Church in India}}
{{Use dmy dates|date=July 2019}}
{{Infobox Historic building
| image = File:Igreja de Nossa Senhora das Brotas, Anjediva.jpg
| caption = The church with its altar
| name = Church of Our Lady of Springs
| native_name = {{native name|pt|Igreja de Nossa Senhora das Brotas}}
| location_town = [[Anjediva Island]], [[Goa]]
| location_country = [[India]]
| coordinates = {{coord|14.761|74.111|display=title,inline}}
| architect =
| client =
| engineer =
| construction_start_date = AD 1502
| completion_date = AD 1502, AD 1506, and AD 1729
| demolished_date =
| cost =
| structural_system =
| architectural_style = [[Portugal|Portuguese]] Baroque
| size =
}}

The '''Church of Our Lady of Springs''' ({{langx|pt|Igreja de Nossa Senhora das Brotas}}) is located in the vicinity of the [[Fort Anjediva]] on the [[Anjadip Island]], off the west Coast of India under the administrative control of [[Goa]], India. Initially, in 1502, it was built as a small thatched [[chapel]], but later, in 1506, was made into a more permanent structure. It was rebuilt in 1682 and subsequently refurbished in 1729. An Insignia awarded by [[Rome]] as the ‘Mother Church’ is seen in this church.<ref>
{{cite news
| author = Team Herald
| title = Faithful shocked over Parrikar's 'no' to feasts on Anjediva Island
| url = https://www.heraldgoa.in/Goa/Faithful-shocked-over-Parrikar%E2%80%99s-%E2%80%98no%E2%80%99-to-feasts-on-Anjediva-Island/99511.html
| work = [[OHeraldo]]
| location = [[Margao]]
| date = 2 March 2016
| access-date = 6 September 2017
}}
</ref><ref name=church>{{cite web
|url = http://www.colaco.net/1/Anjadiva.htm
|title = The Travesty at Anjediva! (pg. 1)
|work = Colaco.net
|accessdate = 6 September 2017
|archive-url = https://web.archive.org/web/20140320185022/http://www.colaco.net/1/Anjadiva.htm#
|archive-date = 2014-03-20
|url-status = dead
}}</ref><ref>{{cite web
| url = http://www.colaco.net/1/Anjadiva2.htm
| title = The Travesty at Anjediva! (pg. 2)
| work = Colaco.net
| accessdate = 6 September 2017
| archive-url = https://web.archive.org/web/20090105205953/http://www.colaco.net/1/Anjadiva2.htm
| archive-date = 5 January 2009
| url-status = dead
}}</ref>

This church is stated to be the oldest [[Christian church]] in India, outside of [[Kerala]] and visited by devotees from [[Karwar]], Binaga and other villages of [[Karnataka]] and [[Goa]].<ref name=oheral>
{{cite news
| author = Team Herald
| url = http://oheraldo.in/pagedetails.asp?nid=15397&cid=15
| title = Not only politicians break promises
| newspaper = [[OHeraldo]]
| location = [[Panaji]]
| date = 12 January 2009
| accessdate = 10 October 2010
}} {{Dead link|date=October 2010|bot=H3llBot}}</ref>

The ancient church was under the control of the [[Vicar]] of the [[diocese]] of [[Karwar]], facing the city of Goa. The church is now under the ownership of the Government of Goa but is administered by the [[Indian Navy]] who are in possession of the island to build a strategic naval base.<ref>
{{cite news
| last = Carvalho
| first = Nirmala
| url = http://www.asianews.it/index.php?art=2483&l=en
| title = Hindu fundamentalists prevent Catholic celebration on Anjediva Island
| date = 2 February 2005
| work = [[AsiaNews]]
| access-date = 6 September 2017
}}
</ref>

==History==
History of the church is dated to 22 August 1502 when Fr Henrique de Coimbra with other eight [[Franciscans]], landed at Anjadipa Island as part of the second [[Portugal|Portuguese]] expedition under the leadership of [[Pedro Álvares Cabral]]. A makeshift chapel was built in 1502 and first mass in Goa was held there. A permanent church was built at the same location in 1506. The present church was re-built in 1729.<ref name=goa>
{{cite web
| last = D'Souza
| first = Joel
| url = http://www.goacom.com/goanow/99/mar/issue1/backwoods.html
| title = Blessed Backwoods: Ancient Anjediva
| date = 9 October 1999
| work = Goa Now
| publisher = Goacom.com
| access-date = 6 September 2017
| url-status = dead
| archive-url = https://web.archive.org/web/20110423043908/http://www.goacom.com/goanow/99/mar/issue1/backwoods.html
| archive-date = 23 April 2011
}}
</ref>

The other landmark on the island is the Chapel of St Francis located near this Church, which has not been refurbished and is mostly in ruins.<ref name=goa/>

==Restoration==
The Church of Lady of Springs has been restored and festivals are held here every year, mainly because of the assistance of the people (of both [[Christians|Christian]] and [[Hindu]] [[community]]) of [[Karwar]], [[Sirsi, Karnataka|Sirsi]] and Binaga. The [[Parish Priest]] of St Annes Church at Binaga, Fr Britto D Silva, and the former Parish Priest Fr. Kurien, who earned the sobriquet of "Anjedivacho Pisso", coordinated efforts to restore the church to some of its past glory.<ref name=church/>

==Pilgrimage==
Until recently, [[Goan Catholics]] from all parts of the world have been visiting this "Brotas" church on pilgrimage for worship.<ref name=anjediva>{{cite web
|last = D'Abreu
|first = Francisco S.
|date = 26 October 2002
|url = http://www.colaco.net/1/AbreuAnjediva1.htm
|title = Anjediva – 1
|work = Colaco.net
|access-date = 6 September 2017
|archive-url = https://web.archive.org/web/20110527205952/http://www.colaco.net/1/AbreuAnjediva1.htm#
|archive-date = 2011-05-27
|url-status = dead
}}</ref>

After the [[Indian Navy]] took over the island to establish 'Project Sea Bird' (a naval base project), disputes have cropped up on allowing pilgrims to visit the churches here, since the area is now considered a military ‘high security’ zone. It is claimed that when the [[Government of Goa]] handed over the island in December 1987 to the Indian Navy there was a stipulation that pilgrims would be allowed to visit the Church of Our Lady of Springs and the Chapel of St Francis D’Assissi on the island, particularly on feast days on 2 February and 4 October. {{Citation needed|date=October 2009}} The issue has remained unresolved although the Navy continues to grant permission on a year-to-year basis.<ref name=oheral/> The issue has been raised in the [[Indian Parliament]] by [[Member of Parliament|MP]] [[Rajya Sabha]], who demands that devotees should be allowed to celebrate the religious festivals every year on the two Islands.

To resolve the situation, it has been suggested that the numbers of pilgrims be controlled, access be restricted to only those who are issued a photo identity card by the Government of Goa, only one group of pilgrims be allowed to visit at a time, and just one mass be held in the Church.<ref name=oheral/>

==Access==
The Church on Anjadip Island is located {{convert|4|km|mi}}, south of Baticala, the ancient kingdom of Garsopa, in present-day [[Karwar]].<ref>
{{cite news
| author = TNN
| title = Navy denies Goans access to Anjediva island again
| url = http://timesofindia.indiatimes.com/city/goa/Navy-denies-Goans-access-to-Anjediva-island-again/articleshow/46101044.cms
| work = [[The Times of India]]
| location = Panaji
| date = 3 February 2015
| access-date = 6 September 2017
}}
</ref> Karwar is approached by the [[National Highway (India)|National Highway]] NH 17. From Karwar, a {{convert|2|km|mi}} causeway leads to the Officers (Sea Bird) gate and then to the historic church. The church is also approachable by boat ride from the Binga beach.<ref name=goa/> In the past, the approach involved a trip of one hour by [[Recreational trawler|trawler]] and then by [[canoe]] to the island.<ref name=church/>

==References==
{{reflist}}

[[Category:Roman Catholic church buildings in Goa]]
[[Category:Churches in South Goa district]]
[[Category:Roman Catholic churches completed in 1729]]
[[Category:1729 establishments in the Portuguese Empire]]
[[Category:18th-century Roman Catholic church buildings in India]]

Church of Our Lady of Springs - Revision history

ShivaniSikri at 02:09, 2 March 2026