Situated
at Parade Road, 2 Km west of Mattancherry in Fort Cochin, this church
was originally dedicated to Santo Antonio, the patron Saint of Portugal.
It was built by the Portuguese presumably by the Franciscan friars in
1503. It is the first church to have been built in the new European influenced
tradition. The original structure in wood, was rebuilt in stone around
the mid 6th century. Vasco - Da - Gama the first European to reach India,
died in Kochi in 1524 and was originally buried in this church cemetery.
After 14 years his remains were removed to Lisbon in Portugal. The gravestone
of Vasco - da - Gama can still be seen here. The old rope operated
fans in the church are still preserved.
In 1663, when the Dutch arrived in Kochi, they converted it to a protestant
church and substantially modified it. The church was under the control
of the Dutch until 1795. In 1804, they surrendered the church to the Anglican
Communion of the British. The congregation joined the Protestant Church
of South India in 1949. The Sunday service is at 0800 hrs, except the
3rd Sunday of each month. Open from sunrise to sunset.