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Sardhana, Basilica of Our Lady of Graces |
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Name: |
Sardhana, Basilica of Our Lady of Graces | |||||||||||||
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Estd: |
18th Century | ||||||||||||||
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Feast Day: |
Second Sunday of November | ||||||||||||||
| E-mail: | contact@sardhanachurch.org | ||||||||||||||
Website: |
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| Telephone (O) | +91 123-723-6127 | ||||||||||||||
| Contact: Sardhana P.O. Meerut District Utter Pradesh - 250 342 | |||||||||||||||
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History |
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| Basilica of Our Lady of Graces also known as Churches among the Churches is dedicated to Virgin Mary. The Church was built by Begum Samru a Muslim lady who married a European mercenary soldier Walter Reinhardt Sombre. Begum Samru inherited the Jagir of Sardhana after her husband's death in 1778. Subsequently she decided to construct a Church at Sardhana dedicated to Virgin Mary. The construction of the Church costed Rs. 4 lakh a huge amount in those days. Top masons were paid the equivalent of 25 p. per day and the labourers in shells. Two huge lakes near the church are the result of the mud that was removed to supply the building material for the church. Samru converted to Roman Catholicism in 1781 and adopted the name Joanna Nobilis. She is regarded as the only Catholic ruler in India and ruled the Principality of Sardhana in 18th and 19th century. Â On December 13 1961 Pope John XXIII decided to upgrade the Church to the status of Minor Basilica a dignity that is bestowed rarely and only on churches that are both historically famous and beautiful.The church is only one of 19 minor basilicas in India and is the only minor basilica in North India. | |||||||||||||||
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