St. Anthony’s Church – Kodaikanal Woodville Road

Contact Details:

St. Anthony’s ChurchKodaikanalWoodville Road, Kodaikanal – 624101, Dindigul District, Tamil Nadu.
Parish Priest – Rev. Fr. Edwin Sachayaraja (Regional Head).
Church Established – 1921.

Brief History:

The church originated from a shrine established on May 1, 1921, initially with an image of Our Lady of Lourdes. A mix-up with shipments resulted in a St. Anthony statue being placed here instead. The current structure was built in 1978 with asbestos roofing, later replaced with concrete in 1997. A separate structure housing the saint’s statue was added in 2013 to reduce smoke damage. The church hosts 13-day novenas with traditional Latin chanting. During the Lenten season, congregations sing ancient Tamil hymns depicting Jesus’s passion. Easter collections support orphanages and facilities for elderly and disabled persons. The church serves 260 families with 10 religious sisters, and the feast is celebrated in February with a special Mass on June 13.