St. Chinnappar Shrine – Singamparai Tirunelveli

Contact Details:

St. Chinnappar ShrineSingamparai, TirunelveliSingamparai, Tirunelveli District, Tamil Nadu.
Parish Priest – Rev. Fr. M. Selvaraj.

Brief History:

The shrine originated around 1845 when Christian families from Somapur settled near Mylapuram. Devotees accidentally brought a statue of Saint Chinnappar instead of Saint Rayappan from a nearby temple. The statue, notably carrying a sword rather than a key, was accepted as providence and became the shrine’s central devotion. Key milestones: 1845 initial chapel, 1894 tile roof, 1901 foundation stone laid by Fr. Gabriel, 1929 main building completed, 1931 elevated to independent parish, 2009 elevated to shrine status. A miraculous spring has reportedly flowed from the shrine’s flagpole for over 20 years. The annual feast is celebrated January 16-25 over ten days with chariot processions.