Mangaluru: The Kayyar Church Conservation Committee has strongly condemned the demolition of the historic Christ the King Church at Kayyar in Kasaragod district, describing it as an irreparable loss to heritage, culture and community memory.
Christ the King Church, located about 42 km from Mangaluru and under the Roman Catholic Diocese of Mangalore, had stood for over seven decades as a landmark of faith and architectural beauty in the multilingual village of Kayyar.
Historic structure built in 1953
The church was constructed in 1953 under the leadership of Rev. Fr. Lawrence S. Pais and was inaugurated on April 25, 1956. According to the committee, it symbolised Roman-Gothic architectural heritage and reflected the collective effort and sacrifice of villagers during challenging times.
Kayyar, known for its cultural richness and as the birthplace of poet Kayyara Kinhanna Rai, is home to temples, mosques and churches that reflect communal harmony and diversity. The old Christ the King Church, the committee said, formed an integral part of this shared heritage.
Demolition sparks outrage
The committee alleged that the old church building was demolished overnight, despite ongoing construction of a new church at a different designated site under the leadership of the present parish priest, Fr. Vishal Monis.
Members stated that the old structure posed no obstruction to the new construction and argued that it could have been preserved as a heritage monument for future generations. They expressed dissatisfaction over the manner of demolition, claiming that heavy machinery was used and that even the Cross was not accorded due respect.
The group also questioned why the demolition was carried out at night and called for clarification from the diocesan authorities.
Claims of ignored petitions
According to the committee, several efforts were made to preserve the structure. Eleven members reportedly submitted written undertakings, as directed by the Bishop, stating that they would assume financial and physical responsibility for maintaining the old church.
They also obtained a structural stability report from National Institute of Technology Karnataka Surathkal at a cost of approximately ₹27,000, along with a conservation architect’s report. Copies of these documents were submitted to the authorities, the committee said.
Despite these efforts, the demolition proceeded, which the members described as a “loss before the system”.
Call for accountability
Addressing a press conference at the Mangalore Press Club on February 21, committee members including Wilson J. P. D’Souza, John D’Souza, Aneesh Suares, Anston Sures, Oswald D’Souza and Prakash Noronha demanded answers from the Bishop of Mangalore and the diocesan leadership regarding the decision.
They stated that if satisfactory responses are not provided, they would consider staging a protest in front of the Bishop’s residence.
The committee concluded by emphasising that preserving heritage structures is a collective responsibility and urged greater awareness about conservation for the benefit of future generations.
