EnglishChurch Of Saint Francis Xavier
Chincalim, Goa, India
Religious Architecture
The east-facing Church of Saint Francis Xavier and parish house are located next to each other on the north side of a slope overlooking the Zuari River on the Mormugao Peninsula’s isthmus. In front is a large rectangular courtyard with a cross. The parish house is situated north of the church and slightly set back from its façade. The church was founded in 1625 and raised to parish status when Mormugao was split up. The current building dates to 1747; it was built by the community of Chicalim, a village located west and south of the church. This is a large low single-naved church with a tile roof, vaulted chancel and high choir over the entrance. The nave’s lower order is a copy of Saint Anne’s of Talaulim, with minutely decorated semicircular shell niches housing windows and set between doubleshafted Corinthian pilasters with palm-leaf capitals. The upper floor repeats this order of pilasters, articulating simple rectangular balconies. The chancel has a barrel vault with penetrations as well as niches and pilasters of the nave’s type. As in Mandur, the church is lined with festive and colourful plasterwork. On the main façade, the south tower is unfinished. The upper central section is of the Mandur type; the top of the north tower is a polygonal drum.