Udupi : Speaking to media, Parish Priest Fr Sunil Veigas said Udupi diocese Bishop Rev Dr Gerald Isaac Lobo will inaugurate the new church. The Bishop will offer the first Eucharistic Service in the church in the presence of priests, nuns, and thousands of people.

He said St Francis Assisi Church has a history of 87 years. There was no prayer centre for Christians in Tallur region before 1929 and they had to go to Holy Rosary Church in the town to offer prayers. Following a request from the devotees to set up a separate church at Tallur, Rev Fr Peter Remegias D’Souza purchased a piece of land in Tallur in 1928 and constructed a small hut.The Christian community in Tallur went on to construct a new church in 1959, he added.

A total of 19 priests have served in the church and Rev Fr Sunil Veigas is the present parish priest of the only church dedicated to St Francis Assisi in Udupi and Mangalore dioceses. A total of five villages come under the jurisdiction of this church, Tallur, Uppinakudru, Hemmady, Devalkunda, and Hattiangadi. About 896 members spread over 220 families in these villages are served by this church.

This church is located in the central part of Tallur and is known as a centre of harmonious coexistence. The new church building has been built at a cost of over Rs 3.5 crore. It can accommodate 600 devotees to offer prayers together.

‘Shilpi’ architects based in Kerala have designed the building. The church has entrance from three sides with similar doors. The windows allow abundant light and air inside the building. The building is 140 foot wide and 113 foot tall with a total area of 10,800 square foot. A spacious altar has been erected inside the building.

The church building looks like a star that has been placed vertically to anyone who comes near it. For the Christian community, star happens to be a sublime symbol of worship. Before the birth of Jesus Christ, wise men saw him descending in the form of a star. Glass is used for the 40% of the building and modern monitor tiles have also been used.

Granite slabs have been used for flooring. The statues of Mother Mary and St Francis Assisi would be installed on left and side of the altar. The statues have been made from Italian marble.