The church was consecrated by the Bishop of Calcutta, Daniel Wilson, in 1833.
Construction timber was brought from the palace of Tipu Sultan at Srirangapatna.
No iron nails were used in the original construction of the roof's wooden trusses.
The church was designed to accommodate both British troops and civilians stationed in the hill station.
It is situated at an elevation of over 2,200 meters above sea level.
C.S.I. St. Stephen's Church is one of the oldest churches in the Nilgiri district, established in the 19th century to serve the British colonial community in Ooty. The structure is constructed primarily from timber salvaged from the palace of Tipu Seringapatam in Mysore. The roof is supported by massive wooden beams that were transported by elephants from the plains. Its architecture is characterized by colonial-era Gothic revival elements. The interior features large stained-glass windows depicting the crucifixion and other biblical scenes. It serves as an active place of worship under the Church of South India (CSI) diocese. The church grounds contain a historic cemetery with graves dating back to the early British settlement period.
The main altar area from the center aisle to capture the symmetry of the wooden beams and the stained-glass windows.
Visit during the morning to see the sunlight filtering through the colored stained-glass windows.
Walk through the adjacent cemetery to view historic colonial-era headstones.
Maintain a quiet demeanor as the church remains a functional religious site.
Taking photographs during active worship services or touching the historic wooden interiors.
Maintain silence, remove shoes before entering the main prayer hall, and dress modestly covering shoulders and knees.
