Schwartz Church

Location

Schwartz Church is located in the Thanjavur palace garden and was built by the Chola king Raja Serfoji in the year 1779 AD. He built this church to show his affection to the Danish missionary Reverend Frederick Christian Schwartz and it is still a symbol of tolerance seen on the part of the Chola rulers towards different religions.

In 1798 when Schwartz died, Serfoji II, a Maratha ruler donated a striking piece of white marble that was made by John Flaxman and this is seen at the western end of the Schwartz church. The marble piece has engravings showing the dying missionary blessing King Serfoji surrounded by his ministers.