The Church of St Augustine

About Saint Augustine Church Goa

Once an imposing church, today the Church of St Augustine is in ruins but still a must-see in Goa due to the rich history. The church was dedicated to Our Lady of Grace. Amongst its ruins, the most noticeable is a lofty tower that manages to stand its ground. St Augustine was once the largest church in Goa, unfortunately after its abandonment, the structure started to gradually fall off.

In 1986, the church was recognized by UNESCO as a World Heritage Site. It is also the archaeological site where the remains of Queen Ketevan of Georgia were also found.

History of Church of St Augustine

The history of the Church of St Augustine states that its construction began in 1597 and completed in 1602. The church was built by the people of Augustinian order. In 1835, the Augustinians were expelled from Goa that resulted in the abandonment of the Church of St Augustine. In 1846, the main vault of the church collapsed, and gradually the convent also decayed.

Architecture of Church of St Augustine

The tower that stands still even today is four-storey high and is built of laterite. The bell that once resided here was first moved to Fort Aguada and now to Our Lady of Immaculate Conception. The original structure of the church had eight chapels, four altars, and a convent attached to it. The convent was built in three levels and had two cloisters, several corridors, galleries, and pillars.

How to Reach Church of St Augustine?

The Church of St Augustine is situated around 10 km from Panaji via Ponte de Linhares Causeway. One can easily get a taxi or an auto-rickshaw to reach the Church of St Augustine from Panaji.