Luz Church (Our Lady of Light)

Believed to be the oldest church in Chennai, Luz Church (Our Lady of Light) was built in 1516 by Franciscan missionaries from Portugal. According to local legend, the missionaries became lost at sea and prayed to the Virgin Mary for guidance. The missionaries saw a light appear and followed it to land. When they reached the source of the light, all they found was an empty stretch of forest, where they then built a church in honor of Our Lady of Light.
The Gothic and baroque structure, besides being one of the oldest European monuments in India, is also a classic example of Portuguese colonial church architecture. 

Practical Info

Luz Church still holds mass daily, and if you want to attend a mass in English, you can do so on Sunday evenings.