The French Capuchins came to Pondicherry in the year 1632, but remained only for a short time. Later in 1673, Mr.Bellanger de Lespinay a French Naval Officer, invited three Capuchins from Madras to take care of the sailors in Pondicherry for some time.
It was only in 1674 that at the invitation of Mr.Francois Martin the French Capuchins from Madras came to Pondicherry and settled there permanently to look after the chapel in the small French Fort, and also the spiritual needs of the French, Portuguese and Eurasian settlers there.
Soon some Indian Christians joined the French settlement. For their benefit, the Capuchins built a chapel in the southern part of the fort and dedicated it to St.Peter. However, this church began to be called the church of St.Lazarus after the name of a generous Indian benefactor, Mr.Lazare de Motha. Soon it began to be called as the “Church of Malabars” and it served as a parish church till the year 1729.
