Kerala

Church reaches a milestone

THIRUVANANTHAURAM: The year-long 150th anniversary celebrations of the Christ Church, Palayam, under the Madhya Kerala Diocese of the Church of South India, will begin on November 14.

The celebrations will commence with a special thanksgiving service, a press note here said. Bishop Thomas Samuel will inaugurate the celebrations.

In 1817, worship services were initiated for members of the Church of England employed in the British military and in the government of Travancore in Thiruvananthapuram. It was in the late 1850s that the then British Resident in Travancore, General Cullen, decided to build a permanent place of worship for members of the Church of England, both European and Indian.

The Resident managed to collect Rs.2,600 for this purpose and received an equal amount from the British government at Fort St. George. The government of Travancore gave the land and timber for the construction free of cost. The foundation stone of the church was laid on December 13, 1858. On November 15, 1859, Bishop Dealtry of Madras consecrated the church. A press note issued here said Christ Church was the oldest church in the capital city and had a unique colonial-Anglican architecture.

Since 1977, the church has been paying the medical bills of people from financially backward families. This help is being rendered irrespective of the caste or religion of the recipient. Every year, the church coordinates the construction of houses in and around Thiruvananthapuram and hands them over to the needy. It also gives financial assistance for repair of houses, reconstruction of dilapidated churches in far-flung areas and construction of mission houses, schools and hospitals in areas coming under its diocese.

In 1995, the church established an old-age home at the Devaswom Board junction. The church supported the running of the institution for many years and it is now self-sufficient, the press note said. From 2006, the church has been supplying noon meals to 100 poor patients at the government hospital at Peroorkada.

The church has taken the lead in meeting the marriage expenses of young people. The church was instrumental in solemnising the marriage of several girls from financially backward families, who, otherwise, would have found it difficult to get married. Last year, the church organised the distribution of artificial limbs free of cost to 30 persons.

The church’s present congregation consists of 900 families and 5,000 members, the press note added.

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