CSI CHRIST CHURCH,PALAYAM,THIRUVANANTHAPURAM COMPLETES 150 YEARS

CSI,Christ Church, Palayam, Thiruvananthapuram is celebrating 150 years of its consecration on 15 November 2009. Sesquicentennial celebrations are planned to span over an year starting from 14 November 2008 to 15 November 2009. The celebrations begin with a Special Thanksgiving Service by the entire congregation for the manifold blessings received from the Lord Almighty during 150 years in this capital city. Christ Church a parish in the Madhya Kerala Diocese of the Church of South India would be privileged to have its Bishop.Rt. Rev.Dr. Thomas Samuel, to inaugurate the celebrations at 5pm on 14 th Nov. in the Church premises. Various Programs and Projects are proposed to be taken up over a year to commemorate the event.

To trace the History of Christ Church over 150 years; Bishop Middleton, the first bishop of Calcutta by deputing Rev.Hutchinson, Military Chaplain at Quilon, in 1817, to Trivandrum once a month, initiated Worship service for the members of the Church of England employed in the Military and Govt. at Trivandrum There was also a small number of Tamil Christians employed in the Govt. or in the households of Europeans. A Tamil congregation was formed in 1837, through the efforts of an English knowing young man, Mr. Christian David. The Malayalam Congregation was started in 1876 by Mr. M. Chandy, followed by regular Worship services by Rev. M P Mathen in 1878. At this time, General Cullen, the British Resident, arranged divine services for Europeans in the Residency. In order to build a permanent place of worship for the members of the Church of England, both European and Indian, they collected about Rs.2600 and received an equal amount from the Govt. of Fort St. George. The Travancore Govt. granted the site and timber free, and lent the services of an able surveyor, Mr.Shedden, to supervise the construction work. General Cullen in the presence of the Prince of Travancore and of many Christians and non-Christians laid the foundation stone of the Church on 13 December 1858. The Bishop Dealtry of Madras under the name “Christ Church” consecrated the Church on 15 November 1859. The Church furniture and accessories were the gifts of individuals or were bought out of funds subscribed by the members. The Maharaja of Travancore gave a” Neetu” to the Church in which the land and taxes have been given free to the worshipping community. The War Memorial in front of the Church was a part of this sanctuary and regular commemoration of Martyr’s Anniversary was conducted every year with prayer ceremony by this Cantonment Church. The land for road development till the present boundary has been given to the State Government by this Church,free of cost. This is the oldest Church in the Trivandrum city.and has a unique colonial, Anglican architeture

The membership strength of the natives began to increase as more and more families from central Travancore settled in the city in connection with jobs in and around Trivandrum.The Church from the beginning had a vision to extend a helping hand to the less privileged outside the membership of the church. Under the initiative of Christ Church, three outstation churches at Karali, Muttathara and Mudavanmugal were established. The members of the outstation churches were not financially well off and therefore Christ Church used to shoulder major expenses for construction and maintenance of church buildings, mission houses, nursery school and other establishment cost. Of the three outstations, permanent church buildings have been constructed for two and the third will be constructed shortly

Till 1973, Christ Church Sunday School was functioning in the Malayalam Department of the University College as per permission accorded by the Government.


Old Age Home: With a view to discharge our social responsibilities to the aged, we have established an old age home at Devasom Board Junction, raising funds from Christ Church members. The Church subsidized the institution initially for several years. At present, it is self-supporting. Several old people whose kith and kin are away from them, seek comfortable asylum in this “home”

Feeding the Poor: from 2006 onwards, we have embarked upon another welfare scheme of supplying noon meals everyday to one hundred poor patients in the Govt. Hospital, Peroorkada. The huge expenses for this scheme are met through donations from large-hearted members of the Church.

Poor Patient’s Aid Scheme: This scheme was started in 1977 for helping poor patients. Under this scheme, a corpus fund was raised by voluntary donations from members who have real concern for poor patients. The interest from the Corpus Fund is disbursed to deserving poor patients, who badly need financial help for treatment. Ever since the scheme was started, hundreds of patients have been helped.We have been conducting Medical Camps regularly in the Church and the Outstations benefiting the poor patients living around the Churches.

Marriage Help to the Poor: Financial help to tide over the marriage expenses of deserving young couple and even solemnizing some marriages in our premises have been done under this scheme We feel great satisfaction in having been instrumental to the wedding of several daughters of less privileged families, who would have otherwise found it very difficult to get them married.

Artificial Limb Scheme: The physically challenged in our society have been helped though provision of suitable artificial limbs. Thirty three persons were provided artificial limbs free of cost last year. The cost incurred was raised through donations from generous members.

Houses for homeless : Every year under the auspices of the Church and its various Organizations, we build and donate a few houses to the needy around us ,besides giving financial help for repairs of houses, construction of dilapidated churches in far flung areas, construction of mission houses, schools, hospitals in remote areas of the state and elsewhere in backward parishes of our Madhya Kerala Diocese

Construction of Churches : In rural areas of the state at Paloorkavu and Peruvelikara and in Jengedu area of Andhra Mission field, Churches have been constructed during the past five years, besides construction of six mission houses in Madhya Kerala Diocese.We have also supported Thottapradesa Mission at Kodikuthy for buying land for the construction of a Church.

During the last 150 years, more than 60 Catechists, Chaplains and Presbyters ministered in Christ Church, including 30 Europeans, Tamil and Malayalee Presbyters. Many senior officers of the British Govt. and Military Officers who served Travancore prior to independence and a large number of respected citizens of repute have been buried in Christ Church Cemetery.

Rev. Daniel George is presently the Presbyter in charge of the congregation assisted by Rev. Dn.Lijo George Oommen. Divine worship services in English, Tamil and Malayalam are conducted regularly on all Sundays in the Church. Various Organizations like the Sunday School. Choir,. Youth Movement, Women’s Fellowship, Almaya Fellowship, Young Family Fellowship, Golden Age Fellowship. Ecological Forum and Doctors Form are active in discharging service to the Church and Society.The Congregation consists of about 900 families with a total membership of 5000 .