Christ Church Vellore

CHURCH GROWTH HISTORICAL DIMENSION

(a) Church of South India

One of the greatest landmarks in the history of Ecumenism is the formation of the “Church of South India” and its inauguration at St. George’s Cathedral, Madras on 27th September 1947. After sincere prayers and intense negotiations started in the year 1919 at Tranqubar, among the Anglican, Presbyterian, Methodist and Congregational Churches, the formation of the CSI is an effective demonstration of the mighty act of the Holy Spirit that “They May all be one” (St. John 17.21). It was indeed a grateful act of commitment, dedication, fellowship and sacrifice, among the uniting Churches for a new life and new pilgrimage.

(b) C.S.I. VELLORE DIOCESE

The composite Madras Diocese was bifurcated to form the Vellore Diocese on 26th January 1976. Primarily a rural Diocese, it comprises 72 Pastorates, about 15,000 families and over one lakh members, both urban and rural. Three hospitals, one post graduate College, a number of Higher Secondary and Elementary Schools, Technical Training Institutes and an Agricultural Farm are under its control.

(c) CHRIST CHURCH VELLORE-6:

Christ Church, an offspring of the CSI was established in Oct 1961. The Church itself is a typical miniature model of ecumenism, bond for the best. Its multilingual congregation (speaking different languages, mainly Malayalam, Telugu and Tamil) includes members coming from different walks of life, denominational backgrounds and states of South India. Not withstanding the composite nature, Christ Church has the unique distinction of all along maintaining congregational unity in diversity as also evidenced by the unanimous election to the Pastorate Committee for more than a quarter of a century since the first election held in February 1973 and thereafter.

Much water has flown under the bridge from its inception in 1961 to date. From a small number of families, after forty years of dedicated Christian Ministry, Christ Church has grown up by leaps and bounds in all direction both internally and externally, as dealt with more exhaustively elsewhere in this narrative. At present there are 433 families over a thousand members, of whom 922 are communicant members, including St. Paul’s Church (an outreach ministry of Christ Church) Village congregation. The Church was not built in a day. Quite naturally, it took time, ideas, skills, time, energy and money, not only to provide pastoral care, nurture and build the body of Christ but also to put up the Church building, four in a row, other related structures and provide the basic infrastructure and amenities. The profound reality is the mingling of the human with the divine in God’s plan for growth. GOD was the one responsible for INCREASE. Even so, the LORD had worked through the faithful men. True to its meaning Christ Church has become ‘THE LORDS HOUSE’ for the “called out ones”. We are an organised united community of members, who acknowledge JESUS CHRIST as their supreme ruler and meet for real worship regularly, in the holy solemn Church atmosphere and living presence of God, growing from strength to strength in Christian Life and witness. All glory, laud and honour to Jesus Christ, our Lord and Saviour.

To meet the needs of the growth of the population of Vellore in mid forties, with the initiative of Mr. C.G. Carrison, who was an agent of Imperial Bank of India (the present State Bank of India), conceived the concept of the Katpadi Extension program. In 1947 a large tract of agricultural land on both sides of Katpadi road, north of river Palar between Viruthampet and Katpadi in Gudiyattam Taluk was acquired for division into house sites and was baptized as Cooperative Township, which was later called Gandhi Nagar. A large office of the Electricity Board, an industrial Estate (NTTF), a Government Training College, Don Bosco High School, Auxilium Higher Secondary School were added to this rapidly growing residential area. As houses were built and various amenities of Suburban life were developed, Gandhi Nagar was becoming an attractive and well laid -out colony with neat roads and electric lines with good transport facilities.

In the middle of fifties more than a hundred Christian families owned house sites in Gandhi Nagar and many of them had already become the residents of Gandhi Nagar. As there was fellowship and get-together among the Christians, there was a growing awareness of the need for a Church, which could minister to these families and make a Christian witness in the life of this growing colony.

Here On Sunday 11th November 1958, Christian residents of Gandhi Nagar who are the members of Marthoma Church and C.S.I. met together in the house of Mr. K.M. George and Rev. Eugene L. Ten Brink presided over the meeting. It was attended by the Christians hailing from Kerala, Tamilnadu and Andhra Pradesh. This was the first kind of ecumenical fellowship that existed among the Marthoma Anglican Syrian Christians and C.S.I. Christians speak different languages. In that meeting, it was resolved to form a Christian Association of C.S.I. in Gandhi Nagar with Mr. K.M. George as president, Mr. S. Lawrence as Vice-president and Mr. A.J. Swamidoss as secretary for the primary purpose of constructing a Church for the C.S.I. Madras Diocese. It was also resolved to start a Sunday School in Tamil medium and English medium and also a children’s service.

On the following Sunday, November 18, 1958, the first Sunday School classes were conducted in the house of Mr. K.M. George. Rev. T.A. Fen, Mr. A.I. Swamidoss and Mrs. Chinnadurai were the pioneers in conducting the classes and services regularly. The Western Area Council appointed a sub committee to study the activities of the Christian Association with Rev. E. Tychicus as the convenor and to report back to the council. On 4th April 1959, the Christian Association C.S.I. Gandhi Nagar has been registered under the society act. The sub committee met at the home of Mr. K.M. George on 15th April 1959 and on hearing the report and discussing it with the representatives of the Christian Association, the Western Area Council sub committee endorsed the Christian Association, and its plan to build a C.S.I. Church in Gandhi Nagar. Hence, the Christian Association C.S.I. Gandhi Nagar applied for a Church site on 28th March 1960.

With the permission of the metropolitan of Marthoma Syrian Church, the Marthomites identified themselves fully with this project and liberally contributed for this purpose. One acre and 15 cents of land was allotted for the construction of the Church and the same was purchased on April 18 1960 at a cost of Rs.2875. The plan for building the Church was submitted to the township and the permission was granted for the construction of the Church on 21st of September 1960 by the Director of Town Planning and approved by the Collector of the then North Arcot District on 2nd November 1960. Dr. T.H. Somerwell of Christian Medical College Hospital laid the cornerstone at a dedication service held on 27th of November 1960. This dedication service was conducted by Rev. E. Tychicus Western Area Chairman of the amalgamated Madras Diocese on 1st of October 1961 and given the name 

“Christ Church.” The first service was conducted by Rev. Dr. Eugene L. Ten Brink and the sermon was preached by Rev Sundar Clerk (who later became the Bishop of Madras Diocese) the chaplain of C.M.C. Since the properties of Christian Association C.S.I. Katpadi Township belonged to C.S.I. according to the Association’s Constitution, formal application for the registration of property in the name C.S.I. Trust Association was submitted to the Katpadi cooperative township board on 2nd December 1961 which was effected on 12th August 1962. On 18th of April 1962 Rev. Dr. Eugene L Ten Brink was appointed as the first Presbyter in charge along with his duties in St. John Church From then on regular services were conducted by Rev. M. Azariah, Rev. Thirugnanaprakasm, Rev. A.T. Pandian, Rev. Philip Asirvatham, Rev. Savrirayan and Rev. Dr. A.N. Gopal. English services were conducted on every first Sunday of the month.

The General Body, which met on 18th August 1968 for the first time, passed a resolution that the Christ Church should become a separate Pastorate. This was intimated to the Madras Diocese through Western Area Council. On 15th September 1967, the Adhoc Committee of Christ Church decided to extend the Church 20 feet more at an estimate of Rs. 8000. After 13 Months, on 15th of October 1969, in the Sunday worship the newly extended portion was dedicated. The total cost of the project was Rs.8946. The Western Area Council by its resolution number EX70.160 made the Christ Church along with Viruthampet, Kalinjur and Vanjur to be a separate pastorate. This pastorate was named as Vellore North Pastorate and started functioning as a separate pastorate from 21st June 1970,in a dedication service conducted by Rev. E.R. Issac. In that dedication service Rev. S.A. Joseph was ordained as the Presbyter in charge along with his duties as the Principal of Viruthampet Training School. After a few months, due to unavoidable circumstances, Virthampet and Kalinjur were reunited with the Central Church. Christ Church and Vanjur village Church together were made a separate pastorate called Vellore North Pastorate. At that time 75 families and 207 communicant members were there in Christ Church. On 28th May 1972 Rev. S.M. Bagthavachlam was appointed as Assistant Pastor of Christ Church along with Rev. S.A. Joseph. Rev. S.M. Bagthavachalam was instrumental in forming the youth fellowship in Christ Church in the Month of August 1972. Rev. S.M. Bagthavachalam was transferred to Madras on 1st December 1972. After that Rev. S.A. Joseph continued his services as the Presbyter in charge of Christ Church till 31st May 1973.

On 1st June 1973 Rev. E.R. Issac took over as the Presbyter in charge of Christ Church who was also the Western Area Council Chairman. The constitution of Christ Church was approved by the executive committee of the Madras Diocese on 9th October 1972 vide resolution number EX72.236. A proper Pastorate Committee was formed as per the constitution on 18th February 1973 for the first time. All the Pastorate Committee members were elected unanimously. Mr. Simpson Rajaratinam, the secretary of the Madras Diocese was present as an observer along with Rev. E.R. Issac. Mr. G. Dharmaraj was elected as the secretary and Mr. Manoharan Daniel was elected as the treasurer. On 28th and 29th of July 1973 Youth Fellowship conducted an open air meeting with Bro. D.G.S. Dhinakaran as the main speaker. In lent days several outstanding speakers like Shastiar, Bro. Clifford Kumar, Bro. Samuel Ganesh, Sis. Sara Navroji and Sis. Ponamma Sanyasini shared the word of God. Bodenger’s div

The women’s fellowship was conducted very effectively by Mrs. P. Chinnadurai, Mrs. K.M. George, Sis. I.V. Rajendran, Miss. Beulah Thomas, Mrs. N.J. Yesudasan and Mrs. Alexandria Victor. Cornerstone for the parsonage was laid on 22 December 1971 by the then Bishop Lesslie Newbegin. The pastor’s Parsonage was constructed at the cost Rs 23000 in 1974. On 7th of October 1973, the twelfth anniversary of the church was conducted in which Rev. W. Yesupatham gave the message. The Belfry was dedicated by Dr.Sundar Clerk and the bell was donated by Mr. J.K. Jesuthasan.

Rev. E.M. Jaganathan had been the Presbyter-in-charge from 1976 to 1978. Vanjur Village Church was dedicated for the glory of God in the year 1977. Rev. S. Singaram Durairaj succeeded him in the year 1978 and continued his services till 1984. In the early eighties due to the rapid growth of the congregation, the Parish Hall was not sufficient to meet the needs of the congregation. The General Body which met in Nov. 83 during the period of Rev. S. Singaram Durairaj resolved to construct a new Church building at the central place which was originally set for the purpose of the construction of the Church. Bishop Rt. Rev. Sam Ponniah laid the foundation stone on 29th January 84 for the Church building. Again from 1984 to January 1985 Rev. E.M. Jaganathan had been the Presbyter in charge of Christ Church for the second time. The Church became greenery during his period by the plantation of trees by the youth Fellowship.

Due to administrative difficulties the Church project was not on rails for some time. In the month of July 1985 Rev. Paul Rajanandam took charge of Christ Church as the Presbyter-in-charge. In his period only, monthly subscription covers were introduced in the place of door to door collection. The system of distribution of receipts was also changed and the pigeon hole system was introduced. A bore-well pump and two pump sets were provided to improve the water supply to the Church premises. Coconut seedlings were planted to get additional revenue to the Church. The windows and doors of the old Church buildings and Parsonage were painted. Mosquito proof meshes and staircase were added to the Parsonage. tolley balls

The Church building project was again on the rails by the fervent prayers of the leaders and by the able direction by Rev. Paul Rajanandam and by the coordination of the Pastorate Committee. On 29th of June 1986, Bishop Sam Ponniah turned the first sod for the New Church Building. The church was built at an estimation of Rs 9 Lakhs out which 2 Lakhs was received as loan from ECLOF. 1 Lakh was received as loan from the Diocese and all the loans were cleared by the members of the congregation with their liberal, whole hearted contribution from their little resources with sacrifices. The rcc roofing was laid in Oct 87. The Church was completed in the year 1990 with Mr.Michael Ragland as the treasurer, Church building project, Mr. Devadoss and Mr. Christ Peter as secretary and treasurer for the Christ Church respectively.

The present Church was dedicated on 26th of January 1990 at a dedication service by Bishop Rt.Rev. R.T. Baskaran. The service was attended by a galaxy of dignitaries like Rt. Rev. Sam Ponniah, Rt. Rev. Henry Lazarus, the former Bishops of Vellore Diocese and Rt. Rev. Pothirajulu the Bishop of Madurai Diocese. Mr. Ponnuraj, Director ECLOF opened the Church building by cutting the ribbon. Rev.Dr. T. Dayanandan Francis, General Secretary CLS delivered the message. The Church building was constructed by the technical advice and personal supervision of Mr. J.S. Rajasingh M/s Kingway Consulting Engineers Madras, free of cost. The Christ Church has undertaken the missionary work in the nearby Trivalluvar Village. Mr.A.Alfred was its first catechist and he was followed by Mr. S.D.A. Jacob from 1988. Rev. Paul Rajanandam with a prophetical look chose a site for the Trivalluvar Church building and the foundation stone was laid by Rt. Rev. R.T. Baskaran, the then Bishop of Vellore Diocese on 4th December 1988. Mr. Michael Ragland served as the treasurer of the Church building project from 1985 to 1994. After Rev. Paul Rajanandam Rev. I.J. Vivekanandan served the Christ Church for a brief period of one year. He was immediately followed by Rev. Karunakaran Venson from 1st July 1991. Electronic organ was added to the Sunday Services in 1991. During Rev. Karunakaran’s period, the old Parish Hall was renovated at a cost of Rs. 2 Lakhs to be used as an income generating multi purpose community hall in the month of November 1995. A permanent sexton’s quarters was also completed in 1996. An immersion baptism tank was also constructed for the adult new members who wanted to take immersion baptism. A land measuring 2830 sq ft was registered on 8th November 1993 for the construction of the Thiruvalluvar Church at the same place where the foundation stone was laid originally. Rev. Victor Henrey, as a Guest Pastor used to help the Pastors of Christ Church during the communion services and also to conduct services at the Thiruvalluvar Nagar village Church for the past eight years since 1996. Rev. Rufus R. Jayakaran became the Presbyter-in-Charge of Christ Church from June 1996. Rev. J. Jayakaran served from 1996 to 1997 as the Associate Pastor of Christ Church up to his home call. Rev. Rufus R. Jayakaran turned the first sod for the Thiruvalluvar Nagar village Church building and the project was completed on 5th April 1998. Rev. S.A. Aruldoss has served the Christ Church as its Associate Pastor from 1998 to 2000. A Computer was added to the Church to keep in phase with the growing demands for the modern outlook in the year 2000.

Youth convention was conducted from 24 January to 26th January 1998 in which the inspiring message of Sadhu Clyton and Mrs. Esther Baby’s melodious songs stirred the hearts and souls of the congregation. The Church Youth Fellowship organised a musical evening for the construction of the village Church building at Thiruvalluvar Nagar by Mrs. Helen Satya group and Mr. Ebinezer Paul Chennai, on January 21 to 23, 2000 with the release of a new song entitled “Song of Praise”.

Rev. George Edwin served as the Probationer for a period 1-6-1999 to 31-5-2000. Rev. B. Thiyagarajan served as the Associate Pastor from 1-6-2000 to 31-5-2001. In his period the youth fellowship was strengthened.

After Rev. Rufus R. Jayakaran, Rev. James Prakasam took over as the Presbyter in charge for a brief period of three months from 1-6-2001. In pursuance of the Pastorate Committee resolution, the Church elders felt the need to draft the Church History and the Church History Drafting Committee was formed on 21-7-2001. Rev. Dr. D. Paul David, took over as the Presbyter in charge from Aug. 2001. Rev.Dr. D. Paul David with his evangelical approach gave a new direction for the multidimensional growth of the Church.

With a visionary look, the Christ Church conducted a revival meeting in Vellore fort from 28-2-2002 to 3-3-2002 with Bro. Mohan C. Lazarus, the founder of “Jesus Redeems ministry” under the banner” ” that shook the Vellore City. Never before this kind of meeting had taken place in the history of Vellore.

This is the small story of a humble beginning, which was meticulously planned by a small congregation with a church planning approach, under the protection, guidance and execution of the Holy Spirit which started growing multidimensional, and this is not the end. This is an onward journey to grow in multimillion dimension.