CSI Immanuel Church, Ernakulam

CSI Immanuel Church
C.S.I Immanuel Church
Country	India
State	Kerala
District	Broadway
Languages
• Official	Malayalam, English
Time zone	IST (UTC+5:30)
Nearest city	Kochi

History

The CSI Immanuel church, Ernakulam, under the diocese of North Kerala of the Church of south India, was dedicated more than 103 years ago. The site, originally costing 56 cents, was purchased in 1905 by Rev. J.H. Bishop and the original church was built largely through his efforts, in memory of Rev, E.B. Russel who was the missionary of the Church of England in Travencore - Cochin from 1897 to 1899 and Rev. A.B.Sealy who was the principal of Maharaja's College. Ernakulam from 1874 to 1892 and also director of education of the Cochin State. A brass tablet in memory of those two missionaries was affixed in the chapel wall and the new church became known as the Russell Sealy Memorial church. Technical advice on the construction of the church was provided by Mr. Browning, son-in-law of Rev. Sealy, who was the chief engineer of the Cochin State.

The foundation stone of the new church was laid by Sir Arthur Lawly, governor of Madras and the church was dedicated for divine worship by the Most Rev. R.S. Coplestone, metropolitan of India and Ceylon, at a benediction service held on 11th Feb 1908.

Initially the church was attached to Trichur pastorate as there were only a few families that took up permanent membership in the new church. There were therefore no pastors in charge of the parish from 1908 to 1927; the church was administered by the missionaries in Trichur and the parish duties carried out by lay workers, the first of whom was P. P. Lazarus of Trichur. The first graduate catechist of the parish was Mr. K.S. George. He was followed by Mr. George Koshy. After working as catechist for a few years, Koshy left to study at the Serampore Divinity College; he was to return as pastor of parish in 1952. In 1928 Ernakulam was made a separate parish with Mulavukad as its outstation. Rev C. K. John was the first priest of the new parish and served initially as catechist, but after a few years was ordained as deacon and then, still later, as the presbyter.

The church celebrated its silver anniversary in 1933 during the tenure of Rt. Rev E.A.L Moore, bishop of the diocese of Travencore - Cochin

The foundation stone for the parish hall was laid in 1945 by Sir George Boag, De wan of Cochin state in the presence of the most Rev Foss Westcott, metropolitan of India and Ceylon and Rt. Rev. C.K Jacob. bishop of the diocese of Travencore Cochin. The hall was, however completed only in 1950. The funds were raised by the ladies of the church, who had been given the responsibility by the Vicar, Rev N. I Joseph. The hall is named the Wescott Hall in the honour of the metropolitan, who served the needs of the congregation for over 60 years, it was finally pulled down in 2008 when the construction of the present church was under way.

In 1947, soon after the formation of the church of south India, the church established its youth league, now called the youth fellowship.^[1]

Church Altar

Worship timings

Every Sunday

• Holy Communion - English-at 7.30 AM
• Holy Communion- Malayalam - at 9.30 AM
• Tamil Service at 3.30 PM
• Holy communion on (1st & 3rd Sundays)
• Even English Song Service at 6 PM

Lay workers

1. Mr. P.P. Lazarus	2. Mr. K.P. Benny	3. Mr. M.C. Varghese
4. Mr. C.P. John	5 . Mr.T.L. Benjamin	Mr. C.C. Ittyerah
7 .Mr. A.M. Mammen	8. Mr. A.E. Namby	9. Mr. P. P. John
10. Mr. S.K. George	11. Mr. George Koshy	12. Mr. C.K. John

^[2]

Vicars

Year	Vicar
1925–1930	Rev. C.K. John
1930–1936	Rev. K.C. David
1936–1938	Rev. C.H. Itoop
1938–1950	Rev. N.I. Joseph
1950–1952	Rev. K.M. Mathen
1952–1959	Rev. George Koshy
1959–1960	Rev. J.L. Wilson
1960–1964	Rev. Thomas Jacob
May to Nov.64	Rev. N.I. Joseph
1965–1969	Rev. M.O. Abraham
1969–1972	Rev. K. C. Seth
1972–1974	Rev. Jacob Thomas
1974–1981	Rev. George Isaac
1981–1982	Rev. Thampan Mathai
1982–1985	Rev. George Ninan
1985–1991	Rev. Jacob Thomas
1991–1998	Rev. M.J. Chacko
1998–2000	Rev. E.G. Korula
2000–2004	Rev. B.N. Fenn
2004–2009	Rev. T.I. James
2009-2013	Rev. Kurian Peter
2013-	Rev. Jacob John

^[3]

Other C.S.I Churches in Kochi area

1. Alwaye CSI Holy Trinity Church, Union Christian College
2. Alwaye St John the Baptish CSI Church
3. Elamkulam CSI Christ Church
4. Fort Kochi St. Francis CSI Church
5. Kakkanad CSI Ascension Church
6. Kalamassery All Saints CSI Church

^[4]

See also

• Association of Theologically Trained Women of India (ATTWI)
• Christianity in India
• Christianity in Tamil Nadu
• Church of North India
• Church of South India Boys Higher Secondary School
• Communion of Churches in India
• Serampore College
• St. Thomas Christians
• Telugu Christian
• CSI Church in Australia

References

1. CSI Immanuel Church
2. CSI Immanuel Church
3. CSI Immanuel Church
4. CSI Immanuel Church