A GLIMPSE FROM THE HISTORY OF THE
CHRIST CHURCH TAMIL PARISH

The origin of the Tamil Parish could be traced from the history of the Christ Church, Jabalpur itself. In the construction of the Lady Chapel which forms part of the main structure of the church. A mention is made in the booklet “History of Christ Church, Jabalpur (1841-1936) that the Lady Chapel was dedicated as a thanks offering for the “Longest Reign in English History”, on 17th March 1897 (St. Patrick’s Day) which is being used by the Tamil Congregation for their Sunday services. IN another place during the Chaplaincy of the Rev. Kitchin it is recorded in the minutes of the Pastorate Committee of the Christ church, Jabalpur that the Chaplain was trying to get a married Tamil Priest through the Metropolitan of India and the Bishop of Madras to serve the needs of the Tamil Mission at Jabalpur. Another record mentions about the visit of the first Metropolitan of India to Jabalpur during which the Metropolitan the Rt. Rev. Dr. Coplestone celebrated Holy Communion in Tamil on the 17th November 1902 at Christ Church Jabalpur. Thus, these evidences prove the existence of the Tamil Parish even prior to 1897.

Fragments of Minutes and subscription Books and Registers of Baptisms solemnized in the Parish give some more information. The Pastorate Committee meetings were, initially held in the CMS Bungalow under the care of such missionaries as the Rev. P. Cullen Rev. P. Jacob, Rev. U. D. Theophilus. Rev. L. B. Butcher,  Rev. G. C. Rogers, Rev. John H. Robinson and Rev. I. Gash. Later on the Ven. Paul Yohan, the Rev. Can. P. N. Mate Gaonker and South Indian Priests as the Ven. N. C. Chelvam, the Rev. V. D. Shagayam, the Rev. Can. R. Jacob have ministered the Parish from time to time.

In the year 1949 the Parish was admitted as a separate constituency of the Diocese of Nagpur. The then Bishop, the Rt. Rev. George Sinker ordained the Catechist Mr. T. S. Charles as Deacon and then as Priest. He served the Parish until his retirement from service. The Bishop also gave his license to Mr. J. R. P. Thangadurai and Mr. E. J. Sneham to be lay readers.

With the inauguration of the Church of North India and the formation of the Diocese of Jabalpur,  this Parish became one of  its Pastorates. The new Diocesan Bishops promptly provided the spiritual needs of the Parish. The Rev. B. Gurubtham, the Rev. BJV Kumar and the Rev. Marshal Hereford served the Parish in sequence. In the year 1991 Mr. P. D. Thangadurai who was assisting the Parish as a Lay Leader was ordained Honorary Deacon and in 1995 as a Honorary Presbyter by the Rt. Rev. F. C. Jonathan. The Tamil Parish is grateful to the Lord for al the blessings it has been receiving during all these years and hopes and looks forward for God’s guidance in the years to come.

Rev. P. D. Thangadurai
(Honorary Presbyter)