CSI Church
CSI Church
All Saints' CSI Church
Perumbavoor

Perumbavoor, Ernakulam,
Kerala, India.
Pin 683542, Tel.: 0484 2524612
E mail: info@perumbavoorcsichurch.com
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History
The fag end of the nineteenth century marked an upsurge in the missionary works of The CMS missionaries through out southern India. Observing the enthusiasm among the native Syrian Christians of Perumbavoor, an underdeveloped wood land of the Cochin Kingdom, to study the Bible, two missionaries from the Alwaye centre of the CMS Mission named Rev.J.H.Bishop and Rev.T.J.Andrews came over to Perumbavoor and started Bible classes, presumably in the houses of the Syrian Christian families existed there. Since 1902 regular Bible classes were conducted and considering the need for improving the literacy among the people who came to study, an elementary school was also started by the missionaries which was colloquially called 'Pallikkoodam'. By 1906, the Bible classes had developed into regular Sunday worship and there started the hundered year's long history of the church.

Land was purchased by the Mission for two churches at Perumbavoor and Iringole in the name of Rev.T.J.Andrews and temporary thatched buildings were erected which served as Mission school, worship hall and bording place of the Vicar who attended the service once in a month from Alwaye centre of the Mission. The Parish is gratefully indebted to Rev.J.H.Osmastone who was drowned in Pooyamkutty river on 31st December 1919 while in his service as CMS Missionary, for his dedicated service in the early years of this Church. During 1920-25 permanent tiled buildings were constructed one for Mission school and for conducting Sunday services and the other for use as Mission house. For several years the church existed as an out station of Alwaye parish.

    


By 1946-47, in the wake of Indian independence, remarkable development tookplace in Perumbavoor. The Rayons factory started functioning in 1946 and Perumbavoor became a Municipal centre. Subsequently many people from different parts of Kerala arrived and settled down in Perumbavor which included members of other CSI Churches. The need for a larger building was felt very badly to accommodate the newly arriving members. A new Building was constructed under the able leadership of Sri.T.J.John, Thevarthundiyil, an active member of the church and Sri.K.C.Pothan the then church worker. The new building was dedicated for holy services in the names of All Saints on the 1st of Nov 1958 by Rt. Rev.M.M.John,Bishop of CSIMadhya kerala Diocese. A cemetery for the church came into existence in the church compound itself on 12th Feb 1968 by the earnest efforts of Sri.T.J.John and Sri. K.J.Samuel who later became the Vicar of the Church.Under the sponsorship of a German mission, the Osmstone memorial KNH Hostel for poor girls started in May 1970.The Mission, however, discontinued its sponsorship later and the functioning of the Hostel was terminated. The Church was upgraded to a Parish Church on 2ndAugust 1970 as per the demand of the parishioners. A new Madbeha for the Church was constructed in memory of the late Sri.M.P. Jacob, Mangalam Estate by his family and dedicated by Rt. Rev. M.M. John on 25thAugust 1974. Very Rev. C.K.Mathew was appointed as the first Vicar of the independent Parish. On formation of the new East Kerala Diocese on 3rd April 1983, the Church came under the control of the Diocese.

As the income of the Church depended only on the tithes and other donations from Church members, a shopping complex was constructed nearby the Church with a view to fetch some additional permanent resourse for the Church.The building was dedicated by Rt.Rev.Dr. K. J.Samuel, Bishop of East Kerala Diocese on 17th Dec 2000. Considering the constant increase in the number of believers who came to worship on Sundays, the Parish decided to renovate the existing building to accommodate more people. A beautiful new Chancel was completed and dedicated on 30th may 2004 and the remodeled hall and new portico were dedicated on 24thApril2005 for holy services by Rt.Rev.Dr. K.J.Samuel, Bishop of CSI East Kerala Diocese.The above venture was made possible by the able leadership of the Vicar Rev. Oomman M Oomman and the active participation of the Church members. The enthusiasm and cooperation shown by the Church members will ever be heldup as a monument in the history of the Church.

    


Today, the Parish comprises 130 permanent families in addition to other floating participants in services.The centenary of the Church was celebrated by the Parish in 2006. All the seven projects taken up during the Centenary celebrations have been completed by the ceaseless grace of GOD. The Church has very active organs such as Women's fellowship, Choir, Sunday School and Youth movement. Looking back one can see the mighty hands of God guiding the Church miraculously all along its path of growth.