The Immanuel Church Ernakulam, which is now under the North Kerala Diocese of the Church of South India was established 99 years ago under the Diocese of Travancore-Cochin, on 56 cents of land that was bought in 1905 by the Rev. J.H. Bishop, who built the Church as a memorial for two eminent missionaries, the Rev. E.B. Russel who had served the Church of England in Travancore-Cochin during 1897-99 and the Rev. A.B. Sealy, the first Principal of Maharaja's College, Ernakulam who had served in that capacity from 1875 to 1892 and as Director of Education, Cochin State. The Church was, accordingly known as the Russel Sealy Memorial Church. A brass plaque in the chancel wall commemorates their memory.
The foundation stone for the new Church was laid in 1907 by Sir Arthur Lawley, the Governor of Madras and the construction of the Church began under the supervision of Mr. Browning, the son in law of Mr. Sealy, who was the Chief Engineer of Cochin State. A year later, on 11 th February 1908, the Church was dedicated for service by the Most Rev. R.S. Copleston, the Metropolitan of India and Ceylon.
As there were very few permanent members, the Immanuel Church was initially attached to the Trichur pastorate and administered by lay workers, the first of whom was Mr. P.P. Lazarus of Trichur. This situation continued till 1927, when the first graduate catechist Mr. S.K. George was appointed. He was followed by Mr. George Koshy, who after working for a few years left to study at the Serampore Divinity College, near present day Kolkatta. In 1952, Mr. Koshy returned to serve as pastor of the Church, which had in 1928 been elevated to an independent parish, with Mulavakad as an out station.
| 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 |
6 |
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 |
The Rev. C.K. John was the first priest of the new parish and after serving for some years as a catechist, he was ordained as a Deacon and later as Presbyter. He was followed by several eminent priests who rendered yeoman service to the Church
| |
Rev. C.K. John |
1925-1930 |
Rev. K.C. David |
1930-1936 |
| |
Rev. C.H. Itoop |
1936-1938 |
Rev. N.I. Joseph |
1938-1950 |
| |
Rev. K.M. Mathen |
1950-1952 |
Rev. George Koshy |
1952-1959 |
| |
Rev. J.L. Wilson |
1959-1960 |
Rev. Thomas Jacob |
1960-1964 |
| |
Rev. N.I. Joseph |
May to November 1964 |
Rev. M.O. Abraham |
1965-1969 |
| |
Rev. K. C. Seth |
1969-1972 |
Rev. Jacob Thomas |
1972-1974 |
| |
Rev. George Isaac |
1974-1981 |
Rev. Thampan Mathai |
1981-1982 |
| |
Rev. George Ninan |
1982-1985 |
Rev. Jacob Thomas |
1985-1991 |
| |
Rev. M.J. Chacko |
1991-1998 |
Rev. E.G. Korula |
1998-2000 |
| |
Rev. B.N. Fenn |
2000-2004 |
Rev. T.I. James |
2004- |
The Church celebrated its Silver Jubilee in 1930 during the tenure of Bishop E.A.L. Moore and its Golden Jubilee in 1955, when the Right Rev. Richard Lipp was bishop of the North Kerala Diocese of the Church of South India.
Today the Immanuel Church has over 510 families holding membership of the Church and attracts a very large number of worshippers from other towns and cities as well as from other denominations in the city. It conducts three divine services every Sunday. At 7.30 am in English, at 9.30 am in Malayalam and at 6.00 pm in English. It also conducts services in Tamil on the 3 rd Sunday of the month at 3 pm and these have proved to be very popular.
Other Churches of the Church of South India in the Greater Cochin area.
- Alwaye CSI Holy Trinity Church, Union Christian College
- Alwaye St John the Baptish CSI Church
- Elamkulam CSI Christ Church
- Fort Kochi St. Francis CSI Church
- Kakkanad CSI Ascension Church
- Kalamassery All Saints CSI Church
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