St Mary’s Church in Chempatty
Fr. Joseph De Demello and Mr.I Savari Muthu Pillai (Founder)
Church Interior after the renovation in 1963
Anthoni Swami- One of the Present custodian and the Senior Member of the church
Metropolitan Alexios Mar Theodosius
Ajesh T Phillip (OCP Delegate and Chief Project Coordinator – MARP)
The Independent Catholic Church – under the holy jurisdiction of The Indian Malankara Orthodox Church – The See of St Thomas and All East.
The Church is know by the name St Mary’s and St James Independent Catholic Church, Chempatty.
Also read- The Lost Orthodox Christians of St Gregorious of Parumala in Dindigul:
St. Mary’s Independent Catholic Church was the first Christian congregation in Chempatty area which is about 13 Km away from Dindigul. The church was initiated in 1890 by the leaders of the Independent Catholic Church of Ceylon, Goa and India under the Jurisdiction of Late Glorified Saintly Archbishop Alvarez Mar Julius I.
Fr. Luis Mariano Soares and Fr. Joseph De Demello were the driving force behind the church. This church was started as an annexure of Trichnapally church. Divine Liturgy was held every alternate Saturdays and Sundays by priests from Trichnapally.
The church was constructed for the family who migrated from Trichnapally to Chempatty, who were also close relatives of Mr. Ponnayya of Trichnapally. Late I. Savarimuthu Pillai is considered to be the founder of this church. He was a true devotee of Saintly Alvares Mar Julius I. From 1890 onwards the Church community followed the faith and practices of Independent Catholic Church of Ceylon, Goa and India. Fr. J D Demello served here as the vicar for a long period of time. Archbishop Alvarez Mar Julius I visited the church many times, as the part of his apostolic visits to Tamil Nadu. Later Fr. Jacob Chemankattil, became the vicar of this church, followed by Fr. N J Thomas (Monk Priest N J Thomas) who served this church from 1945-1946. Later Fr. Joseph from Thiruvalla was appointed as the vicar.
In ME 1125(1948) H G Mar Alexious Theodosius visited the Chempatty church and stayed here from Oct 14(Tuesday) to Oct 16 (Thursday) and celebrated Divine Liturgy and it was organized as part of the Mission Journey to south India. His comments have been recorded in the Church minutes and visitors diary as the Apostolic delegate from the See of St Thomas.
It was very difficult for an Independent Catholic Church (Orthodox community) to survive in Chempatty. There were several challenges from the Roman Catholic churche. But Late I. Savarimuthu Pillai and his family overcame from the threats of the Roman Catholic Church. In 1955 I. Savarimuthu Pillai (founder) passed away and his wife Maria Nallammal died in 1956. His funeral was lead by Fr. Joseph De Demello and he was buried in this church. The Chempatty community often visited Goa to take part in the feast of sanity Alvarez until1955.
After the demise of Fr. Demello there was no proper communication and support from the Indian Orthodox Church. But they continued to orgnize prayers every evening and continue to follow thier founder’s vision till date. In 1960’s the Roman Catholic Catholic church of Dindigul attempted to annex the Chempatty church as their parish. But they failed as the Church trust laws are opposing to cannon of the Roman Catholic Church and hence they had to quit the attempt. They started a new congregation in the name of Mother of perpetual help (St. Mary).
The Chempatty church continue to exist as reminiscence of Independent Catholic Church of Ceylon Goa and India of the Indian Malankara Orthodox Church by the grace of almighty God and the prayers of Saintly Archbishop Alvarez Julius I.
Note: The Chempatty church was found in 1890 and belonged to the Independent Catholic Rite of the Indian Malankara Orthodox Church. The Church was lost during the period of 1956-57. Ajest Phillip rediscovered this church after a gap of 57 years.
In 2013 we celebrate 90th year of the demise of Alvaruz Julius whereas 2012 was the 125th yr of the reunion of Independent Catholic Church to the Indian Malankara Orthodox Church and 2014 will mark the 125th year of the consecration of the first Latin Bishop of India Malankara Orthodox Church – Saintly Alvaruz Julius I.
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Source:
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