The History and Growth of the parishes and Congregations in the Diocese of North America of the
Mar Thoma Syrian Church (The Mar Thoma Church) Introduction The growth of the Diocese is related to the mass immigration of laity in the sixties and seventies to Canada, Europe and United States. Those laity, who were forced to leave their kith and kin and their parishes in their native places in Kerala congregated themselves as prayer groups in apartments and homes to worship together. Later they formed congregations and received approval from the church authorities. The church was reluctant to approve congregations and directed the laity to join the local Episcopal churches in United States. But that attitude of the authorities was changed when the first Mar Thoma congregation was approved in 1976 in New York. Later, congregations were upgraded to parishes and full time Vicars were appointed. Prior to 1990, the services of student Achens were utilized to provide pastoral care to the laity. But since 1990, when the priests were allowed to obtain R-1 visas, the services of full time priests were given to parishes. Diocesan Head Quarters: The following is a short history of the formation of 2320 Merrick Avenue, Merrick, New York, 11566 the congregation and parishes in different cities of United States, Canada and Europe, which is not complete and accurate to 100%, since documents and data were not available easily. But we have tried to collect the available data and provided below. The readers are welcomed to provide any corrections or additions to the information with reliable evidence for updating the information and to keep the same for generations to come. The main information is collected from the book "In the Beginning" edited by Dr. T. M. Thomas, New York and Mr. Abraham Mattackal, Los Angeles and also from the old issues of Mar Thoma Messenger since 1983 and souvenirs published by different parishes. 01
New York, New Jersey, Boston
The first Mar Thoma worship was conducted in Boston in January 1969 by Rev. Cherian Thomas and in New York in February 1971 by Rev. Thomas Varghese. The first congregation was formed in Queens, New York in April 1972 and a Mar Thoma C. S. I Congregation in New York City in September 1973. When more and more Marthomites migrated to United States, the need for regular worship became a necessity. But the Mar Thoma Church leaders were not in favor of establishing Mar Thoma parishes and directed people to obtain membership in the local Episcopal Churches in United States, Anglican Church in Canada and England. But this policy of the church was changed later, when it approved the first Mar Thoma congregation in New York in 1976. Rev. K. S. Mathew is appointed as the first
Epiphany MTC, New York
St. Thomas MTC, New York
Long Island MTC, New York
Vicar of the congregation, followed by Rev. Thomas P. George (19771979). The first full time Vicar appointed was Rev. M. V. Benjamin in 1979 for the Mar Thoma Congregation of Greater New York for two Sundays, one Sunday for the Mar Thoma Congregation in Philadelphia and one Sunday for the Mar Thoma – C. S. I. Congregation in New York. New York became the center where most of the Marthomites came first and then moved to other different cities in United States due to better opportunities. There were early immigrants in Philadelphia, New Jersey, Carmel MTC, Boston Boston, Dallas, Houston, Los Angeles, San Francisco, Chicago, Detroit, Atlanta, Florida and other cities in United States also. In 1980 Metropolitan Alexander Mar Thoma divided Mar Thoma Church of Greater New York in to four parishes namely, St. Thomas MTC, New York, New Jersey MTC, Staten Island MTC and Epiphany MTC, Queens and these parishes began separate worship services by the year 1981. The Carmel MTC, Boston approved as a parish in 1984. In New York, New Jersey and Boston area we have at present 16 parishes having its own Vicars and one Youth Chaplain serving this region.
Philadelphia By 1982 there were only twelve parishes in this Diocese, four in New York area as mentioned above and the remaining eight were Philadelphia MTC, Toronto MTC, Detroit MTC, Chicago MTC, Dallas MTC, Trinity MTC, Houston, Los Angeles MTC and St. Andrews MTC, New York. In early sixties there were about 25 Mar Thoma families in Philadelphia and there used to be once in a month Holy Communion service conducted by Rev. K. S. Mathew and Rev. Dr. T. J. Thomas, as part of the joint arrangement with other denominations from Kerala. In 1976 late Rt. Rev. Easow Mar Timotheos Episcopa visited Philadelphia and conducted Holy 02
Philadelphia MTC (old)
St. Thomas MTC Delaware
Bethel MTC, Philadelphia
Ascension MTC, Philadelphia
Communion under the joint arrangement of Mar Thoma Church/C. S. I., and advised to have own worship services and activities separately. Thus finally in October 1976 the Philadelphia Mar Thoma Church was formed. In Pennsylvania State we have five parishes, three in Philadelphia City one in Fort Washington and the other one in Delaware Valley. Each parish is served by its own Vicars and one Youth Chaplain for the region. The Baltimore MTC and the Washington MTC both approved as parishes in 1981. We have a new parish namely Immanuel MTC in Virginia approved since 2010.
Chicago, Detroit Marthomites in and around Chicago organized prayer meetings since early seventies. In 1973 they formed as a congregation in Chicago during one of the visits of Rt. Rev. Alexander Mar Theophilose Episcopa. 1976
Chicago MTC, Des Plaines, IL
St. Thomas MTC, Lombard, IL
Detroit Mar Thoma Church
also was the year in which three more congregations were formed in Chicago, Detroit and Toronto, again at the advice of late Easow Thirumeni. The Episcopal Synod approved the congregations in 1978 and in 1981 Chicago Congregation was approved as a parish. Rev. Dr. Ipe Joseph served as the first Vicar, followed by Rev. Cherian Thomas and third Vicar was Rev. Dr. Moni Mathew. The foundation stone of the church building was laid on July 14, 1985 by Most. Rev. Dr. Alexander Mar Thoma Metropolitan and on November 8, 1986 the present church building was dedicated by late Rt. Rev. Easow Mar Timotheos Episcopa. The parish was renovated by adding more space and rededicated in 200/2010 by Rt. Rev. Dr. Geevarghese Mar Theodosius Episcopa, present Diocesan Bishop. Later two more parishes were formed in Chicago, namely Bethel MTC, Frankfort, IL in 1995 and St. Thomas MTC, Lombard, IL in 2004. We have one Youth Chaplain also serving this region at present. Detroit parish was formed in 1976 and Rev. Ipe Joseph was the first Vicar of the parish.
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Los Angeles, San Francisco, Seattle Similarly the congregations were formed in the late sixties as a small prayer group in Los Angeles. The first Holy Communion service was held on August 15, 1976 by Easow Thirumeni. The parish was approved by Episcopal Synod in 1976. Rev. Dr. Joseph Chacko, Rev. Dr. P. P. Abraham, Rev. Los Angeles MTC, California San Francisco MTC, California Dr. Daniel Philip, Rev. K. G. Pothen provided pastoral services since 1976 to 1984. The present church building was dedicated on July 9, 1988 by Most. Rev. Alexander Mar Thoma. Rev. K. G. Pothen also provided pastoral services to the Marthomites in San Francisco and Seattle. In the past services were also provided in Las Vegas and Phoenix congregation as and when it is needed by the clergy from Los Angeles. There is a second parish in Los Angeles area namely St. Andrews MTC since 2008. The San Francisco MTC began in 1984 and Seattle MTC, WA in 1987 and also Horeb MTC in Colorado since 1997. We have a congregation in Arizona also.
Houston, Austin In Houston cottage prayer meetings were held since late sixties. The first Holy Communion service was held in Houston on September 29, 1974 by Rev. T. I. Joseph, who was studying at Southern Methodist University
Trinity MTC, Houston (First parish built in USA in 1984)
Immanuel MTC, Houston (second parish in Houston in 1994) Dallas, Lubbock,
Trinity Mar Thoma Church (newly renovated in 2011)
in Dallas. Later they had regular worship services once in a month conducted by our Achens. Thereafter Rev. T. J. Thomas, who came to higher studies in Dallas, provided pastoral services at Houston also. The Marthomites in Houston decided to form the congregation in January 1975 and the same was approved by Synod in March 1978. Rev. Joseph Thomas, who came to study in Dallas, was appointed as the Vicar of the Houston congregation. In 1981 the congregation was approved as a parish and Rev. P. V. Thomas was appointed as the first full time Vicar in Houston MTC. The Houston Trinity MTC sanctuary building was dedicated by Rt. Rev. Thomas Mar Athanasius Suffragan Metropolitan on July 14, 1984. This is the first Mar Thoma Church built in United States and named Trinity Mar Thoma Church, Houston. The parish was renovated and rededicated in 2011by Rt. Rev. Dr. Geevarghese Mar Theodosis, present Diocesan Bishop. A second Mar Thoma parish was formed in Houston in July 1994 with name Immanuel Mar Thoma Church. We have one new parish approved in Austin, Texas since 2010 with name Austin Mar Thoma Church, which was worshiping since 2006 as a congregation. 04
Dallas, Lubbock, Oklahoma
Similarly in Dallas cottage prayer meetings were held since late sixties and from early seventies without any denominational differences under the name Christian Fellowship of Dallas. With the arrival of Rev. T. I.Joseph for higher studies in Dallas, regular Holy Communion services were held in Dallas since early 1970s. On August 15, 1976 the Marthomites in Dallas decided to have their own congregation under the name Mar Thoma Syrian Church of Dallas. The congregation worshiped in Canterbury House at the campus of S.M.U., St. Luke's Methodist Chapel, and Cochran Methodist Chapel before moving to its own facility in 1984 in Grand Prairie. The dedication of the first church facility was held on December 23, 1984, which is second such facility in United States. In 1976 Rev. T. J. Thomas came to Dallas for higher studies and provided pastoral service to the congregation. In March 1978 the
MTC Dallas, FB
St. Paul's MTC, Dallas
Sehion MTC, Dallas
congregation in Dallas was approved as a parish and the name has been changed in 1985 to Mar Thoma Church of Dallas. Rev. Joseph Thomas provided pastoral care after the transfer of Rev. T. J. Thomas in 1979. In 1982 Rev. Philip Varghese, who was doing higher studies at UNT in Denton was appointed as the Vicar. Rev. Dr. C. K. Mathew, who came for higher studies in Dallas was the next Vicar followed by Rev. K. M. Samuel. Rev. P. J. Alex was the first full time Vicar of Dallas MTC appointed in 1990. The original Mar Thoma Church of Dallas was Mar Thoma Church of Dallas, Carrollton divided into two parishes namely, Mar Thoma Church of Dallas, Farmers Branch and Mar Thoma Church of Dallas, Grand Prairie in 1996. The Mar Thoma Church of Dallas later moved to the City of Carrollton in 2006 and changed its name to Mar Thoma Church of Dallas, Carrollton. There are two more Mar Thoma parishes in Dallas namely St. Paul's Mar Thoma Church formed in 1989, and Sehion Mar Thoma Church formed in 2008, and all four parishes are served by its own Vicars and one Youth Chaplain serving the Dallas area. The Emmanuel MTC in Lubbock was approved as a parish since 1979 and Rev. Dr. Joseph Thomas, Rev. Dr. Philip Varghese, and Rev. T. I. Joseph served as Vicars in its early period. Cottage prayer meetings were held regularly and congregation was begun in Oklahoma in the seventies. The Oklahoma MTC was approved in 1981 and Rev. Dr. Philip Varghese, Rev. P. J. Alex served as Vicars in the early period.
Florida, Atlanta In December 1977 the first Holy Communion service was held at the United Methodist Church at Hialleah in Florida. Thereafter they started regular cottage prayer meetings once in a month. In 1981 the Florida Mar 05
Atlanta Mar Thoma Church
Hermon Mar Thoma Church, Atlanta
St. marks MTC, Thampa
Thoma Church was formally approved by the Episcopal Synod and Rev. Ipe Joseph was the first Vicar. In 1983 Rev. P. G. Mathew was appointed as the first full time Vicar. Later, Florida Mar Thoma Church was divided into South Florida Mar Thoma Church and St. Luke Mar Thoma Church. The present Church building in Davie, Florida was dedicated by Rt. Rev. Dr. Zacharias Mar Theophilus on December 25, 1996. At present we more parish in Florida namely St. Mark MTC, Tampa, FL, and one congregation in Orlando, FL. We have two parishes in Atlanta namely Atlanta MTC formed in 1982and Hermon MTC formed in 2005, and 2 congregations one in Chattanooga and second one in Jacksonville. North Carolina MTC has been approved as a parish by the Episcopal Synod in February 2011 and Rev. Vinoy Daniel, Diocesan Secretary is the first Vicar of the newly formed parish.
Canada In Canada, the first congregational worship was begun in Edmonton and Toronto in 1973 and Toronto was formally approved as a congregation in 1978. The congregation at Edmonton was approved as a parish in 1982. Regular worship services began in Toronto since 1972 with the arrival of Rev. Abraham Lincoln and continued by Rev. C. I. George (Athanasius Thirumeni) who was the Vicar since 1975. Rt. Rev. Easow Mar Timotheos Episcopa joined in 1976 and rendered services to the congregation for a short period, but had to leave immediately. Rev. Ipe Joseph was the Vicar from 1977-1980. In 1981 the Canadian MTC, Toronto Toronto congregation was approved as a parish. In 1980 our present Diocesan Bishop, Theodosius Thirumeni, then Rev. George Jacob, who came for his Masters and Ph.D studies at McMaster University in Hamilton, Ontario gave strong leadership to all the congregations in Canada during his time. Thirumeni was in charge of the laity in Kingston, Ottawa, Montreal, Edmonton, Fort McMurray, Calgary and Rochester. The Mar Thoma Congregation of Southern Alberta in Calgary was formally organized in 1979 and formal approval was obtained in 1980. St. Mathew's MTC , Toronto Similarly, Fort McMurray congregation was formally recognized in 1989. There are few families in Winnipeg since 1970 and pastoral services are being provided to them also. At present there are eight parishes and one congregation in Canada. 06
England, Germany & Switzerland We can trace occasional worship being conducted according to Mar Thoma rites from 1930 in England. But it was in 1957 that Rev. V. V. Alexander started a regular service according to Mar Thoma rites at the chapel of the Indian YMCA at Fitzroy Square, London, and it continued there for 21 years. In 1978 the gathering became an official congregation of the Mar Thoma Church. In October 1978 the Diocesan Bishop Mar Chrysostom, approved the congregation as a parish. The first vicar was Rev. Philip Varghese and by the grace of God Rev. V. V. Alexander remained as the emeritus vicar until 2010. On 1st April 1996 the original parish was divided in to two parishes namely St. Johns parish at Hounslow, and St. James Parish in the City to provide pastoral care for the growing population of Marthomites in London. St. James Parish purchased a five-acre site south of the city of London in December 2005 and was dedicated to the glory of God on 6th May 2006 by Rt. Sinai Mar Thoma Church, London Rev. Dr. Euyakim Mar Coorilos and serves as the Mar Thoma Centre in this area. In 2003 St. Johns parish, was able to establish regular services at Bristol, Liverpool, and Manchester and occasional services in other cities and towns. In 2006 a new congregation was established in East London as East Area Congregation and another in Bristol. Both Bristol and East Area Congregations have become parishes now. The Episcopal Synod has decided to acknowledge the prayer groups at Liverpool (Carmel MTC), Manchester (Tabor St. John's Mar Thoma Church, London MTC), and Midlands (Hermon MTC) as independent parishes from 1st May 2007. St. James parish, in addition to its local prayer groups has extended their prayer groups to Bury, St. Edmunds, Ipswich, Kent, Eastbourne, Harlow and Basildon. Thus both parishes are continuously involved in organizing prayer groups and occasional worship services in other towns like Portsmouth, Guildford, Ashford, Reading, Peterborough, and other cities in the United Kingdom to cater for the spiritual needs of the Diaspora Marthomites. There are congregations in Belfast, Dublin and Edinburgh. We also associate with the National Council of Churches in England and other ecumenical bodies like Churches Together in Europe (CTE) and Churches Together in Britain and Ireland (CTBI). The parishes in the UK are also involved in arranging occasional services in Germany from 1997 and Switzerland from 1998. Dublin recently became a parish and a new parish was established in north London in April 2010 as Sinai Mar Thoma Church. The following clergy served the Europe area: Rev. V. V. Alexander from 1957 - 2010, Rev. P. T. Joseph (Most Rev. Dr. Joseph Mar Thoma Metropolitan) from 1965-1966, Very Rev. P. M. George (Vicar General) from 1968-1969, Rt. Rev. Easow Mar Timotheos 1976-1977, and Rev. Dr. Philip Varghese (1978-1980). The Diocesan Assembly held in 2010 approved a subcommittee namely Council of Mar Thoma Parishes in Europe (COMPE) under Clause 217 of the Sabha Constitution to have effective co-ordination between the Diocese and the parishes and congregations in Europe region. We have at present eight parishes in Europe and four congregations conducting regular worship services using the liturgy of the Mar Thoma Church. 07
DIOCESAN BISHOPS
Rt. Rev. Thomas Mar Athanasisus
Most. Rev. Dr. Philipose Mar Chrysostom
Rt. Rev. Dr. Zacharias Mar Theophilus
Rt. Rev. Dr. Euyakim Mar Coorilos
Rt. Rev. Dr. Geevarghese Mar Theodosius
PHOTOS OF OTHER MAR THOMA PARISHES IN DIFFERENT CITIES IN U. S. A.
Colorado Horeb MTC
Emmanuel MTC Lubbock, TX
Baltimore MTC
Washington MTC
St. Peter's MTC, New Jersey
St. John's MTC, New York
New Jersey MTC
St. Stephen's MTC, New Jersey
Compiled by: Lal Varghese Esq., Dallas Layout: Thomas Mathew Tharakan, www.PrintCall.com 08