St Paul Church Vellore

HISTORIC MILESTONES OF C.S.I. ST. PAULS CHURCH
(Diocese of Vellore)
SATHUVACHARI, VELLORE – 632 009.

The CMC Employees Co-operative Building Society in 1976 allotted house-plots for its workers to build houses and this resulted in the formation of CMC Colony. Which at present is known as “Ida Scudder Nagar”. A small group six families which include Mr. A. Israel, Mr. John Jayaseelan, Mr. T.R.G. Paul, Mrs. Eric Sakunthala, Mrs. Gnanam Paulraj and Mrs. Boopathy Moses who initially settled in the colony, on September 29, 1976 formed the Congregation of the New Church and later in 1982 the number of families rose to 20.

Growth & Recognition as Pastorate

Right from the inception the Church was under the control of CSI Central Church, Vellore and it started functioning in 1981 in Vellore East Pastorate along with Kagithapatrai, Aruganthampoondi and Palar. In 1987 the four Churches namely St. Paul’s Church, Holy Trinity Church, Redeemer Church and All Souls Church were included under Sathuvachari Pastorate and in 2003 St. Paul’s Church was upgraded as an independent unit and in 2007 it became recognized as a pastorate.

Worship Centre

At first the worship service was held on 27-09-1976 in the house of Mrs. Nesamani and the members came forward to hold services on Sundays in their houses also for sometime. As more of members began attending the Sunday divine service the spacious car shed of Mr. Jesudian was utilized for three years in a row. A makeshift thatched shed of 30′ and 20′ was dedicated by the Rev. Rufus R. Jayakaran with the permission of Mr. Jesudian in the park area for conducting worship services. Considering the utility and maintenance problem a R.C.C. building of 60’x30′ dimension was constructed with the generous contribution of local and foreign living members and it was dedicated on 03-05-1988 by the Rev. Samuel Gembeeram and it provided infrastructure need for the occasions of worship and celebrations.