CSI St. Thomas English Church

An important landmark on the Chennai coastline, St. Thomas English Church (STEC) is also the oldest Protestant Church in Santhome. Our little white Church on the shore owes its origin to the missionaries of the Vepery Mission and Robert Carver, a dynamic Methodist missionary who came here from Ceylon and was instrumental in building the church.

Consecrated on 10 December 1842, this little Church of ‘St. Thomas-by-the-sea’ (as it was called then), like the Roman Catholic Cathedral, and the Tamil Church of later date, was named in honour of the Apostle Thomas who was martyred and buried in this area. The immensely popular Rev. Robert Carver was the first Presbyter of this church, and when he passed away just three years later, he was buried under the altar. Among the many men of God who ministered here, a few like Rev. Thomas Dealtry and Rev. David Chellappa went on to become the Bishop of Madras. During the British period, “this was the Church of the Protestant elite in Madras, the residents of the garden-houses of Adyar, with the Governor having his own pew.”

When India became independent in 1947 and the Church of South India was formed, St. Thomas-by-the-sea came under CSI Diocese of Madras and was allowed to continue its Anglican tradition. Since then, St. Thomas English Church has been steadily growing not just in numbers, but in its many outreach activities too.

The 1970s and 80s were a remarkable period for the church, best remembered for its well-known Presbyters like Rev. Honest Chinniah, Rev. Desmond C. Francis and Rev. Ebenezer Immanuel, lay preachers like David Samuel and the legendary choir master Seth Balasunder. The 1980s saw a flurry of activities like the starting of an English-medium school for the underprivileged, a picturesque open air altar and a medical centre.

STEC has stood as a beacon of hope through the ages, and has been a second home to generations of Christians in and around Santhome. Now stepping into the 173rd year, STEC is eagerly looking forward to a revamped pipe organ and a brand new parish hall.