HERITAGE - OLDEST CHURCH IN TRIVANDRUM

CSI CHRIST CHURCH, Thiruvananthapuram, Kerala, India

Consecrated on 15^th November, 1859 Christ Church is the oldest Church in the city. An integral constituent of the Madhya Kerala Diocese of the Church of South India, Christ Church,  surrounded by the University Stadium and the Chandrasekharan Nair  stadium, is strategically located at Palayam in  Thiruvananthapuram, Kerala, India on the arterial Mahatma Gandhi Road on one end and  the Kerala Legislature Complex at the other.

For visitors to the Church, it is a glance into the past. They find history unfurling before them. The ancient tombs in the cemetery speak volumes on members of the Church who had moved over to strange new territories and had perished in an alien terrain.  The architecture of the Church is majestic. Anticipation turns into amazement as you enter the Church.  Well preserved antique furniture and invaluable paintings as well as pictures on the windows   faithfully serve the worshippers as they join together in the name of Jesus Christ, a tradition carried down all these one hundred and fifty two years of existence of Christ Church. The aisle and the pews make you kneel and pray to the omnipresent and the omnipotent who bestows love and affection upon the whole of mankind. 

The chiming of the tubular bell that dates back to 1915 is the precursor to the worship at the Church. The mood is still. The chiming has music in it and as it reverberates the hushed audience awaits the beginning of the divine worship. There are not many bells like it  in the world at the moment and Christ Church has in its possession a rare and wonderful object that has the stamp of history.

 Well preserved stained glass windows dating back to 1889 present a picture of serenity and piety as the worship progresses in the Church.   The beauty is unsurpassed

The portraits of Emperor Haile Celassie of Ethiopia and Rev. T.B.Benjamin, both great visionaries, adorn the Centennary Hall of Christ Church.. The visit of the Emperor to Christ Church was  historical. The Emperor in order to commemorate it made a handsome donation and laid the foundation for the Centenary Hall. The project took off with the donation  and the Centenary Hall became a reality with contributions pouring in from members whose names are inscribed on its walls. Centenary Hall has seen many events of significance taking place in it. Today, the Kerala Legislature Complex and the Centenary Hall face each other.

Elegantly displayed in the glass walled museum,  the hearse – coffin bearing carriage – is a sight to behold. The ancient mingles with the present. The hearse, imported from the United Kingdom, was in operation   till late 1960s. 

Connect, Grow, Serve and Go define Christ Church’s dedicated vision and  mission.

Connect   

‘Connect’ with God for a momentous existence.  Mark: 12: 29-31 tells  to connect with an open heart. It reminds that building enduring relationships alone suffice. Connect highlights the significance of worship, prayer and fellowship.  The Church is the platform that links man at once with God and the community.

Grow  

‘Grow’ in body, mind and spirit (Romans 12:2). Discern God's word and gaze at the effect in an individual. Though knowledge is vital God’s word makes one perfect when it is animate in him.  The true disciple comes into being as he heeds God’s word.

Serve 

‘Serve’ with willing hands (1 Peter 4:10-11). It nourishes the soul. The church is packed with limitless opportunities to minister and serve.  When the constituents work together for the Church they function as God has intended. He empowers His followers to serve and multiplies their efforts exponentially.

Go

‘Go’ with ready feet (Matthew 28:19-20). It moves one out of the confines of the Church to a domain that spreads across the whole of the community and of the world. . Witnessing Jesus Christ before non believers as well as believers is the most challenging and demanding task a true Christian faces relentlessly.