Ambasamudram

About the Pastorate

Ambasamudram is one of the ancient pastorates in West Tirunelveli. It is located at the foot of the western ghats and nearer to Papanasam, a Hindu Pilgrim center. Though it is very near to the famous Hindu pilgrim center it has many Christians leading spiritual life. The early church members of Ambasamudram were floating professional employees. Since 1878 ordained ministers served in Ambasamudram. Rev Arulpragasam was the first among them. History narrates that Rev. William, a missionary who rendered service in Nallur, bought 10 cents of land in Ambasamudram for church construction in 1865.Right from the beginning education was given importance in this area. This is proved by the construction of the T.D.T.A. Primary school in 1864 and the S.T.C. Middle School in 1875. Miss. Persion, a foreign lady missionary, served in S.T.C for a short period. Ambasamudram was a Circle for a long period.
The pastorate committee has plans to re-build the church at an estimate of Rupees ten lakh. At present there are ten congregations in Ambasamudram pastorate:
St. Peter’s Church, Ambasamudram (1870)
Christ Church, Kallidaikuruchi (1910)
Christ Church, Bramadesam
Good Shepherd Church, Teacher’s Colony (1985)
St. John’s Church, South Pappankulam
St. John’s Church, North Papankulam
Christ Church, Manimuthar (1987)
St. Stephen’s Church, Sadaiyandiyur (1940)
Immanuel Church, A.P. Nadanoor (1996)
St. Paul’s Church, Adaichani (1998)
Important Festivals in the Pastorate
Congregation Dedication Day and Asanam
Ambasamudram 29 June
Kallidaikuruchi After Easter
Bramadesam 2 May
Teacher’s Colony 8 December
South Pappankulam 27 December
North Papankulam 27 December
Manimuthar 28 February
Sadaiyandiyur 26 December
A.P. Nadanoor 14 November
Adaichani 30 December
Kallidaikuruchi
Harvest Festival on 1st Sunday in August
IMS Sale on Second Sunday in OctoberAmbasamudram
N.V.T.G.S on 2nd Sunday in February
Men’s Get together on 1st Sunday in November

Manimuthar
Family Fellowship on 26th January
Children’s Camp on 14th November

Bramadesam
Mother’s Festival on 1st Sunday in May

Servalar
Youth Camp on 15th August

The week beginning 3rd Sunday in September is observed as the Week of Witness in the Pastorate

Alwaneri

About the Pastorate

The congregation at Alwaneri was established by Rev. CTE Rhenius in 1829 with 8 families accepting Christ. The first church was built in 1846. The present St. Paul’s Church at Alwaneri celebrated its centenary in 2000. A new church was built at Yeduppoor (Christ Church) which was dedicated by Rt. Rev. S Jeyapaul David, Bishop in Tirunelveli on 25 November 2000.

The congregations under this pastorate are:
St. Paul’s Church, Alwaneri
Pudukulam
Reddiarpatti
St. Stephen Church, Kovaikulam(1852)
Aramboondarkulam (14.5.1980)
Puthu Padiapuram (1957)
Manalvilai (1922)
Mahizhchipuram (1873)
Konganthanparai
Vellapaneri
Panaiyarkulam (1928)
Mela Siriyandur (1933)
Sivanthipatti (1830)
Christ Church, Yedappoor
Sattankulam
Konganthanparai (New)
Ambalam
Sadaiyapuram
Moolakkaraipatti
Selwyn Nagar

Alangulam

About the Pastorate

In 1829 the Christian community was established here by Rev. Rhenius. There are three churches in this Town. From 1994 Alangulam is a separate pastorate. There is a plan to establish a new church at Parambu. There are 7 village congregations under this pastorate:

  • St. Peter’s Church, Alangulam
  • Christ Church, Ratchaniapuram
  • Good Shepherd Church, Annanagar
  • St. Thomas Church, Karumbanur
  • Christ Church, Kalloothu
  • Holy Trinity Church, Thuthikulam
  • Christ Church, Kalathimadam
Important Festivals in the Pastorate
Congregation Dedication Day
Alangulam 18 July
Ratchaniapuram 13 October
Karumbanur 18 May
Annanagar 25 March
Thuthikulam 18 April
 Pastorate level Harvest Festival is celebrated in July every year.

Achampatti

In about 1880 the people of this village were compelled by Rani Mangammal to lay roads. They complained to Rev. Khar and Rev. Moore and became Christians. The Elementary School which was functioning since long became a Middle School in the year 1934. The foundation for the church was laid by Rt. Rev. Waller on 30.9.1921. Canon Paul Manikam started the construction work in the year 1927. In 1954 the roof was completed. It was dedicated on 2.4.55 by Rt. Rev. A.G.Jebaraj.
The congregations under this Pastorate are:
St. Michael’s Church, Achampatti
St. John’s Church, Thadiapuram (8.2.29)
Prasanna Aalayam, Pulliampatti (1932)
St. Barnabas Church, Sayamalai (1938)
Kokkukulam
Mela Sivakamipuram
Avudiayalpuram
South Achampatti
Melaneelitha Nallur
Vellapaneri
Melaneelitha Nallur Colony
Kelaneelitha Nallur