Traditionally believed to have been founded in the year 52 AD, by Saint Thomas (Mar Thoma), one of the 12 disciples of Jesus Christ, and known by the name of the Apostle, the Mar Thoma Syrian Church of Malabar is one of the oldest denominations of Christianity. The Church defines itself as “Apostolic in origin, Universal in nature, Biblical in faith, Evangelical in principle, Ecumenical in outlook, Oriental in worship, Democratic in function, and Episcopal in character. Headquartered at Thiruvalla in Kerala, in India, the church has followers across the globe.
Like vast number of Parishes, the St.Thomas Mar Thoma Church began as a cottage prayer group initiated by few families in 1996. In June 1999 the late Rt. Rev. Dr. Zacharias Mar Theophilus, the Diocesan Bishop of North America and Europe, through an Episcopal Kalpana raised the prayer group to a congregation. Twenty two families constituted the congregation. Rev L. Varghese of the Edmonton Mar Thoma Church was appointed as Vicar of the newly formed congregation.
In October 2001, Rev.PJ John from Edmonton, who replaced Rev.L.Varghese as Vicar continued to oversee the affairs of the congregation. In December 2001, the congregation obtained the permission from the Rector of the St.Helen’s Anglican Church in Surrey, to use its facilities for worship and fellowship. From that date until now our Church has used the St. Helen’s Anglican Church for worship Services and other activities.
In January 2002, application was submitted to Revenue Canada to register the congregation as St. Thomas Mar Thoma Church, Vancouver, and as a charitable organization. On 10th April 2002, the Revenue Canada granted the Church the status of a charitable organization under the name of St. Thomas Mar Thoma Church, Vancouver. On 21st Dec 2002, the Synod of the Mar Thoma Church raised the congregation as a parish of the Malankara Mar Thoma Church.
The divine aid, bestowed through the years, helped the parish to come up a long way through and the parish provides much more opportunities for the abundant blossoming of a person in Christ through worship and community fellowship. We sincerely welcome and look forward to you joining us.