St Andrews Mar Thoma Syrian Church Avadi

Mar Thoma Syrian Church

Chennai , Tamil Nadu, India

Contact

No:8, Church Street, Gandhi Nagar
Avadi
Chennai Tamil Nadu, India

Services

Sundays 8:00 AM

In the year 1962-63, many defense establishments were started in and around Avadi. Due to this, many marthomites from Kerala came to Avadi for employment. They started attending the Sunday worship at the Chetpet Marthoma church and also at the CSI church at Avadi. Understanding the need for a regular Marthoma service at Avadi, they approached the Chetpet Marthoma church for the same. The then vicar, Rev. Thomas Mathew, supported the necessity and formed a prayer group for the members from Avadi. So, from October, 1963, the worship service was conducted at the Trinity CSI Church in Avadi every Sunday at 10.30 am. In 1963, in the month of December, a 20 cent plot was bought in Gandhi nagar, Avadi for constructing a church. In 1964, Rt. Rev. Philipose Mar Chrisostom Thirumeni laid the foundation stone for the construction of a 40×20 sq.ft Chapel. In December, 1966, the Chapel was blessed and opened by the late Rt. Rev. Thomas mar Athanesous. From then on, the vicar from Chetpet Marthoma Church would come down to Avadi on one Sunday of every month for leading the worship service at the Chapel. In July, 1967 Rev. Joseph. M. Joseph Achen started his service with family at the Avadi church by staying in a rented house at Avadi. In December, 1968, another 7 cent land was bought adjacent to the church.

In the beginning of the year 1969 itself, the Avadi church was recognized and accepted as a complete Church by the Sabha. The church realized the need for a Parsonage for the vicar and by God’s grace the construction of the same was completed towards the end of the year 1969. In the year 1980, a guest room was constructed above the parsonage. In 1986, the need to reconstruct the existing church was realized as the church had become too old and also could not accommodate the growing members. So, under the leadership of the then vicar, Rev. George Varghese achen, efforts were made to reconstruct a new church. As a result of this, on 27/12/1987 the foundation stone was laid by Rt. Rev. Joseph Mar Irraneous Thirumeni and it was blessed opened by the late Rt. Rev Alexander Marthoma Metropolitan Thirumeni on 1st April in 1989. From then on, the Parish Day was celebrated on any of the Sunday in April of every year. But, considering the need of every member’s convenience to attend the Parish Day, it was shifted to any of the comfortable Sunday in the month of January from 2006 as per the executive committee’s decision.

In 2008, the general body decided to have a separate/exclusive vicar for our church as the vicars had the additional responsibility of the neighboring Padi Marthoma Church as well. So, after the approval from the Sabha, from May, 2008, a separate/dedicated achen is being appointed for the Avadi Marthoma church.

In 2012 – 2013, the old parsonage was demolished and a new parsonage was built along with guest rooms. In 2013, a parish hall was built on the roof of the church under the initiative of the Youth League.