Mateer Memorial Church

Mateer Memorial CSI Church, built in 1838 in Trivandrum, is one of the oldest congregation in South India^[1]

Mateer Memorial CSI Church, Trivandrum, Kerala

History

The Church was erected in memory of Rev. Samuel Mateer and was named Mateer Memorial Church. The dedication ceremony took place on the 1st of December 1906. The Church was dedicated by Rev.R.W.Thompson and formally opened for worship by the Mrs. Thompson. Rev. R.W. Thompson, the Foreign Secretary of the London Missionary Society, was then on an official visit to India.

Before the construction of the M.M. Church L.M.S people of Trivandrum worshipped in a Church constructed by the Protestant evangelical trust in the 1840s. Rev. Samuel Sumanam father of Mr. S.I. Sumanam was working in that Church as an Evangelist from 1878 onwards. The Trivandrum L.M.S. Church became a pastorate in 1895 and Mr. Mathew Kesari, father of Rev. John M. Kesari and grand-father of Rev. J. Eben Kesari was the first Indian to be ordained as the pastor of that Church. Rev. Mathew Kesari retired from service in 1904 when the new Church was still under construction. His son John M. Kesari was the first pastor of the newly constructed Mateer Memorial Church, his period of service being from April 1905 to March, 1913.

Sub Organisations

1.Church Choir^[2] 2.Christian Endeavour Youth Fellowship 3.Boy's Christian Literary Union 4.Junior Christian Fellowship 5.Sunday School 6.Senior Citizen's Fellowship 7.Women's Fellowship 8.Gospel Band 9.City Mission

Rev.Samuel Mateer

Rev. Samuel Mateer was the first missionary who endeavored for the growth of an indigenous Church. He prepared local people for Church ministry and tried to transfer administrative responsibilities to them. It was during his tenure that a number of local people were ordained as ministers.

As far as the diocese is concerned, Rev. Samuel Mateer can be rightly designated as the pioneer of indigenization of the Church. When he arrived there were 25 congregations, 3000 Christians and an annual income of Rs. 800/-. But when he took leave after 33 years, the number of Congregations increased to 56, Christians to 10,060 and annual income to Rs. 3000/-

In 1890, Mrs. Mateer had to return to England owing to ill health. Rev. Samuel Mateer who went to England in 1891 on leave was called to eternal rest on the 24th of December 1893. It was in the same year that the Trivandrum Church was elevated to the position of a pastorate. The Church building constructed in the LMS Compound and dedicated to the loving memory of Rev. Samuel Mateer was opened for divine worship on 1 December 1906, along with the Centenary Celebrations of the London Missionary Society.

Cathedral

Elevating the Church as Cathedral Church is under Consideration.

The Church Committee

The Church Committee consist of 12 deacons and 3 pastors.They meet once in a month and take decisions for the day to day activities of the Church.

The Archbishop of Canterbury

A photo of the visit

The Archbishop of Canterbury, Dr Rowan Williams, visited the Church on 24 October 2010.

References

1. ^ Mateer Memorial Church, Trivandrum
2. ^ Church Choir