Tamil Nadu - Nagapattinam   

New Jerusalem Church rededicated

Staff Reporter

By Rt.Rev. Margot Kassmann, Bishop, Church of Hannover, Germany; it was built during 1717-1718

NAGAPATTINAM: The renovated New Jerusalem Church in the coastal town of Tranquebar, (Tharangampadi) in the district, was rededicated on Saturday evening by Rt.Rev. Margot Kassmann, Bishop, Church of Hannover, Germany.

The church was built in 1717-1718 by Bartholomaeus Ziegenbalg, the first Protestant Missionary and first Royal Missionary from Denmark to India. Ziegenbalg landed at Tranquebar, which was a Danish colony on July 9, 1706, exactly 300 years ago.

The church was renovated a cost of Rs.70 lakh without altering its original structure and rededicated at the two-day tercentenary of `Tranquebar Mission', an event that marked the arrival of Ziegenbalg.

The function organised by the Tamil Evangelical Lutheran Church (TELC) was attended by a hunderds of delegates from several countries including Germany, United States, France, Netherlands, etc. Rt. Rev. T. Aruldoss, the Bishop of the TELC, presided over the functions.

Several programmes including a conference, an exhibition and cultural events were conducted.

Sunday, the second day of the celebration, was celebrated as 'Thanksgiving Day'. Rt. Rev. Mark Hanson, the president of the Lutheran World Federation (LWF) and Presiding Bishop, ELCA, Hannovar Germany, delivered the holy sermon.

Ziegenbalg's primary aim was to propagate Christianity in India but his way of moving with the society earned him the respect of the people of all religions.

Tamil studies were introduced in 1711 in the Martin Luther University in Halle as suggested by this humane missionary.

Ziegenbalg set up the first ever printing press in India at Tranquebar and published studies of the Tamil language and Indian religion and culture.

His translation of the New Testament into Tamil in 1715 and the New Jerusalem Church that he and his associates constructed in 1718 are still in use.

As a mark of respect and tribute to Ziegenbalg, Rt. Rev.T. Aruldoss, inaugurated an institute for printing technology at the same place where Zieganbalg started the first printing press.

A hand-written Bible and several booklets on the services rendered by Ziegenbalg and a souvenir were released at a conference of foreign delgates on Sunday.

People of Tranquebar also suggested that a `mani mandapam' should be constructed in Tranquebar in memory of Ziegenbalg.

He had learnt Tamil along with the children in a Tranquebar school.

He could influence the local people by establishing Tamil seminary in 1707 and taught the contents of the Bible to the masses.

He was a true champion in the cause of women's education.

When Ziegenbalg died at the age of 37 on February 23 in 1719, he was buried in The New Jerusalem Church that was built by him at Tranquebar.

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New Jerusalem Church rededicated

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