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Congregating for peace

The Pasumalai Church influenced people to shed communal and religious differences

Photo: S. James

STANDING TALL In public service

"Go ye therefore, and teach all nations, baptizing them in the name of the Father, and of the Son and of the Holy Ghost:"

-Mathew 28:19

The Pasumalai congregation is one of the earliest congregations established in the city. It came up in 1845 after members of the American Madura Mission (AMM) landed in Madurai in 1834 following widespread spiritual awakening during the 18th and 19th centuries in America, England, Denmark and other European countries.

Different missionaries from countries followed Jesus Christ's commands to spread the doctrines of Christianity after the British Parliament Act, 1833, permitted and encouraged the East India Company to extend their influence from trade to promoting moral education in India. To facilitate this influence better, the British Parliament also granted permission to non-British missionaries to reside and spread the knowledge on Christian faith. And it provided space for the American missionaries to legally enter the country and establish religious and educational institutions, which paved way for the formation of AMM.

In the initial days it was not so easy as none came forward for renunciation of caste differences. With a lot of difficulty, AMM established the Church at Pasumalai. At that time the congregation comprised only a handful of members. Later, AMM established an educational institution and invited the natives to join the school, which evoked a good response.

Influential

Still, AMM faced numerous problems and at one instance in 1847, the AMM Seminary at Pasumalai faced the threat of closure because teachers and students refused to ignore the social discriminations by eating the food prepared by a low caste cook. But the missionaries insisted on the renunciation of caste observances, which later influenced the people to shed communal and religious differences. "Among the missionaries, G.T. Washburn and William Tracy are remembered for their contributions towards establishing the Pasumalai Church.

As the church gained popularity the congregation grew and it was felt that the existing building was insufficient to accommodate the members. Subsequently, it blossomed into Whitin Memorial Church in 1904. The church is now part of the Church of South India, Diocese of Madurai-Ramnad," says Rev. D.G. Jeyapaul, Pastor of the congregation. The Whitin Memorial Church was built in a cross shaped structure with funds mobilised from the public. "Now, with increasing members, we are extending the building further and currently work is under progress," he says.

Located on a sprawling acre, the Church serves the society through its educational institutions, which include two higher secondary schools each for boys and girls, a primary school, a technical institute and also provides non-formal education by offering vocational training for women. To add to the list, the church also has a college of nursing.

Besides, it runs a home for the aged, an exclusive home for the mentally challenged and a rehabilitation centre for girls subjected to sexual harassment, according to Mr. Jeyapaul.

Passion play

The Church also has the reputation of staging a play `Love Divine' also known as `Passion play' under natural settings. It is a play on the life of Lord Jesus Christ, enacted during the Lenten days, for 60 years now on the trot. The play is staged on Saturdays before `Palm Sunday', the following Tuesday and on the Good Friday.

Each family of the congregation has a role to play. Medical camps are also organised periodically. Besides, on Fridays and Sundays special worships for the welfare of the sick and disabled are organised. Moreover, the church also provides children service, youth service and special service for the elderly people. There is also a service conducted by women. The Pastorate committee for administration meets every quarter to plan its schedule and projects.

"Every year 20 to 30 people from other religions join our congregation. We also conduct classes for people to bring them into our congregation as a fulltime member. There is also Sunday school for children, youth fellowship, men's fellowship and women's fellowship programmes," Mr. Jeyapaul lists out.

Now the Pasumalai congregation has 600 families as members and has completed 160 years of existence.

T.SARAVANAN

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