Our History

THE OLD CHURCH CONSTRUCTION COMMITTEE- The church is named after St. Peter and St. Paul, the two prominent Apostoles of our Lord Jesus Christ. At the turn of 20th century A.D, a few of the inhabitants who belonged to the Jacobite Syrian faith (almost all the people lived around were ardent believers of the Antiochian faith) formed a committee for the formation of a new parish, with a church at the top-plain of Neeramukal. They were 16 headed by Rev. Fr. Paulose Parambath. The Land at Neeramukal was, earlier donated by Shri. Ittan Kurien, Palal Meppadath and Rev. Fr. Parambath for the construction of the church. The church is a fine example of Gothic architecture. The carvings, sculptures, symbolic icons and lovely wall paintings, are a blend of Indian, West-Asian and European architecture. PERMISSION FROM THE METROPOLITAN OF KANDANAD DIOCESE: The committee had Marathon discussions with His Grace: Paulose Mar Ivaniose (Murimattathil Thirumeni), the then Metropolitan of Kandanad Diocese for getting the necessary permission to form a new parish and in the year M.E. 1079 (1904) 8th Idavom the foundation stone of the church was laid by himself. Rev. Fr. Paulose Parambath and the 16 committee members with all the parishners witnessed the holy ceremony. BEGINNING OF THE TASK: It was a humble beginning. They have, in the 1st phase, started with a thatched shed and began the worship and Holy Kurbana. The people in and around were poverty stricken and were not able to contribute towards the noble cause and therefore, the construction progressed in a slow pace. Their ardent faith inherited from forefathers was the only motivating factor to continue with the task. THE CONTRACTUAL DEED OF ME 1082 (1907): The contractual deed registered and signed among themselves by the above 16 committee members and the vicar Rev. Fr. Parambath became the basic guidelines for the construction of the church and day to day administration thereof. According to the deed, the 16 members called Aadya Kaikkaranmar (The initial Trustees) were to contribute an annual sum of 12 Chakrom (coin currency of the Travancore regency) towards thatching of the church till the same became a pucca building with tiled roof. The Kaikkaranmar and the parishners struggled a lot. My grace is enough for thee, this verse from the Holy Bible guided their struggle and by the year M.E. 1100 (1925), the building got the form of the old church with ornamental frontage, portico, compound wall etc. At last the church bell chimed.

THE GENERAL BODY MEETING OF 1110(ME) 1935 (A.D.): The constitution His Grace. Ougen Mar Themothios was the then Metropolitan of the diocese. Rev. Fr. Yohannan, son of Rev. Fr. Paulose Parambath took over the region of the parish. The General body of the parish held on 29th Medom 1110 (M.E.)(1935) chalked out a 28 point guidelines for smooth and democratic administration of the Parish church was duly assented to by His Grace. Thus, this Constitution (it was so called) became the administrative procedure of the church till the constitution of the Malankara Syrian Association of 2002 came into effect. The main stress of the guidelines was the undilutable Syrian orthodox faith under the holy see of Antioch and all the East. A proud heritage of the Church is the head circlets for the bride and the bridegroom on the occasion of their marriage. These were in vogue from the time of Knai Thoma and his contemporaries. 3 TIER SYSTEM OF ADMINISTRATION: According to the resolutions passed, the Supreme authority of the parish vested in the Gen. Body. A Managing Committee elected by the General body was the executive body. Two members elected from the Ex.Committee called the Trustees looked after the daytoday affairs of the church. One of the Parishpriests (there were 3 of them at the period) elected became the vicar the chairman of the Ex. Committee. The first such Committee headed by Rev. Fr. Yohannan Parambath consisted of 40 members. The tenure was for 5 years. The church continued the voyage of progress under the new system. His Grace guided them. THE EDAVAKA PATTAKKAR: The system of Priests elected for the Parish from the parish as the Vicars of the church was in vogue till the modern system of interparish transfer of priests came into effect. The church had 7 such priests as noted below: 1. Rev. Fr. Paulose Parambath, 2.Rev.Fr. Yohannan Parambath 3. Rev. Fr. Jacob Blayil, 4. Rev. Fr. Paulose Meppurath, 5. Rev. Fr. Geevarghese Cheernamkottil, 6. Rev. Fr. Mathews Chenakottu and Rev. Fr. Jacob Parambath. They led the parish, turn by turn, with love and affection. By the end of 1989 all of them have been taken up to their heavenly abode. .To be continued