Pioneer Mylaudy Christians and three Milestone Churches[ Mylaudy LMS Church, Nagercoil Home Church, Trivandrum Christ Church ]; in Travancore" -Part A

Introduction : Mylaudy Christians belonging to Maharasan Vethamonickam's family played a remarkable part in establishing some of the pioneer milestone Protestant Churches in Travancore.The LMS  Churuh at Mylaudy[1809 ] , The Home Church, at Nagercoil and Christ Church at Trivandrum  are some of the pioneer and remarkable protestant churches in Travancore, built in 19th century and the pioneer Christians  belonging to Mr. Maharasan Vethamonickam's family played a laudable and pivotal part and role  in the establishment, management and growth of these milestone Churches

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LMS Church at Mylaudy[ 1809] : On arrival  to Mylaudy on the invitation of Maharasan Vethamonickam,  the LMS Missionary Ringeltaube wisely read the situation and context and  wrote a request letter to the Dewan of Travancore through the then British Resident Colonel Macaulay in 1809, for permission to construct a Church at Mylaudy [ A Hundred Years in Travancore by Rev.I.H Hacker, London 1908, page 24 ].The related permission was received in March 1809 from the Travancore Government and the foundation stone for the first Protestant Church was laid on Vethamonickam's land at   Mylaudy  and the Church building was completed and dedicated  in September in 1809 and in the opening service many pioneer Coverts were baptized and Lord's Communion Service was conducted[ Ibid p.25]. Following  the dedication service, MaharasanVethamonicakm was duly appointed as a Catechist by Mr Ringeltaube and he became  Ringeltaube's right hand man.

Mr. Ringeltaube supported by Mr Maharasan Vethamonickam established  the first 7 LMS churches in South Travancore[1806-1816]. During this period due to climate ,and hard work, Mr. Ringeltaube became very sick and as there was no European to succeed him, Ringeltaube finally entrusted his responsibility and work to  his faithful Native Assistant and co-worker , Mylaudy Maharasan Vethamaonickam and Mr Ringeltaube arrayed in his surplice and solemnly ordained  Maharasan Vethamonickam as his successor by the laying on of hands[  Ibid ,p. 28],.Thus the first Protestant Church in Travancore was built at Mylaudy in 1809 and this first Protestant  Church and the pioneer members of this historical milestone Church at Mylaudy played a pivotal role in the Travancore Protestant Church history.

Due to sickness Mr Ringeltaube decided to quit  the LMS service, and  before Mr Ringeltaube left Mylaudy he took with him Vedamonickam and paid his final visit to all the LMS Schools and exhorted the Masters to lead in the  right path the children entrusted to them. and they also visited each LMS Church and its adjoining villages and reminded the people of the truths in which they had been so long instructed and exhorted them to be faithful to the last. [CMA, CHT page 617]. For two years after the departure of Ringeltaube the crux of the LMS Misssion  work in South Travancore rested on the shoulders of Vethamonickam catechist who faithfully fulfilled his trust.
It is pertinent to mention here the Pioneer Christains of Mylaudy Church namely Masillamoni [Sivagurunathan] a nephew and the fellow pilgrim of Vethamonickam  to Chidambaram temple, was made Catechist  of  Tamarakulam and Etamboli congregations, and Vethamonickam's eledest son Devasahayam was the first catechist of Puthlam LMS Church. Similarly Son-in law of Mr Vedamonickam Mr. Packianathan rendered remarkable service to the LMS Mission in South Travancore. Vedamonickam's younger son Mr. Moses assisted the early missionaries  in the production of vernacular books. Moses was appointed as the Local Secretary of the South Travancore Religious and Tract Society by Rev Charles Mault. . The Great Christian poets and writers of Mylaudy namely Mr Devaram Biddulph[ Christian Poet and Native Assistant of Mr Charles Mead], Mr John Palmer [Christian Poet and Native Assistant of Rev Charles Mault] , Rev. C Massillamoni [Great Christian Writer and a grandson of Maharasan Vethamonickam and father of  Church Historian C.M.Agur] , C. M. Agur, B.A, and Mr. Christian David and a few others   had rendered valuable  and outstanding services for the cause of Christian Music, history ,education, social justice and spiritual awakening in Travancore and South India .

Home Church, Nagercoil [Foundation stone was laid in 1819] :  The famous LMS Missionary Rev. Charles Mead arrived  at Colachel in Travancore in December 1817 and he was welcomed by Catechist Vethamaonickam. and his little flock . Charles Mead stayed at Mylaudy at Ringeltaube's residence and did his evangelical work for some months but  Charles Mead wisely with great vision shifted the LMS Head quarters from Mylaudy to Nagercoil in the interest of the LMS and established a Christian Seminary and a Christian Village near the Seminary with great planning and vision. . The Christian population was increasing day by day. Charles Mead felt and visualized the need for a large Church at Nagercoil and accordingly on 1st january ,1819, the foundation stone of the Nagercoil Home Church was laid. . Large donations were received from the Maharaja of Tanjore , the Raja of Cochin and also members of the Royal House of Travancore . H.H. the Ranee of Travancore gave the land, timber and stones free, for the construction of the Church. Mr Knill a classmate and friend of Charles Mead was given the honor and privilege to lay the foundation stone and  the foundation stone  was laid on the South Western Corner  of the Church building.[Agur p. 707]. The following people were also present when the foundation stone of Nagercoil Home Church  was laid on 1st January 1819, namely :Masillamani catechist[ Mylaudy] Mr. Devavaram Biddulph [ Mylaudy] Mr. Mosey [Mylaudy], Mr.Samuel Sawyer son of the late Mr. Sawyer of Palayamcottai, Mr. Sathianathan a Hindu convert of Mr Mead from Kottar , Mr.Kurshi Munro [a convert],Mr. Perinbanayagam and a few  other Christians from Atticaudu and Coilviley[Agur, p. 707]. CM Agur writes that ,the Nagercoil Home Church measures 140 ft by 70 ft. Its side walls are 19 ft high and the inner walls are about double that height. Nagercoil Home Church [Now C.S.I Home Church, Kanyakumaari Diocese] is definitely one of most magnificent and large protestant Churches of India even today .

The Natives of Mylaudy and Nagercoil Home Church:. The Nagercoil Home Church was intimately and historically connected with pioneer Christians belonging to MaharasanVethamonickam's family since its inception and the pioneer Christains of Mylaudy  played a pivotal role in  the spiritual, religious and administrative affairs of the Nagercoil Home Church. Maharasan Vethamonickam's brother's son Mr Devavaram Biddulph worked as a Native Assistant at the Nagercoil Home Church in the year 1822And Mylaudy Maharasan Vethamonicka'ms eleder brother's son Mr Masillamoni laboured as a Native Assistant to the Missionary-cum- Pastor of Nagercoil Home Church in the year 1824 in an efficient manner.  Maharasan Vethamonickam's younger son Mr Moses worked as a Native Assistant at the Nagercoil Home Church in the year 1828. Mr.Moses [jr] of Mylaudy also worked as Native Asistant  at the Nagercoil Home Church in 1850.. Maharasan Vethamonkickam's famous grandson Mr. C. Masillamoni also worked as a Native Assistant  to the Pastor at the Nagercoil Home Church during the period 1860-1866. Rev. C Massillamoni's father-in-law Mr Daniel Paramanandam also served Nagercoil Home Church as its first Deacon. . Moreover  Mylaudy Maharasan Vethamonickam's granddaughter's husband Mr N. Devadasan[ A Brahmin convert] worked as the first ordained Indian Pastor of Nagercoil Home Church  for about 8 years and died in 1874. 
By. P. BABU MANOHARAN .[  Part B will continue soon. This Article will be altered , modified and corrected if needed later . The rights are  reserved].