Evangelist,Egalitarian, Reformer, Orator, Founder of the C.S.I. Kingsbury Memorial Church at Vyasarpadi,Chennai,[Kingsbury National Cathedral,an Indian orthodox Church at Vyasarpadi ], Ex Secretary and Treasurer of the Evangelical Missionary Society of India at Madras,Pastor Rev.S.David Samson Kingsbury,B.D, G.E.E.C [London ].

Introduction     : The  Rev.Sankaralingam. David  Samson Kingsbury, B.D, G.E.E.C  was a remarkable  personality, he was an  orator, convincing  preacher,  social thinker, he strongly believed that Christianity would liberate the people from social chains, sin and  spiritual ignorance, and was a great  humanitarian and reformer. Though his full name was long he was commonly known as Rev. Kingsbury  Rev.David Samson Kingsbury  was born in a rich family but his mind was with the poor and voiceless people The physical  and spiritual plight of the people specially of the marginalized poor people of his day who lived in and around Madras impacted and saddened  him so much. He firmly believed that Christianity would lit light in the lives of the people who were living in physical, intellectual and spiritual darkness.He helped the people who surrounded and approached him by providing the word of God  as food to their ears and  meals as food to their mouths.  He sacrificed his life for the total amelioration and progress of the marginalized poor people . Rev. Kingsbury was really a shining and galvanizing milestones in the social, educational, cultural and religious history of Madras and Tamil Nadu. 

 
     Rev. S.D.S. Kingsbury, B.D, G.E.E.C [London ]

Rev.. S.D. Kingsbury's Parents and Birth    :. Rev Kingsbury's forefathers long ago went from the then Madras Presidency to Malaysia and settled in Phinong in Malaysia  During the second  half of the  nineteenth  century and  continually during first half twentieth century,  a  well-to-do man by name Mr David Sankaralingam was living with his wife Ms Amithammal David Sankaralingam in Phinong in Malaysia  and to this couple, Rev. .Sankaralingam David Samson Kingsbury was born on the 15th July 1905, in Phinong, Malaysia.

S.D. Kingsbury's Siblings : Mr. David Sankaralingam and Ms Amithammal D. Sankaralingam couple gave birth to five daughters and four sons, namely :[1] Mrs. Jeevarathinam, [2] Mrs. Thavamani, [3]Mr. Zaharia, [4] Mr Swamidass, [5] Mr. John. [6] Mr. Kingsbury,[7] Mrs. Nahomi, [8]Mrs. Sambooranam, and [9] Mrs. Sourna. . And out of these siblings Mr Kingsbury and Mr Swamidass chose to do God's ministry .

Rev.S.D.S Kingsbury's Marraige :   : Rev..David Samson Kingsbury, G.E.E.C,[London] married a cute and modest Christian young lady by name Ms Mercy Margaret Magdaline   from an illustrious Christian family from Madras on the 25th January 1937 and the wedding was conducted at St.Albans Church , Cochran, Basin Road, Washermanpet.Madras. Mrs Mercy Margaret Magdaline  was a granddaughter of the famous Tamil Christian Lyricist Rev.Vethamuthu Masillamani [maternal grandpa] and Rev.John Rungaswamy [paternal grandpa] and a daughter of Rev. Jesuraj Williams Rungaswamy, B.D,[ London]of Madras.

         
L to R ;[1] Ms. Rachel Vasanthakumari,[2]Rev.S.D. Kingsbury and [3]Mr.Eliazar G. Kingsgift.

Rev S.D Kingsbury Couple's Children and families   :  Rev.S.D. Kingsbury and Mrs. Mercy Kingsbury Couple  gave birth to seven sons and three daughters namely ;-

[1]]Mr. Enoch David Kingslead[Served in the Indian Army], and  he married Ms.Sugirtha and blessed with three  sons and one daughter namely:[A] Mr. Samson Ruben  and he married Ms. Sivasankari and blessed with two daughters namely:; [1] Ms.Evangeline Sonali Ruben  and  [2] Ms.Magadaline Simoni Ruben [9th Std], [B]Mr. Vimalanand [MRF] married Ms. Grace [Music teacher] blessed with one son by name Kevin,[C]Ms. Mercy Swournalatha [Business] married Mr Nagesh[ Business] blessed with one child by name Suraj, [D]Mr. Oliver[ Business] married Ms Sharmila [self employed] and blessed with one child by name Leo.


2] Mr.Eliazar Greenfield  Kingsgift married Ms.Rachel Vasanthakumarai  and was blessed with four sons and two daughters namely :[A]Mr. Ezekiel Kingsbury Rajan [Business] married Ms Rita Shoba [Home maker] blessed with one daughter and one son namely [1] Ms Evelyn Mercy Priyadharshini ,[2] Mr. Gideon Samson Mathew ,.; [B]Mr. Kingsbury David Suresh he married Ms. Margaret Esther Grace [working at Port Trust], blessed with 2 daughters namely [] Florence Cornelia Karishma ,[2] Ms Angelina Preethi.,[C] Ms.Gabriel Margaret Esther Malathy [Teacher]married Mr Wilfred Joseph Healy [late] blessed with two daughters namely :[1] Ms. Irene Shirley Wilfred [HR] and she married Mr. Rupesh Kumar [ Software Engineer in Hexaware ],and [2]Ms Jennifer Wilfred ,[D]Ms Ruth Magdelene Nirmala [ Home Maker]married Mr Daniel Thomas Sukumaran [Working at Avenue Nissan ] blessed with one daughter and one son namely [1] Ms Joan Fredrina Christy  and[2]Mr Alan David Gabriel, [E] Mr. Solomon David Vinoth [Working in Qatar as Engineer ] married Ms Sumitha Mary Tephella [ she is also working in Qatar in Accounts department] and blessed with two daughters namely [1]Ms Jesica Rachel Nivedita  and [2] Ms Benita Carmel; [F] Mr John Jacob Anand Kumar [ self employed manager].married Ms.Beulah [Home maker] blessed with two children namely: [1]Jason Premkumar  and [2] Johanna Olive.      


3] Mrs. Magdalene Cornelia Nesamani .was a home maker and she married Mr. Divakar Simon [  CBI, Rtd]  and  blessed with three daughters and two sons   .

4] Ms. Rebecca Sarala [home maker ] she married Mr Daniel Ravindraraj [He worked with the Oldams Batteries Industries]  and  blessed with two sons and two daughters..They are actively pursuing the Lord's ministry around their residential area in Naduveerampattu

5]Mr. Angel Rophayal Kingschoice was married to Mrs.Irene and  blessed with one son

6]Mr. Jesuras Kingsgrace married Ms. Augustin Vimala and blessed with two sons and two daughters namely :[A]Ms. Magdalene  Hepziba [ Beautician]and she married Mr. Stanley [  Medical representative] and blessed with 2 sons namely ;[1] Christopher Samuel , and [2] Jacob Samuel .; [B]Mr. John William Rangasswamy [ Supervisor] and he married Ms Jancy [Home Maker] and blessed with one child by name [1] Jensia,; [C] .Mr Franklin Joshua [ AC Mechanic] and he married Ms.Vijayarani [ Teacher] and blessed with two children namely ;[1] Kings Augustin Vimal   , and [2]Merlin, [D]Ms Sheeba Priyadharshini [ Home Maker] and she married Mr. Ganesan Joshua and blessed with one child by name [1] Aadish Franklin.

7]Mr. Willaim Berton Kingscall [ worked in the Public Service] married Ms. Saleena

8]Mr. Franklin Joseph Sankaralingam kingsglory [ He worked with the Guru Gas Agencies as a maintenance Officer]  married Ms.K. Ruth  Rubavathy [Home maker]  and  blessed with a son and a daughter namely [1] K. Mercy Madhumitha [ Doing Ph.D ]and [2] S.K. Benjamin Kings[ B.E Aeronautical Engineering]. .

9] Mr. Benjamin Kingsbury remained unmarried  He worked in Rig Oil Refineries in Singapore.

Rev S.D Kingsbury's  Baptism and Early Gospel Work :. Before starting his full time ministerial work Rev. Kingsbury was a business man and  was in Paper Business and made enough money..However his innate inclination was for Lord's ministry and during the early years of his life he was much influenced by the Maranatha Mission . As he fully  believed that the  second coming of Christ  will be soon, he spiritually prepared himself for baptism . As per his wish and his spiritual preparedness   Rev. S D Kingsbury was baptized in a  Marathana Church.. Rev Kingsbury started his gospel propagating work  in 1933 . And in tune with his burning ambition. for the propagation of the Gospel , he went to many places and preached the Gospel . He once risked his life and  wandered in the thick forest of Nepal and preached the gospel to the local people of Nepal But he was beaten and tortured by the Nepalese  people but by the grace of God he survived   As he wanted to qualify himself for the Ministerial work he studied and  completed his Bachelor of Divinity [B D] and also his G.E.E.C [London].
 
Rev.Kingsbury [Standing] and Rev Jesuraj Williams.R
Ordination of Rev. S.D.Kingsbury.   : Rev.S.D. Kingsbury,B.D, G.E.E.C [London ] was ordained on Saturday on  the 21st January 1940 at 3.30 pm  at St James Church, Sundara Mudali Street . Vyasarpadi, Madras by Rev. Dr J.C.Ryan  D.D the then Bishop of North Madras[E.M.S ] in the presence of of Rev Kingsbury's father in law Rev. Jesuraj Williams Rungaswamy [ Bishop's Chaplain and officiating Vicar ,E.M.S General Council . Madras]

He started his Ministry as an Ordained Pastor in EMS, Madras : He started his ministerial career as an ordained Pastor in the Evangelical Missionary Society of Madras . During his ministerial service he was also given the role to  serve as the Secretary and Treasurer of the EMS. Madras.. Rev Kingsbury rendered his service along with his father-in-law Rev. Jesuraj Williams Rungaswamy in the St Margaret Church , in Madras. This was a complete non Christian private area and he helped the surrounding local people by providing both ears and mouth..

He Built Kingsbury National Cathedral [The Indian Orthodox Church] at Vyasarpadi   : Rev. Kingsbury  had been working in and around  Sunderamudali street , Vyasarpadi, Madras,  area since 1938 among the poor dalits of that area for their worldly and spiritual progress.  In that area he decided to build a good church for the people and accordingly the foundation stone for the The Kingsbury National Church [ The Indian Orthodox Church] a was laid on 1-10-1962 by  Rev. Kingsbury's son Mr. S.K. Kingsgift  and  on completion of construction ,the Church was opened by the very Rev.S.D.S Kingsbury on 10-1- 1965. This Church was the first Church  building constructed in Madras exclusively for the converts from downtrodden  Dalit community . This Church functioned under the auspices of the Evangelical Society of Madras .The construction this Society drew the attention of the Christian Missionaries and Christians towards the need for many such Churches of the kind to facilitate the  mass conversion movement  in the nation  .Apart from this Church Rev. Kingbury built 14 other small churches in Arakonam,  Chinadi, Manali and also he built many shelter homes for the orphans , aged people in various places like Kasimedu and Vyasadpadi in Madras.

Conclusion    : Rev Kingsbury  was an eloquent and convincing speaker and his sermons generally revolved around the Second Coming of Christ, the Kingdom of God, Repentance.and Faith   By his ardent sermons he led many towards Christ . He was very compassionate towards the  needy and poor people he gave all his lands and property to  the poor helpless people . Rev. Kingsbury helped the refugees from Burma and  he built shelters in Vyasarpadi for them to settle down.. He built many shelters for the poor christian converts and other poor people in many places in and around  Madras including Vyasarpadi and Kasimedu. During the year 1984 Rev. Kingsbury  donated the "Kingsbury National Cathedral "in Vyasarpadi to the CSI Diocese of Madras during the period of Bishop Rt Rev. Sunder Clarke. This Church was renamed in his memory as the "CSI Kingsbury Memorial Church " and it is in active service till date. He was restlessly and tirelessly striving for the cause of Cross and the poor, and he was struck by a massive heart attack on the 30th January 1985, and he entered heavenly abode at his residence.  His  funeral service was presided by the then Bishop of CSI Madras Diocese Rt Rev. Sunder Clarke and his mortal remains were interred at the Kasimedu Cemetery, Chennai. Rev. Kingsbury was a remarkable person , he lived a meaningful life , in the smiles of the poor people he saw God's presence, he served as a committed servant of God till his death. In the Church history Madras [Chennai]some native Christians like Rev. P. Raja Gopaul, . Rev.T. John Retnam , and a few others had found a place for them, definitely like them Rev. David Samson Kingsbury also deserves a place  in the Church history of Madras[Chennai]. He was kind, unassuming and feared God and loved his fellow human-beings; and he was an Egalitarian and he worked  to bring equality among the people with the help of the Gospel of Christ . I salute him with respect and admiration and end this Article
END
By. P. Babu Manoharan, M.A, [All rights are reserved, This Article will be enlarged, modified, or corrected later if needed].

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