Introduction : Late Revd John Caspar Kohlhoff of Tanjore Mission was a remarkable Man of God and forgotten Missionary. The Protestant Christians of South Travancore are bound to remember the great historical part played by late Rev John Caspar Kohlhoff of Tanjore Mission with great gratitude and indelible memories for what he had done for the spread of Christianity in South Travancore by baptising Mylaudy Maharasan in 1799 at Tanjore [ C.M. Agur, B.A, Church History of Travancore, page 441 ]. On one Sunday while preaching at the garden Church at Schwartz garden , Thanjavur, [ now it is called CSI St Peters Church Tanjore], Rev John Caspar Kohlhoff saw the Travancore Pilgrim Mylaudy Maharasan, who later became the real Founder of the Protestant Church in Travancore [Rev.I.H. Hacker , A Hundred Years In Travancoe, 1908,p.20] and his brother's son Sivagurunathan in yellow dress inside the small Church located inside Schwatrz Garden, Maharnonbu Chavadi, [later it was named as St. Peter's Church ] instantly he recognised the importance of Maharasan and after the service Rev. J.C. Kohlhoff approached Mylaudy Maharasan and won his heart by conveying the love and concern of Christ for all human-beings. Subsequently after having taught about the basics of salvation through faith in Jesus Christ and by the grace of God, to Mr Mylaudy. Maharasan and his nephew Mr Sivagurunathan.,Rev. John Caspar kohlhoff baptised Maharasan with a new name Vedamanickam and Mr Sivagurunathan as Masillamani . It would be appropriate to know the concise history of C.S.I.St. Peter's Church in Thanjavur . Originally this Church was a small and unnamed Church; it was founded by the Rev. Fr. Schwartz in Schwartz Garden presented to him by Tulja Maharaj of Thanjavur, located in Maharnonbu Chavadi in Thnjavur. The Rev. C.F. Schwartz was the first Pastor of this small church and served in this Church from 1770 till 1793[ Rev. C.F. Schwartz died on 13th February, 1798]; and he was succeeded by his adopted son Rev. John Caspar Kohlhoff . In 1827 a Missionary by name Rev. Peter made some needed changes in the Church structure so as to encompass the graves of Rev. C.F. Schwartz and his adopted son and successor Rev.John Caspar kohlhoff . But Rev. Peter died before the completion of the construction of this Church. However this Church was consecrated on 31st January 1845 by Bishop Spencer Paul and this Church was named "St Peter's Church" after Rev Peter . As the number of believers increased Rev. William Herbert Blake of SPG, Tanjore built a new Church near the original Church in the same compound and the new Church was consecrated on 18th October 1900. St. Peter's Church, Thanjavur was amalgamated with the Church of South India on 27th September 1947 , and since then this Church is being called as C.S.I. St. Peter's Church, Thanjavur. God used the baptised Mylaudy Maharasan Vedamanicakm as a powerful tool to sow the words of Jesus Christ in South Travancore and to win souls for Christ . A perusal of the Protestant Church History will reveal that in many ways Rev John Caspar Kohlhoff helped, guided and galvanised Mylaudy Maharasan Vedamanaicakm to be a powerful, purposeful and soul winning pioneer native Evangelist in South Travancoere .
Rev. John Caspar Kohlhoff of Tanjore Mission
The Rev.J.C.Kohlhoff's Family : Rev. John Caspar kohlhoff was a scion of an illustrious Lutheran Christian and literary family and his parents hailed from Neuwarp, Pommerania, Europe and it would be really useful to know some more information about the famous Kohlhoff family.. A Forefather of Kohlhoff family one Mr Caspar Kohlhoff [ Senior] was the Burgomaster [ Master of the citizens -- Chairman of the Executive council or Cabinet] of Neuwarp in the bay of Stetin and he married Ms Regina Hesse the daughter of Elias Hesse and granddaughter of the the great German Latin Poet Eobanus Hesse [ Helius Eobanus Hessus] a great follower of Dr. Marin Luther.. Eobanus Hesse was a great German Latin Poet of his time . Eobanus Hesse was a student of Mr Ludwig Stippius, a great Confidant of Dr. Marin Luther. Helius Eobanius Hessus was appointed as Professor of Latin at an University and he took active part in the contemporary religious, political and literary conversations and issues of his time. Mr.Helius Eobanius Hesse gave his full support for Dr. Martin Luther and the Reformation till his death in October 1540. Mr Caspar Kohlhoff [Senior]and his wife Miss Regina Hesse gave birth to 4 daughters and 3 sons and this couple's third child and eldest son Rev John Balthasar kohlhoff was born in November 1711 at Neuwarp. . Mr John Balthasar Kohlhoff studied at the Rostock Academy and Halle University till 19th September 1736, and was ordained at Copenhagen on 7th October 1736.
Very Valuable information about Rev.John Caspar Kohlhoff great Christian leader
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Deletewohderful article, Swartz Died on 1798. not 1793
ReplyDeleteThanks for your encouraging comment. Yes Rev. C.F Schwartz died on 13th February 1798. I have accommodated this point in my Article now .. Thanks
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