Introduction: Late Rev. James Emlyn was one of the greatest and tallest LMS Missionaries who ever came and worked in South Travancore. He was mainly responsible for the spread of protestant Christianity in Parasalai, Palliyadi and Marthandam and made Parasalai Mission District as an important Christian centre. The Congregations established by him play a dominant role in the affairs of Knayakumari CSI Diocese today. As a founder of Marthandam he had laid new foundation for the religious, social, medical, educational and economic development of Marthandam and its surrounding areas in South Travancore. He specially played a significant role to establish fraternity and equality among the Christians and championed the cause of social justice in Christian churches. A perusal of his excellent life story will galvanise the readers to live a meaningful life.
ADPAR VILLAGE, THE NATIVE PLACE OF REV JAMES EMLYN.
Rev. James Emlyn's Birth: Adpar is a small village located in the county of Cardiganshire on the western coast of Wales, U.K, and is situated in the picturesque valley. It is nestled between the towns of Newcastle Emlyn and Cardigan, Adpar village is surrounded by rolling hill, lush green countryside and is bordered by the meandering river Teifl. In this beautiful village Rev James Emlyn's parents lived and gave birth to Rev James Emlyn on the 7th of April 1838. His Original full name was James Emlyn Jones.
Rev James Emlyn was Ordained: Rev. James Emlyn after having finished his high school studies successfully he pursued his Theology Course at the famous Weston College at Highgate and passed his theology course. On the successful completion of Theological studies Mr. James Emlyn was ordained as a Priest, at the Craven Church on the 9th of June 1867.
His Marriage and his missionary journey to Nagercoil, India: Rev James Emlyn married Ms Emily Seymoor at the Bristol Hay Craft Babtist Church in June 1867. Rev James Emlyn joined the LMS as a Missionary and he was sent to Nagercoil as a LMS Missionary. Rev James Emlyn started his sea journey towards Nagercoil, on 11th of September,1867 and after 9 months of tedious sea journey he reached Nagercoil on the 11th of June,1868 and took charge of Parachalai LMS Mission Circle South Travancore, and continued up-to 1892.
Rev James Emlyn Started His Missionary Career: On 1st of May, 1869 Rev James Emlyn started his missionary career in South Travancore as a Parasalai Cicle LMS Missionary. On arrival at Nagercoil he stayed at Nagercoil for one year and learned Tamil During this period of time he received necessary information about Parasalai LMS circle from Rev Newport who worked at Parasalai circle as a missionary
Rev James Emlyn assumed Charge of Parasalai Circle: On the 1st of May 1869 Rev James Emlyn assumed the Charge of Parasalai LMS Circle along with his beloved wife Ms Emily. When he assumed the Charge of Parasaai circle, the Parasalai circle was already a blessed missionary field with large number of congregation members, Rev. Emlyn along with his ministerial work, he concentrated on the educational service to uplift the educational standard of the congregational members and also he did noteworthy social service in Parasalai Circle to eradicate caste based inequality among the church members. Parasalai Circle progressed qualitatively and quantitatively well. Rev Emlyn worked in Parasalai Circle for about 22 years from May 1869 till May 1890 with great enthusiasm and efficacy.
Rev James Emlyn's Ministerial Service in Palliyadi: Palliyadi is a beautiful idyllic village in Vilavancode taluk in Kanyakumari District, and it lies on the road that connects Iravipudurkadai and karungal. at a distance of 3.Km. from Iravipudurkadai. Palliyadi was then within the Parasalai Mission Circle. After great struggle Rev James Emlyn succeeded to build a central Church by name Christucoil In Palliyadi. Rev James Emlyn purchased the needed land to build his dream Church Christucoil in 1881. The foundation stone for the proposed Christucoil was laid by the leader of the LMS Visiting Committee Mr Albert Spicer . LMS Head quarters did not give permission to build the Christhucoil in Palliyadim in that situation Rev James wisely requested Mr Albert Spicer to lay the foundation stone. In this context Rev James Emlyn appointed catechist Mathias to supervise the five affiliated congregations, The construction work of the Christhucoil was started by Rev Emlyn and he fixed an inscription stone with the following words on the wall of the Christhucoil, " Erected by Rev. James Emlyn 1882"The construction work of the Christhucoil was completed and it was dedicated to the glory of God on 27th of June 1888, by Rev James Emlyn. Rev Emlyn loved the Christhucoil very much, with a passion. This Palliyadi LMS [ CSI] congregation has produced the outstanding multifaceted leader Marshal A, Nesamony, who is considered, as the Father of Kanyakuamari District, Rev James Emlyn longed to educate the people who lived in and around Palliyadi. In 1871 Rev Emlyn established a Tamil and English medium school in Murungavillai near Palliyadi. Rev Emlyn also started a School for girls. .
Rev Emlyn Built a Church at Maruthancodu: When Rev Emlyn was serving as the Parasalai Circle in Charge, there were two small congregations called Kurumathur and Pandaravilai near Maruthancodu area. Re Emlyn decided to build a new Church at Maruthancodu by uniting these two small congregations. The lofty Maruthancodu Church has been built at a very high place. Maruthancodu Church progressed very quickly in a spectacular manner. In the year 1916 this Maruthnacodu Church was raised as a Pastorate church Since 1979 this Maruthancodu Church has been serving as a District Church. It would be appropriate to mention here that this Congregation has produced some outstanding Servants of God. The Second Bishop of kumari CSI Diocese Rt Rev Selvamony and the fourth Bishop of the Kumari CSI Diocese Rt Rev M.I. Kesari hailed from this Maruthancodu CSI Church
Rev Emlyn's Ministerial Service in seashore villages: Rev Emlyn loved to preach the grace of God to every section of the society. and strived to establish new congregations and to build churches for the new congregations. While he was serving as the Parasalai Circle missionary he preached the Good-news in the Coastal Villages called Kollencodu, Valla Vilai, Thuthur, and Poothurai. The Roman Catholics who lived in Kollencodu decided to join the LMS due to their misunderstanding with the Catholic Priests. Rev James Emlyn along with his regular ministerial work in Kollencodu Village, he took steps to build two Schools Kollenkodu village and strived hard for the progress of the local people In Kollencodu. many families joined the LMS Congregation and two smart lads were selected from Kollenkodu and sent to Nagercoil LMS Seminary for theological training. Even though Rev James Emlyn did good work at Kollencodu village among the fishermen he could not keep them in LMS in the long run.
Rev James Emlyn is called as the Architect of Modern Marthandam: Marthandam is situated on the Nagercoil Trivandrum main road at a distance of 27 k.m. from Nagercoil. Currently Marthandam Town is considered as the second most important town in Kanyakumari District. Marthandam is also called as Honey City. The missionaries, who worked in Marthandam area before Rev Emlyn tried their best to buy land for the LMS in Marthandam but failed but Rev Emlyn succeeded in buying 150 acres of land for LMS in Marthandam This area was later called as Marthandam Mission Compound. After purchasing the land Rev Emlyn took active initiatives to develop the Mission Compound area and new Christian settlements were made. in the Mission Compound. Nearly 10 acres of land was given to YMCA freely The lands bought by Rev Emlyn played a pivotal role for the holistic development of Marthandam. "The principal success in Emlyn's period of service was his endeavour to make Marthandam the Head Station of Parasalai District. He gradually worked there until there was a congregation of 208 adherents, two Boys' schools, with 332 pupils, one Girls School with 33 pupils and one dispensary. he thought the Marthandam would be a good centre to work among Sudras and he recommended to the Board of director" [J.G. Duresh, James Emlyn Iyer, kanjiracodu, 2025, ]. in the year 1888 Emlyn started a British Post office at Marthandam with great vision. He also established a Public Library at Marthandam to inculcate flair reading in the minds of the people and to open the doors of knowledge to all sections of the people. On account of his tireless efforts and with the help of Neyyoor Medical Mission, for the first time a small hospital was started near Vegetable Market in Marthandam and the same has bloomed as a full-ledged hospital today.
Conclusion: The land of the current Marthandam Nesamony Memorial Christian College was bought by Rev James Emlyn with great far-sighted vision Rev. James Emlyn was a great Social Thinker and Activist. He wanted to eradicate the evils caste discrimination He believed that education to Girls is a must for the development of the society. and in 1882 he started a Girls Primary School at Marthandam area. He also noticed caste discrimination inside the four walls of the Churches. He firmly believed tbat Mixed marriage between different castes alone will remove the evils of caste discrimination and inequality. The small hospital started at Marthandam due to the initiative taken by him, has bloomed into a large full-fledged CSI mission hospital in Mathandam. The Parasalai LMS Circle has produced some noteworthy personalities. It has produced Scientist, famous Doctors, Judges, Bishops, tall Leaders and so on. The father of Kanyakumari district late Marshal A. Nesamony, B.A, B.L, M.P, haile3d from Palliyadi LMS Church [CSI], Bishop Rt. Rev Selvamonny and Rt. Rev M.I Kesari hailed from Maruthancodu LMS [CSI] Congregation, Acclaimed theologian Dr Samuel Amirtham hailed form The Parasalai Abbs Memorial Church. In May 1890 Rev Emlyn retired from active ministerial service. Rev James Emlyn died on the 206h of June 1917 and his body was buried at the Cheruvarakkonam Abbs Church Cemetery by the side of his wife's grave. He lived a simple life, he loved his sheep, he was unassuming It is not possible to accommodate all the important chapters of his life within the space of this Blogpost. I will end this Blogpost with the following sentence. "Dear and respected Pastor Rev James Emlyn, we thank God for your meaningful life and are proud of you and we love you"
END
By. P. Babu Manoharan, M.A[ All rights are reserved. The Blogpost will be enlarged, modified or corrected later if need].
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