St Stephen’s Church, Jebagnanapuram, Solaikudiyiruppu | memorial, monument, interesting place

 memorial, church, monument, interesting place

After the conversion of Velu Muthu Mukhanthar of Solaikudiyiruppu as Vedha Muthu Mukhanthar, there were several people who embraced Christianity in Solaikudiyiruppu. Hence a church was built in Santhapuram (St Andrew's Church, Pavanasapuram), which was dedicated by Rev. C T E . Rhenius in 1825.

During the tension due to caste issue between Vedanayagam Sastri (1774-1864), a Christian poet at the court of Tanjore Marata King Saraboji, who enjoyed the support of the CMS and Rev. C T E Rhenius (with Lutheran background) , Vedha Muthu Mukandar took the side of Rev. C T E Rehnius. In Palayamkottai, when Rev. C T E Rhenius was ex-communicated in 1835, his supporters started a Prayer Hall in Adaikalapuram, near the Holy Trinity Church. Similar things happened in all the places, where ever Rev. C T E Rehnius had planted churches, so was in Solaikudiyiruppu. Vedha Muthu Mukandar too started a Prayer Hall near his house at Jebagnanapuram. This division continued even after the demise of Rev. C T E Rehnius in 1838. As Rt Rev V S Azariah was in the threshold of Indianising churches, by unifying various denominations, the reason for having separate Prayer Halls became irrelevant. So it was decided to handover the Prayer Hall to the Tirunelveli Diocese. My grandfather Mr D N Gnanayutham signed the deed of transfer of land to the diocese, with an assurance that a presbyter will be appointed.

The Church was dedicated on 2nd November 1940 by Rt Rev. Stephen Neil, then Anglican Bishop in Tinnivelli Diocese. On 3rd March 1971, this church was re-dedicated with a Steeple by Rev. M D Rajamani. Once again the church was re-dedicated on 26th December 1989 by Rt Rev. Jason Dharmaraj, then C.S.I. Bishop in the Diocese of Tirunelveli.

In 2008 Mr Andrew known as ANTHEREIAH in Tamil of Jebagnanapuram undertook the major renovation work of the church which was almost completed just before his demise.

Currently this church is part of the M. Santhapuram Pastorate (under Meignanapuram circle) of the C.S.I. Nazareth-Thoothukudi Diocese. The Love Feast (Asanam) of this church is conducted every year on 26th of December.

My parents named Stephen, because their ancestral church name is dedicated to St Stephen.

- Citation by Rev. Ravikumar Stephen J (Grandson of Mr D N Gnanayutham)