Malankara Mar Thoma Syrian Church, traditionally believed to have been founded by Saint Thomas, one of the twelve disciples of Jesus Christ, in the year AD 52 and is known by the name of the Apostle. Trinity Mar Thoma Church is part of the Mar Thoma Syrian Church which is Apostolic in origin, Universal in nature, Biblical in faith, Evangelical in principle, Ecumenical in outlook, Oriental in worship, democratic in function and Episcopal in character.
The history of the Trinity Mar Thoma Parish can be looked back with a sense of satisfaction and achievement. The exodus of Mar Thoma Syrian Christians from the length and breadth of the State in general and Central Travancore in particular into the Capital of the State from the 1900s for several reasons, such as education and placements, necessitated the formation of full fledged Mar Thoma Parish at Thiruvananthapuram - the St. Thomas Mar Thoma Church at Pattor, in 1920.
In the years that followed, the Parish grew in size with the flow of more and more Marthomites into the City. The Parish reached a stage when it could not but spread to other parts of the City. A humble beginning was the Chapel at Paruthippara, which became a full Parish in 1972. Parishes at Nanthancode (1975), Peroorkada (1975) and Vazhuthacadu (1976) followed.
The Trinity Parish
The Marthoma Community at the Medical College area, comprising primarily of teachers and students of Medical College, had been gathering for prayer and worship at the residence of Shri. K.C. Varghese, fondly called Varghese Upadesi, who always kept his doors open for God’s people. Subsequently, the gathering grew in numbers and they felt the need for a common place of worship in the locality. On the repeated request of the Community, the Edavaka Sanghom of the Mother Parish at Pattoor under the guidance of the visionary Vicar Rev. K.J. Philip entrusted Dr. P.A. Thomas with the task of finding out a suitable place near Medical College to build a Chapel. Tireless and sustained search helped to purchase a piece of land in December 1963.
In May 1965 the Pattor Edavaka Sanghom appointed a Committee to raise funds for constructing a Chapel. In December 1967 a Construction Committee was formed for the completion of the task. The response of the members particularly of the Parishes at Pattoor and Kulasekharam was quite encouraging and the construction work could be completed in June, 1969. The Chapel was formally dedicated on 19th June, 1969 by the then Metropolitan, the Most Rev. Dr. Juhanon Mar Thoma in the presence of Rt. Rev. Dr. Alexander Mar Theophilus, the then Suffragan Metropolitan. The Marthoma Community later moved into the new Chapel for worship, fellowship and sacraments. The selfless services rendered by the late Mr. K.C. Varghese, Dr. V.C. Mathew Roy and Dr. Susan George in organizing the Parish are invaluable and we owe them a deep debt of gratitude. The Chapel later acquired the status of a full parish on 15th August 1975 and Rev. P.T. Abraham assumed charge as the first Vicar. The congregation which began with 70 families, is now one of the strong Parishes of the Mar Thoma Syrian Church in the City with 350 families on its rolls.
The Trinity Parish today is lively and growing. The elite Parishioners with abiding faith in God and deep commitment to the Mar Thoma Church and Society are forging ahead, exploring new areas where they could continue to work for the establishment of the Kingdom of God. The concern they show for the poor, the sick and the needy through charitable work is invariably deep and spontaneous.
It is recorded here in all humility that God Almighty has blessed abundantly and kept this parish safe with the strength of His unseen but ever present arms. All honour and glory to Him and Him alone.