C.S.I. Ellis Memorial Church

C.S.I. Ellis Memorial Church
C.S.I. Ellis Memorial Church
Location	Dharapuram, Tamil Nadu
Country	India
Denomination	Church of South India
History
Former name(s)	Ellis Memorial Church
Founder(s)	Rev. J.J. Ellis (JJE)
Dedication	File:Rev. J. J. Ellis with Family.jpg
Relics held	Bone of St. Thomas
Architecture
Functional status	Active
Heritage designation	National Shrine
Style	Gothic
Specifications
Length	64 metres (210 ft)
Width	12.2 metres (40 ft)
Nave width	10 metres (33 ft)
Spire height	47.2 metres (155 ft)

Ellis Memorial Church is affiliated to Church of South India in C.S.I Compound, in the Town of Dharapuram (Tamil Nadu), India. It was built in the 19th century by Rev.J.J. Ellis, and rebuilt again with the status of a cathedral by the British in 1893. The British version still stands today. It was designed in Neo-Gothic style, favoured by British architects in the late 19th century.

History

The Rev Ellis whom we always called J.J.E. decided that the best thing for me would be to learn Tamil in Dharapuram and whenever possible to go out to the villages with him to get to know the background and village life of the children in the boarding school. He built the C.S.I. Ellis Memorial Church in 1929.

In 1813 Methodist people entered the southern part of India by sea and on 22 Feb 1913 Mr. Alagan from Perunkarunai paalayam (near Kaangayam) accepted Jesus as the Saviour. Now we are celebrating the 100th year of Gospel in southern India, also preparation for building a Church in Perunkarunai Paalayam was on process. This was a wonderful opportunity for me and a great stimulus for language study as of course the children and the village people didn’t know any English at all. When Rev.J.J.Ellis. left for village visits, generally round about 2pm, I had to be ready with tea and supper picnics and we often weren’t home until 2am. He was always up again by 5am for his essential quiet-time.

After that Dr. Anne Booth Mission Hospital was started in the name of Dr. Anne Booth. It was built mainly for the poor and needy so now, we had the privilege of conducting the Healing Ministry Week from 05-11.02.2007. The daily devotions were taken in the hospital chapel in the theme of “Healing the Broken and the Wounded” given by the Christian Medical Association of India.

We conducted the healing ministry Sunday in collaboration with the local C S I Ellis Memorial Church, Dharapuram on the final day, 11 th Feb, 2007. Rev. Rajamanickam, Asst. presbyter and Rev. D. Devasirvatham. the presbyter in charge led the opening prayer in the first and the second service respectively and the rest of the order of service was led by the Staff of C S I Dr Anne Booth Mission Hospital, C S I School Of Nursing and The Bishops College Of Nursing. The whole of the congregation attended these services.Now Rev.Mrs.Nallini Immanuel,D.C.C.Chair person,Rev.Ruban Prabu presbyter Mr.A.Duraikkannu Secretary,Mr.K.Mansingh Treasurer.

The sermon on “Healing the Broken and the Wounded” was given by our Medical Officer Dr. D. Pethuru, MD (Comm. Med). He challenged the congregation to actively participate in the healing ministry of the Diocese. Special songs were given by the Hospital choir. A small gist of the infrastructures and facilities available in our hospital.

It was told that the hospital is financially self-sufficient from August 2006 till date and the staff were given spiritual training on regular basis to cater the spiritual need of the patients. The second offertory was taken in both the services for the expenses of Gospel work of the Hospital and the spiritual development of the staff.

This was a branch of CSI Mission General Hospital is located in Urayur, Tiruchirappalli.

Gallery

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  Rev. J. J. Ellis and Family
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  Gospel Starts spreading in Dharapuram
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  Recent photograph of the Church 'Front View'
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  Straight view of the Church