PARISH HISTORY
Brief History
By the grace of God, the first Holy Communion of Mar Thoma Church was celebrated in this garden city, Christchurch, in September 2007 by Rev Raji Eappen, vicar of St Thomas Mar Thoma Church, Auckland. At that time, it was done for the Kerala Christian community of Christchurch. In fact, it was the first holy communion service in Malayalam among all the Christian churches in the city. Thanking God for benevolently supporting this group to grow from humble beginnings to a strength of more than thirty families in this city now.
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With effect from August 2021, the Christchurch Marthoma community was recognised as a formal congregation of the Malankara Mar Thoma Syrian Church. In 2023, our congregation was registered as a charity organisation with Charities Services, New Zealand.
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The Episcopal Synod held in November, 2024 officially recognized us as a Parish of the Malankara Mar Thoma Syrian Church with effect from 1st December, 2024
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Metropolitan and Episcopal Visits
Even though we were very small in numbers, we had been fortunate and blessed by the visits and prayers of various bishops of our church. First one happened as early as November 2009, when, Rt Rev Dr. Joseph Mar Barnabas Suffragan Metropolitan (Episcopa at that time). This was followed by the visit of the late Most Rev Dr. Joseph Mar Thoma Metropolitan in January 2013 and administered Holy Communion, which was attended by Rt Rev Victoria Matthews who was the then Christchurch diocese Anglican bishop. In June 2014, late Rt Rev Dr Zacharias Mar Theophilus Suffragan Metropolitian visited us and had Holy Communion service along with a first communion. We are also fortunate to see and hear Rt Rev Dr. Thomas Mar Theethos Episcopa via Zoom for our Christmas function in December 2021. Our first Episcopal visit after being a Congregation was in October 2023. Our diocesan bishop Rt. Rev. Dr. Gregorios Mar Stephanos visited us and had Holy Communion service.