The Tamil Evangelical Lutheran Church (TELC)

The Tamil Evangelical Lutheran Church Thamil Suvesesha Lutheran Thiruchabai Membership: 103,093 This church is a lineal descendant of the Danish-Halle mission enterprise which began when Bartholomew Ziegenbalg and Pluetschau landed at the Danish crown colony of Tranquebar in 1706. Under J. P. Fabricius, C. F. Schwartz, and others, a confessionally Lutheran community of many thousands arose in and around Tranquebar, Tanjore, Tiruchirapalli, Tirunelveli -- provided with Tamil Bible, catechism and hymnal, and a parochial school system. When rationalism attacked the church in the homelands after 1800, the Danish--Halle mission declined rapidly in vigor and Anglicans of the Church Missionary Society began to assume responsibility for the former Lutheran community. It was to renew the enterprise of the former Danish-Halle mission that the Dresden-Leipzig Mission sent J. H. C. Cordes to the area in 1840 (and forty-four others between 1840 and 1880), a decision which led to the restoration of many Tamil Christians to their former Lutheran allegiance. Swedish Lutherans began to assist the Leipzig Mission in 1849. In 1874 the Church of Sweden Mission assumed responsibility for a share of the Tamil field, and in 1901 a separate Swedish diocese was created. In 1919 the Church was formally established, adopting the episcopal form of polity. On the 250th anniversary of the arrival of Ziegenbalg and Pluetschau in 1956, Dr. Rajah B. Manikam was consecrated the first Indian bishop of the Tamil Church, succeeding Swedish Bishop J. Sandegren. Rajah B. Manikam served as the Executive Secretary of the Christian Council of India and Pakistan before he became the bishop. He was a powerful speaker and has been well known for his work, Christianity and the Asian Revolution. Headquarters of the church are in Trichinopoly. A theological seminary is maintained in Tranquebar. Rt. Rev. Dr. J.G.Johnson was the ninth bishop. He was succeeded by Rt. Rev. Dr. T. Aruldoss.