Religion Christianity in Dubai Directory

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Church of South India, Dubai in Dubai Directory

The C. M. S. Mission of Help to the Jacobite Syrians of Kerala was started in the year 1816, of which the initiative came from Col. Munro, the then British Resident of Travancore. There were two main purposes behind the mission of Help to the Syrians. First of all, through the work of the C. M. S. Missionaries among the Syrians, to effect the renovation of their church and to raise them from their degradation. Secondly, the British resident as well as the missionaries hoped that, a strong and friendly Christian Community will be a support to the British power in Malabar. Rev. Thomas Norton was the first missionary who came to Travancore in this connection. He was soon followed by Benjamin Bailey (1816), Joseph Fenn (1818) and Henvy Baker Sr. (1819) who are popularly known as the Kottayam Trio. These three concentrated their work among the Syrians, whereas the pioneer missionary, Norton focused his work among the outcastes in Alleppey. Though the relationship between the missionaries and the Jacobite Syrians went on well without many problems in the beginning, it did not last long. The change of leadership in the Jacobite Syrian community as well as the change of missionaries caused much problem in the relationship. During the second half of the Mission of Help, the pioneer missionaries went on furlough. While they were away new men came on the scene, Joseph Peet (1833-1865) and W. J. Wood Cock (1834-1837). The young missionaries were rather impatient about the slow progress being made and were sometimes rash in their actions. The visits of the Rev. J. Tucker, Secretary of the C. M. S. Corresponding Committee at Madras, and Bishop Wilson, the Anglican Bishop of Calcutta did not heal the wound, these two being uncompromising evangelists. This was followed by a Synod of the Syrian Christians at Mavelikkara on 16th January, 1836, in which the Jacobite Syrian Community under Mar Dionysius IV, the then Malankara Metropolitan decided to break all their relationships with the Church of England. With this we see an early death of the twenty year old C. M. S. Mission of Help to the Syrian Church of Travancore.

Address: Rev. Varghese Philip, Flat No. 4, Block No.6, Shaikha Mariam Bldg., Karama, Dubai., P.O.Box 6365, Dubai, U.A.E,
Telephone: 00971 4 3372111
Fax: 00971 4 3372110
Website: http://www.csidubai.com/