Alaratan Tripura at 06:23, 24 February 2026

2026-02-24T06:23:05Z

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{{Use dmy dates|date=July 2020}}
{{Use Indian English|date=July 2020}}
[[File:Arappally02.jpg|alt=Thiruvithamcode Arappally under Malankara Orthodox Syrian Church is believed to be built by Thomas the Apostle|thumb|[[Thiruvithamcode Arappally]] under [[Malankara Orthodox Syrian Church]] is believed to be built by [[Thomas the Apostle]]]]
'''Christianity in Kanyakumari district''' is the largest religion in the district. The [[Catholic Church]] has about 500,000 followers, while the [[Protestantism|Protestant groups]] have about 400,000 members.<ref name=":4">{{Cite web|url=https://www.ibiblio.org/ahkitj/wscfap/arms1974/Book%20Series/TheImageOfGodIM/IOGIM-hinduchristian.htm|title=Hindu Christian Communalism; Analysis of Kanyakumari Riots|website=www.ibiblio.org|access-date=2019-11-13}}</ref>

Christianity is said to date back to the 1st century CE.<ref name=":0">{{Cite web|url=https://www.thehindubusinessline.com/blink/shoot/divine-intervention/article9978132.ece/photo/1/|title=Divine intervention|last=Asthana|first=Deepti|website=@businessline|language=en|access-date=2019-11-13}}</ref> According to the tradition, [[Thomas the Apostle|St. Thomas]], one of the twelve apostles, landed on the [[Malabar Coast]] (Kerala) in 52 CE and introduced Christianity.<ref name=":0" /><ref name=":1">{{Cite news|url=https://www.thehindu.com/features/metroplus/the-church-that-st-thomas-built/article4720703.ece|title=The church that St. Thomas built|last=Sathyendran|first=Nita|date=2013-05-16|work=The Hindu|access-date=2019-11-13|language=en-IN|issn=0971-751X}}</ref> It is believed he built [[St. Mary's Church, Thiruvithamcode|St. Mary's Church]] in [[Thiruvithamcode]] in 63 CE.<ref name=":1" /> During the [[Early modern period|colonial period]] [[Italians|Italian]], [[British people|British]], [[Dutch people|Dutch]] and [[Portuguese people|Portuguese]] Christians came to [[Tamil Nadu]].
{| class="wikitable"
|+Population of Christians by census decade
!Year
!Christian population
!Total population
!Percentage
|-
|1961<ref name=":7" />
|367,808
|996,915
|36.89%
|-
|1971<ref>{{Cite web |date=1971 |title=Portrait of Population: Tamil Nadu |url=https://censusindia.gov.in/nada/index.php/catalog/31517}}</ref>
|475,572
|1,222,549
|38.90%
|-
|1981
|551,908
|1,423,399
|38.77%
|-
|1991
|677,676
|1,600,349
|42.35%
|-
|2001
|745,406
|1,676,034
|44.47%
|-
|2011<ref name="Religion" />
|876,299
|1,870,374
|46.85%
|}
In 1961, Christians comprised nearly 37% of the population.<ref name=":7">{{Cite web |date=1961 |title=District Census Handbook: Kanyakumari |url=http://lsi.gov.in:8081/jspui/bitstream/123456789/6550/1/22108_1961_KAN.pdf}}</ref> In 2011, the Christian population of Kanyakumari is nearly 47% of the population.<ref name="Religion">{{cite web |date=2011 |title=Table C-01 Population by Religion: Tamil Nadu |url=https://censusindia.gov.in/nada/index.php/catalog/11392/download/14505/DDW33C-01%20MDDS.XLS |website=censusindia.gov.in |publisher=[[Registrar General and Census Commissioner of India]]}}</ref>

== Denominations ==
The [[Roman Catholic Church]] ([[Latin liturgical rites|Latin Rite]]), the [[Church of South India]], The London Mission Congregational Churches (L.M.S.), [[Assemblies of God in India]], [[India Pentecostal Church of God]], [[The Pentecostal Mission]], [[The Salvation Army]] Church, the [[Syro-Malabar Catholic Church]], the [[Jacobite Syrian Christian Church]], the [[Syro-Malankara Catholic Church]], the [[Malankara Orthodox Syrian Church]], the Evangelical Church of India and other evangelical denominations are there. The Latin Rite of [[Roman Catholic Church]] (RC) is the oldest and the largest and has a homogeneous presence throughout the district. The second-largest church by number of members is the [[Church of South India]] (CSI) and third largest are [[Pentecostals]].The vast majority are the members of Latin Rite [[Roman Catholic Church]]

=== Roman Catholic Church ===
[[File:Our_Lady_of_Ransom_Church.jpg|thumb|Our Lady of Ransom Church in Kanyakumari]]
In 1542, [[Francis Xavier|St. Francis Xavier]] came to Kanniyakumari District.During the 16th century, he converted thousands of [[Paravar]] fishermen between [[Ramanathapuram district|Ramanathapuram]] and Kanyakumari to [[Catholic Church|Catholicism]]. Between 1543 and 1544 Francis established forty-five churches in the coastal areas of Travancore. one of the church he built is [[St. Francis Xavier's Cathedral, Kottar]]<ref name=":4" />
[[File:St. Xavier's Church, Kottar.JPG|thumb|St. Xavier's Church, Kottar]]

=== Church of South India ===
The [[British East India Company]], helped Protestant churches to grow in the Kingdom of Travancore and [[Madras Presidency]]. Conversions took place in [[Kanyakumari district|Kanyakumari]] and [[Tirunelveli district|Tirunelveli]] from among the Nadar and [[Paraiyar|Paraiyan]] communities by the work of the [[Church Mission Society|Church Missionary Society]] and [[London Missionary Society|London Missionary Society (L.M.S.)]]. In 1818, 3000 members of the Nadar caste were said to have embraced Christianity.<ref name=":4" />

During the 18th century, on the request of kholf iyer the German missionary [[William Tobias Ringeltaube]] came to Travancore (year 1806) and stayed in [[Mylaudy]].<ref name=":3">{{cite book|title=Converting Women: Gender and Protestant Christianity in Colonial South India|last=Kent|first=Eliza F.|publisher=[[Oxford University Press]]|year=2004|isbn=9780195165074|page=43}}</ref> Over a period of ten years, [[William Tobias Ringeltaube|Ringeltaube]] succeeded in building his mission. The first church ([[Ringeltaube Vethamonikam Memorial Church, Mylaudy|CSI mylaudy]]) was built at [[Mylaudy]] in September 1809. [[Ringeltaube Vethamonikam Memorial Church, Mylaudy]] was the cathedral of [[Kanyakumari Diocese]] of [[Church of South India]] (CSI). Many schools were started along with the churches to educate the poor people. Even non-Christian students also received education. A printing press was started by his mission in 1821. Medical wing of the mission was established in 1838.<ref name=":3" />

[[File:9T2A8228.jpg|thumb|Ringeltaube Vethamonikam Memorial Church, Mylaudy|alt=9T2A8228.jpg]]

=== The Syro-Malabar Catholic Church ===
In 1996, the [[Syro-Malabar Catholic Church]] created its first `[[Syro-Malabar Catholic Eparchy of Thuckalay|Diocese of Thuckalay]]`in Kanyakumari district, which was under the [[Syro-Malabar Catholic Archdiocese of Changanassery]] in Kerala until then.<ref>{{Cite web|url=http://www.syromalabarchurch.in/diocese_details.php?id=27|title=Syro Malabar Thuckalay Eparchy|website=www.syromalabarchurch.in|access-date=2019-11-13}}</ref>

=== The Syro-Malankara Catholic Church ===
The newly established `[[Syro-Malankara Catholic Eparchy of Marthandom|Diocese of Marthandam]] split from the Syro-Malankara Archdiocese of Trivandrum in Kerala<ref>{{Cite web|url=https://www.catholicate.net/eparchies/eparchy-of-marthandam/2|title=EPARCHY OF MARTHANDAM|website=www.catholicate.net|access-date=2019-11-13}}</ref> also in 1996.

=== Full Gospel Pentecostal Church ===
In 1933 the FULL Gospel Pentecostal Church was Created in Kadamalaikuntu near [[Mekkammandapam]] it is founded by Pr John Rose and it has 350+ Churches all over India , It Has various Dept like Youth etc Its Location in Kadamalaikuntu

=== Assemblies of God Church ===
In 1922 Mrs. Sheelal Manasseh pioneered Assemblies of GOD church was established in [[Melpuram]] which was part of then Travancore state by missionaries. It has been one of the early pioneering churches in the region.

===Saron Bethel Deva Sabai ===
The [[Saron Bethel Deva Sabai]] was founded in 1979 by [[Rev D Samuel]] in [[Melpuram]]<ref>Melpuram</ref> Kanyakumari District It has 10+ Local Church and Prayer House . It is a Pentecostal Christian Denomination in India. Its organisational headquarters located in '''Melpuram''' Location is [https://g.co/kgs/YWz3uWi SBDS Head Quarters]

== Caste system ==
{{See also|Channar revolt|Breast Tax}}
During the period of [[Travancore|Kingdom of Travancore]], the present day Kanyakumari district was under the control of the Kingdom. It was caste-based. Those who belonged to lower castes were denied education, choice of occupation and basic dignity. The women of the lower castes were not allowed to cover their breasts and they had to pay the ''mulakkaram'' [[Breast Tax|(breast tax]]) to the king if they wanted to cover their breasts. The tax was amount depended on their breast size.<ref name=":62">{{Cite web|url=https://www.ststworld.com/breast-tax/|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20200508173000/https://www.ststworld.com/breast-tax/|url-status=usurped|archive-date=8 May 2020|title=Breast Tax and the Revolt of Lower Cast Women in 19th Century Travancore|date=2019-05-17|language=en-GB|access-date=2019-11-15}}</ref><ref name=":9">{{Cite web|url=https://indianexpress.com/article/explained/sabarimala-row-travancore-parallel-the-fight-to-wear-an-upper-garment-5406642/|title=Travancore parallel: the fight to wear an upper garment|date=2018-10-18|website=The Indian Express|language=en-IN|access-date=2019-11-15}}</ref><ref>{{Cite news|url=https://www.bbc.com/news/world-asia-india-36891356|title=The woman who cut off her breasts to protest a tax|date=2016-07-28|access-date=2019-11-14|language=en-GB}}</ref><ref>{{Cite web|url=https://thewire.in/education/cbse-removed-history-womens-caste-struggle|title=The CBSE Just Removed an Entire History of Women's Caste Struggle|website=The Wire|access-date=2019-11-14}}</ref><ref name=":52">{{Cite web|url=https://www.newindianexpress.com/states/kerala/2009/jul/27/a-struggle-for-decent-dress-71376.html|title=A struggle for decent dress|website=The New Indian Express|access-date=2019-11-15}}</ref> A woman baring her chest to noble class was considered a sign of respect, by both males and females from the lower castes.<ref>{{Cite web|url=https://www.thenewsminute.com/article/dress-code-repression-keralas-history-breast-tax-avarna-women-48982|title=Dress code repression: Kerala's history of breast tax for Avarna women|last=Unni Nair|first=Supriya|date=|website=the news minute|url-status=live|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20160829210420/http://www.thenewsminute.com/article/dress-code-repression-keralas-history-breast-tax-avarna-women-48982 |archive-date=29 August 2016 |access-date=2019-11-13}}</ref><ref name=":5">{{Cite web|url=https://www.newsclick.in/saffronisation-education-ncert-syllabus-drops-chapters|title=Re-writing History, Saffronising Education: Remembering Nangeli Lest Government Makes Us Forget|date=2019-03-19|website=NewsClick|language=en|access-date=2019-11-13}}</ref> Higher-class women covered both breasts and shoulders, whereas lower castes including [[Nadar (caste)|Nadar]] and [[Ezhava]] women were not allowed to do so, to show their low status.<ref name=":5" /><ref name=":6">{{Cite web|url=https://indianexpress.com/article/explained/sabarimala-row-travancore-parallel-the-fight-to-wear-an-upper-garment-5406642/|title=Travancore parallel: the fight to wear an upper garment|date=2018-10-18|website=The Indian Express|language=en-IN|access-date=2019-11-13}}</ref> Uneasy with their social status, many Nadars embraced [[Christianity]], and started to wear long cloths. When many more Nadar women turned to Christianity, many Hindu [[Nadar (caste)|Nadar]] women adopted the [[Nair]] breast cloth.<ref name=":62" /><ref name=":9" /><ref name=":52" /><ref name=":6" />

From 1813 to 1859 laws were enacted and repealed by the Kingdom regarding the upper cloth issue.<ref>{{Citation |last =Cohn |first=Bernard S. |year=1996 |title=Colonialism and Its Forms of Knowledge |publisher=Princeton University Press |isbn=9780691000435 |url=http://press.princeton.edu/titles/5870.html |page=140}}</ref><ref>{{Citation |last=Ponnumuthan |first=Selvister |year=1996 |title=The Spirituality of Basic Ecclesial Communities in the Socio-religious Context of Trivandrum/Kerala, India |publisher=Universita Gregoriana |page=109}}</ref> During this period waves of violence and agitation continued between the higher and lower castes. Due to the [[Channar revolt|rebellion of lower castes]], in 1859 the kingdom permanently permitted lower caste women to wear garments on their torsos.<ref name=":62" /><ref name=":52" />

However, the claims of breast-taxes being levied in order to prevent lower-caste women from covering their breasts are hotly contested. Renowned Malayali historian Manu Pillai claims that the idea that it was meant to prevent them from covering their breasts is farfetched.<ref name="telegraphindia.com">https://www.telegraphindia.com/culture/style/the-breast-tax-that-wasnt/cid/1803638</ref> Author Swati Gautam also cites in her article<ref name="telegraphindia.com"/> partisan and ideologically backed ideas of connecting apparent "Brahminical" ideas of violence to the tax, which was meant purely for differentiation between the sexes.

== Notable churches ==
* [[Curusadi St. Antony's Church]]
* [[Marthandam CSI Church]]
* [[Our Lady of Ransom Church, Kanyakumari]]
* [[Periyanayaki Shrine, Thiruvithancode]]
* [[St. Francis Xavier's Cathedral, Kottar]]
* [[St. Mary's Basilica, Mulagumoodu]]
* [[St. Sebastian Church, Madathattuvilai]]
* [[St. Antony's Church, Chemmanvilai]]
* [[St. Mary's Church, Thiruvithamcode]]
* [[Ringeltaube Vethamonikam Memorial Church, Mylaudy|Mylaudy CSI church]]

== See also ==
* [[Christianity in Tamil Nadu]]
* [[List of Christian denominations in India]]

== References ==
{{reflist}}

[[Category:Christianity in Tamil Nadu| ]]

Christianity in Kanyakumari district - Revision history

Alaratan Tripura at 06:23, 24 February 2026