Christianity in Tamil Nadu

Christianityin the state ofTamil Nadu,Indiais the second largest religion in the state. According to tradition,St. Thomas,one of thetwelve apostles,landed inMalabar Coast(modern dayKerala) in AD 52.^[1]^[2]In the colonial age many Portuguese, Dutch, British and Italian Christians came to Tamil Nadu. Priests accompanied them not only to minister the colonisers but also to spread the Christian faith among the non-Christians in Tamil Nadu. Currently, Christians are a minority community comprising 6% of the total population.^[3]Christians are mainly concentrated in the southern districts of Tamil Nadu -Kanyakumari(47.7% of the population, 2011^[3]),Thoothukudi(19%, 2011) andTirunelveli(15%, 2011).

Thiruvithamcode ArappallyinKanyakumari districtunderMalankara Orthodox Syrian Churchis believed to be built byThomas the Apostle

TheCatholic Church—including theLatin Church,Syro-Malabar Church,andSyro-Malankara Catholic Church—theChurch of South India,thePentecostals,The Salvation ArmyChurch, theJacobite Syrian Christian Church,theMalankara Orthodox Syrian Church,the Evangelical Church of India, the Apostolics, and other evangelical denominations constitute the Christian population in Tamil Nadu. The Latin Church of the Catholic Church has 18 dioceses including theArchdiocese of Madras and Mylaporeand theArchdiocese of Madurai,and has a homogeneous presence throughout the state. The second-largest church by the number of members is theChurch of South Indiawith eight dioceses in Tamil Nadu. They areCoimbatore Diocese,Kanyakumari Diocese,Madras Diocese,Madurai-Ramnad Diocese,Thoothukudi – Nazareth Diocese,Tirunelveli Diocese,Trichy-Tanjore Dioceseand theVellore Diocese.Church of South India Synod,the highest administrative body of theChurch of South India,is in Chennai. The vast majority of Christians in Tamil Nadu are either Latin Catholics or members of theChurch of South India.The Pentecostal Mission(TPM) is headquartered in Chennai. TheCongregationalchurches were a small group calledThe London Missionary Society (LMS)run under Travancore Church Council (TCC) with its headquarters in Nagercoil. The London Mission Congregational churches date back to 1795 when British missionaries were sent to 19th century Tamil Nadu and Kerala States of South India.

Salvation Army in Tamil Nadu

The Salvation Armyis an International Christian Church and charitable organisation. There are six territories in India; Eastern, Western, Northern, Central, South Eastern and South Western Territory. Tamil Nadu and Pondicherry come under the Central and South Eastern Territory. There are more than 1000 churches over Tamil Nadu and Pondicherry. School, colleges, homes, shelters, and medical services are provided here. The Salvation Army does missionary, medical, educational, emergency disaster, and social services.

The Salvation Army operation commenced on 27 May 1892 as a result of the vision received by Major Deva Sundaram at "Medicine Hill" nearNagercoilinKanyakumari District.He had been praying and fasting with three officers in South Tamil Nadu. As the Army experienced rapid growth in South India, the territory was separated from Southern Territory on 1 October 1970. States included in the territory: Tamil Nadu, Pondicherry. 'The Salvation Army' in Tamil: Ratchaniya Senai in Malayalam: Raksha Sainyam. Languages in which the gospel is preached: English, Malayalam, Tamil. Periodicals: Chiruveeran (Tamil), Home League Quarterly, Poresatham (Tamil), The Officer (Tamil)

Saint Thomas Christian denominations

In 1996, the Syro-Malabar Catholic Church created its first `Diocese of Thuckalay` in Kanyakumari district, (which was under theSyro-Malabar Catholic Archdiocese of Changanasseryin Kerala till then), of Tamil Nadu. The same year the Syro-Malankara Catholic Church has also newly established the `Diocese of Marthandam` (bifurcated from its Archdiocese of Trivandrum) inKanyakumari district.The Malankara Orthodox Syrian Church established its first dioceseChennai Diocesein the year 1979.St. Thomas Mountin Chennai, the place whereSt. Thomas,one of the disciples ofJesus Christ,was believed to have been martyred, is an important pilgrimage site for Indian Christians. TheSanthome Basilica,supposedly built atop the tomb of St. Thomas, and theVailankanni Basilica of Our Lady of Good Health—revered churches by India'sRoman Catholics—are good examples of majestic church architectures in Tamil Nadu.

Christianity In Kanyakumari District

One of the disciples of Jesus Christ,St. Thomasintroduced Christianity inKanyakumari.He built achurchinThiruvithamcodein 63 AD. In the first half of the 16th century, thousands of fishermen converted to Catholicism due to the efforts ofFrancis Xavier.He built achurchinKottar,Nagercoil.In the 18th century (1806) European missionaryWilliam Tobias Ringeltaubeestablished Protestant churches and propagated Christianity inKanyakumari districtandSouth Travancore.He built a first ProtestantChurchinmylaudy.

Demographics

Christians in Tamil Nadu
Year	Number	Percentage
1951	1,427,382	4.74
1961	1,762,954	5.23
1971	2,367,749	5.75
1981	2,798,048	5.78
1991	3,179,410	5.69
2001^[4]	3,785,060	6.06
2011^[5]	4,418,331	6.12

Population by districts

**Districts with significant percentage of Christians as per 2001 census**
District	Christian (numbers)	Christian (%)
Tamil Nadu	3,785,060	6.02
Kanyakumari	745,406	44.47
Thoothukudi	262,718	16.71
The Nilgiris	87,272	11.45
Tirunelveli	296,578	10.89
Tiruchirappalli	218,033	9.02
Chennai	331,261	7.63
Dindigul	145,265	7.55
Ramanathapuram	84,092	7.13
Tiruvallur	169,719	6.16
Kanchipuram	170,416	5.92
Sivaganga	67,739	5.86
Thanjavur	124,945	5.64
Ariyalur	36,261	5.21
Pudukkottai	66,432	4.55
Coimbatore	185,737	4.35
Viluppuram	115,745	3.91
Virudhunagar	68,295	3.90
Madurai	86,352	3.35
Cuddalore	73,611	3.22
Theni	33,830	3.09
Nagapattinam	45,780	3.07
Vellore	102,477	2.95
Tiruvarur	31,621	2.70
Tiruvannamalai	55,180	2.52
Erode	55,414	2.15
Perambalur	8,412	1.70
Salem	50,450	1.67
Karur	13,863	1.48
Dharmapuri	39,019	1.37
Namakkal	13,137	0.88

**Districts with significant percentage of Christians as per 2011 census**
District	Christian (numbers)	Christian (%)
Tamil Nadu	4,418,336	6.12
Kanyakumari	8,76,299	46.85
Thoothukudi	2,91,908	16.68
The Nilgiris	84,610	11.51
Tirunelveli	3,42,254	11.12
Tiruchirappalli	2,46,156	9.04
Dindigul	1,69,945	7.87
Chennai	3,58,662	7.72
Ramanathapuram	91,139	6.73
Kanchipuram	2,56,762	6.42
Tiruvallur	2,33,633	6.27
Sivaganga	75,481	5.64
Thanjavur	1,33,971	5.57
Coimbatore	1,90,314	5.50
Ariyalur	37,403	4.95
Pudukkottai	72,850	4.50
Viluppuram	1,38,279	4.00
Virudhunagar	67,405	3.47
Madurai	97,711	3.22
Cuddalore	83,334	3.20
Theni	37,574	3.02
Nagapattinam	47,579	2.94
Vellore	1,11,390	2.83
Tiruppur	70,015	2.82
Tiruvannamalai	66,987	2.72
Tiruvarur	33,621	2.63
Erode	55,899	2.48
Krishnagiri	36,898	1.91
Perambalur	10,310	1.82
Salem	58,450	1.55
Karur	16,863	1.55
Namakkal	16,898	0.98
Dharmapuri	14,089	0.94

Important basilicas

San Thome Basilica

Santhome Cathedral built in 1523

San Thome Basilicais aRoman Catholic(Latin Rite) minorbasilicaand one of the three National Shrines in India located inSanthome,Chennaicity (Madras),India.It was built in the 1523 byPortugueseexplorers, and rebuilt again with the status of acathedralby theBritishin 1893. The British version still stands today. It was designed inNeo-Gothicstyle, favoured by Britisharchitectsin the late 19th century. Christian tradition holds that St. Thomas arrived in Kerala & Kanyakumari Dist in 52 AD preached between 52 AD and 72 AD, when he was believed to be martyred onSt. Thomas Mount.The basilica is built over the site where he was believed originally to be interred.

San Thome Basilica is the principal church of theMadras-Mylapore CatholicArchdiocese. In 1956,Pope Pius XIIraised the church to the status of a MinorBasilica,and on 11 February 2006, it was declared a nationalshrineby theCatholic Bishops' Conference of India.The San Thome Basilica is apilgrimagecentre forChristiansin India. This church is a very important site in the world for Christians. The church also has an attached museum at back.^[6]

Basilica of Our Lady of Good Health,Velankanni

Basilica of Our Lady of Good Health in Velankanni, Tamil Nadu Entrance

TheBasilica of Our Lady of Good Healthis located in the small town ofVelankanniin the state ofTamil Naduin SouthernIndia.TheRoman Catholic basilicais devoted toOur Lady of Good Health.Devotion to Our Lady of Good Health of Velankanni can be traced to the mid-16th century and is attributed to threemiraclesat different sites around where the basilica currently stands: theapparitionofMaryand theChristChild to a slumberingshepherdboy, the curing of a lamebuttermilkvendor, and the rescue ofPortuguesesailors from a violent sea storm.^[7]

Although all three apparitions ultimately resulted in the erection of ashrineto our Lady, it was the promise of the Portuguese sailors that was the proximate cause of a permanent edifice being built at Velankanni. Thechapelwas dedicated on the feast of theNativity of the Blessed Virgin Mary(8 September), the day of their safe landing. More than 500 years later, the nine-day festival and celebration is still observed and draws nearly 5 millionpilgrimseach year. The Shrine of Our Lady of Vailankanni, also known as the "Lourdesof the East, "^[8]is one of the most important Christian religious sites frequented by Christians inIndia.

Basilica of Our Lady of Snows, Thoothukudi

Basilica of Our Lady of Snows, Thoothukudiis located atThoothukudi, Tamil Nadu,India. It is one of the Catholicpilgrimagecenters in India dedicated to theOur Lady of Snows,a title given toMother Mary.TheShrinename refers to theBasilica di Santa Maria MaggioreinRome.The site is known for Portuguese architecture and Portuguese prayers and now it is recognised as a Tamil Nadu notable pilgrim site.

St. Francis Xavier's Cathedral, Kottar

St. Xavier's Cathedral, Kottar, kanyakumari district

St. Francis Xavier's Cathedral, Kottar,is aRoman CatholicLatin Rite shrine inKottar,Nagercoil,in theKanyakumari districtof Tamil Nadu state, India. While Francis Xavier was doing missionary work in Kottar and its neighbourhood, he averted an invasion of Vadugas with the help of the army of Paravars and Padaiyatchis ofKottar,at Vadasery, thus protecting the people of the Venad kingdom from that attack which was appreciated by the king, Unni Kerala Varma, who became closer to the priest and befriended him from then on. In recognition of Xavier's services, the king allotted him a piece of land to construct aCatholic church,as a gesture of goodwill, as per the church records. There was already a small church, in the same place whereSt. Xavier Churchstands at present, dedicated to Mary the Mother of God, since AD 1544. Church records indicate thatSt. Xavier Churchwas built in 1600. In 1865, the Shrine ofMarywas renovated and enlarged. In 1930, the church was raised to the status of acathedral.The annual festival is celebrated duringNovember–December,lasting for 10 days.