Our History

When the second phase of the Good Shepherd Hall was dedicated, the Rt. Rev. Dr. Jeyaseelan Jacob praised the congregation as ‘கொடுக்கும் சபை, கேட்கும் சபை மற்றும் படைக்கும் சபை’. The history of the Good Shepherd Church amply justifies his testimony.

After World War II, many Lutheran Christians who had been in Malaysia and Singapore returned and began settling in Tiruchirapalli City. Most of them hailed from Annamangalam, Eachampatty, Mettupatti, Lalgudi, and Pullambadi, with the aim of educating their children. A large number settled in the Puthur, Woraiyur, Tennur, and Thillainagar areas. They all belonged to the T.E.L.C. even while abroad, so they chose to attend the Zion Church in Tiruchi to worship the Lord. During that time, it was quite difficult for them to reach Zion Church due to limited bus services. Moreover, they had to walk a long distance from Marakkadai to the church, as there was no bus route from Gandhi Market to the Puthur and Woraiyur areas. The alternative was horse-drawn carts, but the railway gate at Tennur posed a significant obstacle. Facing such hardships, the Lutheran Christians residing in those areas felt it would be better to build a church in the western part of the city.

In the early 1960s, this intention was communicated to the P.C. of the Zion Church and the then Bishop, late Rt. Rev. R.B. Manickam. Although the request was reasonable, it was not heeded. As an alternative, cottage prayer meetings were held, and late Rev. A.S. Rajendran took care of the spiritual needs of this part of the city. However, as time passed, problems arose in conducting the cottage prayers in certain locations. Consequently, late Mr. A.W.D. Michaels’ house in Tennur, which had a large hall, was selected as the venue, and Sunday evening services were held there by late Rev. A.J. Sathiyanathan for the benefit of the residents. Eventually, this venue became too small for the growing number of worshippers.

The staunch Lutherans, most of whom were retired, renewed their request for a church in this locality in the mid-sixties. The then Bishop and the Venerable Church Council acknowledged that their need was just and asked them to look for a suitable site. The late Mr. M. John, the late Mr. J. Lazarus, the late Mr. John Daniel, the late Mr. Henry James, the late Mr. Rajaiah Lazarus, along with late Mr. John Daniel Muthusamy, first chose a site near Aruna Theatre, which was easily accessible to all the residents of Puthur, Woraiyur, Tennur, and Thillainagar. However, this proposal did not materialise. They then negotiated for a site behind the Tennur Post Office with late Mr. E.V.R. Periyar, who was willing to sell it to the church, but this also did not come to fruition.

The Lutherans in this area became quite frustrated and took non-cooperative measures against the Zion Church administration due to their indifference and negative attitude regarding this matter. They decided to stop contributing to the church fund of the Zion Church and instead began collecting and managing the funds themselves. They then started a place of worship in the upstairs of late Mr. William Moses’ house (the then R.D.O. of Tiruchi). Late Rev. D.S. Manickam, the then Pastor of Zion Church, conducted Divine Services there. As the gathering grew larger, they were compelled to seek a new venue. Late Mr. I.J. Muthusamy, who was then in Ethiopia, kindly agreed to provide the upstairs of his twin house in Puthur, which included a staircase for access. A large thatched shed was erected, and regular Divine Services were held there. Observing the enthusiasm of the members, late Rt. Rev. Deihl, the then Bishop of Tranquebar, deemed it appropriate to declare this place a place of worship and dedicated it. Holy Communion Services were conducted there, and we are very grateful to late Rev. J. Aruldoss, who regularly came to conduct the Divine Services.

In 1970, pressure was once again applied to the then Bishop, late Rt. Rev. Deihl, and the Church Council to build a church building. By this time, they recognised the need for a church in this area and began taking positive steps in this direction. Late Mr. William Moses and late Rt. Rev. Deihl played crucial roles in negotiating and securing the present site for the church. Late Rev. Ayyadurai and late Mr. John Daniel Muthusamy obtained the ‘No Objection Certificate’ from the collectorate for the construction of the church, with the assistance of late Mr. William Moses. The Church Council stipulated that one-third of the construction costs should be borne by the congregation, one-third by the Zion Church, and one-third by the T.E.L.C. Donations were raised, and our share was paid promptly.

The then Bishop, late Rt. Rev. A.J. Sathiyanathan laid the foundation stone for the church on 26 January 1973. The church was constructed under the direct supervision of Mr. Manson from Sweden, who was the T.E.L.C. Engineer and C.S.M. representative at the time. It is worth noting that during this period, the late Rev. Ayyadurai would visit the church site every morning at 6 a.m. by bicycle, making the journey from the Zion Church compound where he resided to oversee the progress of the construction. The Good Shepherd Church was dedicated on 20 June 1976 by the then Bishop late Rt. Rev. Easter Raj. Following this, the pastors of Zion Church, late Rev. Ayyadurai and late Rev. D. Dhanaraj, along with Candidate Paul Sathiyamurthy and Candidate Wilson Mohanraj, conducted Divine Services regularly.

Initially, the church had a small congregation of about 50 to 60 families, with a modest church fund collection of ₹900 per month. However, the size of the congregation gradually increased, necessitating the bifurcation of the Mother Church. The then Bishop, late Rt. Rev. Jeyaseelan Jacob, and the Church Council deemed it appropriate to bifurcate the Zion Church and establish a new pastorate at Puthur. Under the chairmanship of the late Rev. J.W. Daniel, the bifurcation took place, and the Good Shepherd Church, Puthur, was declared a separate pastorate from 9 July 1978, with late Rev. D. Samuel Devaraj as its first pastor. The advisory committee members included:

• (Late) Mr. C. David
• (Late) Mr. Henry James
• (Late) Mr. Rajaiah Lazarus
• (Late) Mr. John Daniel Muthusamy
• (Late) Mrs. Mercy Williams
• (Late) Mr. A. Devachariam

The church, which began as a ‘C’ class pastorate with a very limited income, gradually grew in stature—both in terms of membership and income—and made a significant leap from ‘C’ class to ‘A’ class within a short span of five years. However, apart from church fund collections, it had no other source of income.

The need for a parsonage became pressing, and with considerable effort, donations were raised to construct it in 1983, when late Rev. Henry Devadoss was the pastor. There was no belfry, and the congregation again contributed towards its construction, with the cost of the bell being covered by the T.E.L.C.

The church had to manage all its needs independently. Furnishings were provided by the generous members of the congregation, and lighting, fans, and the organ were also supplied by them. We are particularly grateful to the late Rt. Rev. E.B. Muthusamy, who donated the entire cost for the wooden pulpit of the church. Additionally, we thank late Mr. I.J. Muthusamy for gifting the current electric organ to the church. We owe our gratitude to many other friends and congregation members for their donations in cash and kind; I apologise for not being able to list them all, as it would be a lengthy enumeration.

To begin with, a crèche was established to care for children aged 3 to 5, enabling poor working parents in the locality to utilise this facility. The establishment of a nursery school was also contemplated. To expand the spiritual and social needs of the people in and around the church, the congregation expressed a desire to build a hall that could cater to the needs of the local community, provide accommodation for various church activities, and create a Christian atmosphere around the church.

In a short time, with the help of donations from congregation members and our mission partners, particularly Mr. Bergland of the C.S.M., we were able to complete the first phase of the Good Shepherd Church Hall in 1992. The building was dedicated on 10 January 1993 by the then Bishop, Rt. Rev. Jeyaseelan Jacob and was opened by Rt. Rev. J.G. Johnson, the Bishop-elect. It serves as a multi-purpose hall to meet the social and spiritual needs of the congregation and the local community. It also housed the nursery school established by the church and was used by the public during times of calamity, such as floods.

In 1993, a group of German ladies, who were classmates and friends of the late Dr. Miss. Siron Athisayam, visited the church. Impressed by the work being done, they encouraged us to expand our efforts and promised their support. Late Dr. Miss. Siron Athisayam and late Mr. I.J. Muthusamy subsequently visited various Day Care Centres in Tiruchi and Mayiladuthurai and prepared a project proposal to establish a Day Care Centre in the church with financial assistance from the German sisters. With their help and blessings, and with the cooperation of the congregation, a Day Care Centre named T.E.L.C. Steiner Day Care Centre was inaugurated on 1 February 1994 by the Good Shepherd Women’s Fellowship Wing of the church, with the approval of the Pastorate Committee.

Other friends from Germany who visited us proposed the idea of starting a Sewing Centre for destitute women and school drop-out girls. The Good Shepherd Women’s Wing embraced this challenge and established a Sewing Training Centre on 1 June 1995. A separate building now houses both the Day Care Centre and the Sewing Training Centre. The Day Care Centre caters to the needs of 30 underprivileged children from the locality, aged between 3 and 5. They are provided with uniforms, nutritious meals, and snacks. Emphasis is placed on cleanliness, good habits, and pre-school education, alongside fostering a Christian atmosphere.

The Sewing Training Centre accommodates around 25 women, preparing them for Government Technical Examinations in sewing and embroidery. Many of those who completed the training have secured employment in government and other institutions, while others have become self-sufficient by utilising their sewing skills.

The congregation felt that the ground floor of the Good Shepherd Hall was insufficient to meet the social needs of the local community. Consequently, in 1996, a thatched shed was erected, and the terrace of the hall was fully furnished with dining tables and chairs. However, the thatched roof required extensive repairs within about three years. Since investing money in temporary structures proved to be unwise, the congregation decided to pursue the construction of the first floor of the hall.

The construction of the first floor was undertaken with generous donations from the congregation, their children employed outside Tiruchy, and other well-wishers. An amount of ₹900,000 was raised, and the first floor of the hall was completed in record time, officially opened on 18 June 2000 by Rt. Rev. T. Aruldoss, Bishop of Tranquebar. With dining facilities now available, the hall is frequently used by both the Christian community and others.

Having been dedicated on 20 June 1976, the church marked its Silver Jubilee in 2001. A conference of church members was held on 13 August 2000, during which they opted for the expansion and renovation of the church, including a new concrete roof. A Building Committee was formed, comprising:

• Convenor: Rev. John Gunalan
• Chairman: Mr. I. J. Muthusamy
• Secretary: Dr. Appadurai
• Treasurer: Mrs. Jessie Aruldas

The Church Council and the Bishop of T.E.L.C. approved the undertaking. The work was entrusted to Er. John J. Arnold, a member of the congregation, who generously offered his services free of charge. The original estimate for the project was ₹8,50,000, but due to rising costs—particularly for cement—it increased to ₹11,50,000. Despite financial challenges, the congregation rose to the occasion, contributing generously. The expanded and renovated Good Shepherd Church stands as a testament to their dedication.

Choir

The Church Choir owed its beginnings to the enthusiasm of late Rev. Ayyadurai and Mr. Sugumar. With many gifted voices in the congregation, Mr. Joha Devasitham took charge as Choir Master, investing his own money to procure modern equipment to enhance the music for Divine Worship. Under his leadership, the church boasted one of the finest choirs in Tiruchy. Dr. J.G.R. Sathiaseelan’s contributions as a violinist are also deeply appreciated. The church extends its gratitude to all choir members.

Women’s Fellowship

The church has a Women’s Fellowship, comprising a group of dedicated women who have rendered exceptional service to the fellowship. One cannot forget the late Dr. Miss. Siron Athisayam, who was a shining example to us all. Initiatives such as the Good Shepherd Day Care Centre and the Women’s Sewing Centre, established under her leadership, will forever remain on the premises to glorify the Lord’s name. Good works, such as visiting and praying for the sick and assisting the congregation during the harvest festival, deserve recognition and special thanks.

Building Committee and Building Maintenance Committee

Whenever a project is launched, a Building Committee is formed to assist the Pastorate Committee. Under the capable leadership of late Mr. I.J. Muthusamy as chairman and the pastors as convenors, the then committee has performed excellently. Without their diligent efforts, the construction of the Church Hall and the subsequent renovation and expansion of the church would not have been possible. The Building Maintenance Committee is also taking great care in maintaining the buildings and providing additional facilities as needed. Both committees deserve special mention and our praise.

Sunday School

The church has a Sunday School for children during the sermon. Mrs. Florence Dharmaraj and Mrs. Prema Wilson have taken on the responsibility of running the Sunday School. For the first time in May 2001, a Vacation Bible School was conducted, with 115 children participating. Dr. J.G.R. Sathiaseelan served as the Director, and members from the church and the community conducted classes for the children under the theme “சாம்பலுக்கு பதில்; சிங்காரம்”.

Pastors of the Good Shepherd Church

The excellent work done by pastors of the Good Shepherd Church since its bifurcation deserves special appreciation, and we are grateful to them for their dedicated service to this church. The contributions of all the pastors have been instrumental in nurturing the spiritual growth of the congregation and fostering a sense of community within the church.

This content was prepared by – Late Mr. Michael George, the then Secretary, Pastorate Committee. For the Silver jubilee magazine which was published on 5^th August 2001.

Our journey reflects the resilience and dedication of our congregation. From humble beginnings to becoming a thriving community hub, the church has continually adapted to meet the needs of its members and the surrounding community. The ongoing support from congregation members, mission partners, and the broader community has been vital in achieving the church’s goals and expanding its outreach. As we look to the future, we remain committed to serving the spiritual and social needs of our community, ensuring that the Good Shepherd Church continues to be a beacon of hope and faith for all.