Skip to content
Crest of the Church of South India, Tiruchirappalli–Thanjavur Diocese
Anamalai District Church Council

Holy Trinity Church

The Heritage of Holy Trinity Church, Valparai

  • Valparai
  • Pastorate: Valparai Town
  • 57 pastors named in its history
Holy Trinity Church, Valparai
1925A place of worship was established in 1925
The pastorate today

Who serves here

Rev. Charliban Santhakumar, DCC Chairman
DCC ChairmanRev. Charliban Santhakumar
Rev. PremKumar Doxa
Rev. PremKumar Doxa
CandidateMr. Jesuran Samuel
The history

The story of Holy Trinity Church

The Christian witness in Valparai emerged within the tea-estate communities of the Anamalai hills. In 1918, as the need for pastoral and practical support among plantation workers became evident, a request was made to the Methodist Mission for a worker to serve the community. In response, the catechist Gnanayutham was sent to Valparai, marking an early phase of organised Christian ministry in the area.

Historical Beginnings

The congregation gradually developed, and in 1925 a place of worship was established under the name associated with the missionary Rev. Henry Edwin Bleby. Rev. Henry Edwin Bleby served as the first residential minister in Valparai from 26 December 1928. His ministry became an important part of the early history of the Christian community in the hill settlement.

The Establishment of Holy Trinity Church

In 1940, during the ministry of Rev. C. J. Nallamuthu, the church’s name was changed to Holy Trinity Church. This name has continued to identify the principal church in Valparai and reflects the congregation’s enduring Christian identity.

A significant milestone in the development of the church came on 31 October 1954, when Bishop Rt. Rev. E. B. Thorp laid the foundation stone for a new church building. The building was constructed with the support of the congregation and the wider community. As the population of the area increased, the church was enlarged to accommodate the growing congregation. The present church represents the fifth phase of its construction and development.

The Anamalai Ecclesiastical Region

Valparai was historically connected with the wider Coimbatore–Dharapuram ecclesiastical area. In 1969, the Anamalai ecclesiastical region was constituted as a separate unit. The organisation of this region strengthened the coordination of church ministry among the hill and plantation communities. Eleven congregations developed within the Anamalai region, with Holy Trinity Church, Valparai, continuing its ministry among them.

Over the years, the church has been served by ministers, church workers and lay leaders whose pastoral commitment and service have sustained its worshipping life. The congregation has continued to be a centre for worship, prayer, fellowship and pastoral care for people living in Valparai and the surrounding estate settlements.

The Pastorate Today

The CSI Valparai Town Pastorate is part of the Anamalai region of the CSI Tiruchirappalli–Thanjavur Diocese. From the early ministry among plantation workers in 1918 to the establishment and development of Holy Trinity Church, Valparai, the pastorate’s history reflects the faith, perseverance and shared commitment of generations of Christian families. The CSI Valparai Town Pastorate continues this heritage through worship, pastoral ministry, fellowship and Christian witness among the communities of the Anamalai hills.

“The light shines in the darkness, and the darkness has not overcome it.”
John 1:5
Milestones

Built year by year

Six milestones, laid like courses of stone: the oldest at the foundation, each later one set above it.

  1. 1918Catechist Gnanayutham sent to ValparaiIn response to a request to the Methodist Mission for a worker to serve the plantation community
  2. 1925A place of worship establishedUnder the name associated with the missionary Rev. Henry Edwin Bleby
  3. 1928Rev. Henry Edwin Bleby became the first residential minister in Valparai26 December 1928
  4. 1940Church renamed Holy Trinity ChurchDuring the ministry of Rev. C. J. Nallamuthu
  5. 1954Foundation stone laid for a new church building31 October 1954 · Laid by Bishop Rt. Rev. E. B. Thorp
  6. 1969Anamalai ecclesiastical region constituted as a separate unit
Pastors who have served

On the board in the vestry

The pastors its history names, in the order they served.

  1. ·Rev. C. W. HicksonMissionary, 1925–1968; recorded on 22 February 1925
  2. 1925–1926Rev. H. E. BlebyMissionary, 1925–1968
  3. ·Cecil HallMissionary, 1925–1968; recorded in 1929
  4. ·Rev. W. H. BurnettMissionary, 1925–1968
  5. ·Rev. J. A. HarrisonMissionary, 1925–1968
  6. ·Rev. E. B. ThorpMissionary, 1925–1968
  7. ·Rev. R. B. SpearMissionary, 1925–1968
  8. ·Rev. H. G. EvansMissionary, 1925–1968
  9. ·Rev. J. O. MountfordMissionary, 1925–1968
  10. ·Rev. O. T. ColeMissionary, 1925–1968
  11. ·Rev. G. W. S. KnowelsMissionary, 1925–1968
  12. ·Rev. GirahamMissionary, 1925–1968; recorded in 1954
  13. ·Rev. G. S. DharmarajPresbyter, 1925–1968
  14. ·Rev. C. J. NallamuthuPresbyter, 1925–1968
  15. ·Rev. V. GnanamuthuPresbyter, 1925–1968
  16. ·Rev. J. DevasahayamPresbyter, 1925–1968
  17. ·Rev. C. J. DanielPresbyter, 1925–1968
  18. ·Rev. G. GnanavasagamPresbyter, 1925–1968
  19. ·Rev. ParamandamPresbyter, 1925–1968
  20. ·Rev. Paul TheodorePresbyter, 1925–1968
  21. ·Rev. S. K. Sam SmithAssistant presbyter, 1925–1968
  22. ·Rev. K. J. SelwynAssistant presbyter, 1925–1968
  23. ·Rev. Raja Sekaran EzekielAssistant presbyter, 1925–1968
  24. ·Rev. P. D. PeterPresbyter, 1968–2000
  25. ·Rev. Paul TheodorePresbyter, 1968–2000
  26. ·Rev. Joseph SamuelPresbyter, 1968–2000
  27. ·Rev. G. GnanavasagamPresbyter, 1968–2000
  28. ·Rev. Tilak SamuelPresbyter, 1968–2000
  29. ·Rev. JeyapaulPresbyter, 1968–2000
  30. ·Rev. P. DurairajPresbyter, 1968–2000
  31. ·Rev. A. W. ThiyagarajanPresbyter, 1968–2000
  32. ·Rev. J. DurairajPresbyter, 1968–2000
  33. ·Rev. Justin ShanthakumarPresbyter, 1968–2000
  34. ·Rev. DevapitchaiPresbyter, 1968–2000
  35. ·Rev. Thomas GurupathamPresbyter, 1968–2000
  36. ·Rev. GnanaponnalanPresbyter, 1968–2000
  37. ·Rev. A. W. ThiyagarajanAssistant presbyter, 1968–2000
  38. ·Rev. A. PaulrajAssistant presbyter, 1968–2000
  39. ·Rev. Paul Sunder SinghAssistant presbyter, 1968–2000
  40. ·Rev. DevapitchaiAssistant presbyter, 1968–2000
  41. ·Rev. John SamuelAssistant presbyter, 1968–2000
  42. ·Rev. GunajothimaniAssistant presbyter, 1968–2000
  43. ·Rev. ChandramohanAssistant presbyter, 1968–2000
  44. ·Rev. Paul RathnamAssistant presbyter, 1968–2000
  45. ·Rev. JeevanadamAssistant presbyter, 1968–2000
  46. ·Rev. Tilak SamuelPresbyter, from 2001
  47. ·Rev. John EllisPresbyter, from 2001
  48. ·Rev. A. W. ThiyagarajanPresbyter, from 2001
  49. ·Rev. Dr. Shanthi TilakPresbyter, from 2001
  50. ·Rev. D. DharmarajPresbyter, from 2001
  51. ·Rev. D. JeyarajPresbyter, from 2001
  52. ·Rev. P. Paul SundersinghAssistant presbyter, from 2001
  53. ·Rev. Shanthi TilakAssistant presbyter, from 2001
  54. ·Rev. SelvarajAssistant presbyter, from 2001
  55. ·Rev. James PaulAssistant presbyter, from 2001
  56. ·Rev. S. Tilak SamuelAssistant presbyter, from 2001
  57. ·Rev. D. SureshkumarAssistant presbyter, from 2001
Its District Church CouncilAnamalai: its officers and every pastorate
Previous churchSirukundra PastorateNext churchVellonie Pastorate