The History of Our Church
The Lord has done this, and it is marvelous in our eyes. Ps.118:23
The Marthoma Church in the Hyderabad-Secunderabad twin cities traces its origins to the 1950s, to the vision and dedication of a group of Marthomites who had left the green pastures of their homes behind and settled down in the twin cities. Their vision of continuing in the traditions of their forefathers in the patterns of worship, fellowship and service, and bringing up their children in these traditions, today flourishes in the form of four Marthoma parishes in the twin cities.
It was a heart-felt desire and a logistical need for the Marthomites living around Ramachandrapuram / BHEL / Lingampalli, to have a place of worship closer home. Mr. M.V.Thomas, IPS, the then vice-chairperson of HUDA (Hyderabad Urban Development Authority), played an instrumental role in convincing the civil authorities to allot a plot of land for Christian worship at HUDA colony, Chandanagar, Hyderabad. The foundation stone for the church was laid on Monday, the 2nd of October, 1986, by the present Metropolitan of the Marthoma Church, the Most Rev. Dr. Joseph Marthoma Metropolitan. In 1987, His Holiness the Metropolitan, dedicated the church to God’s glory and named it the St. Thomas Marthoma Church, Ramachandrapuram. We acknowledge the grace of God and the co-operation of our well-wishers and parishioners of the Hyderabad-Secunderabad center in realizing this dream.
Through all these years, God has blessed us with the able leadership of some of the most dynamic achens in the Marthoma Church. The vicars who have served the Hyderabad St.Thomas Marthoma Church, Ramachandrapuram through all these years, are:
| 1 | Rev. P.O Thomas | 1985-1987 | Hyderabad |
| 2 | Rev. Thomas Varghese | 1987-1989 | Hyderabad |
| 3 | Rev. Kuruvilla Philip | 1989-1991 | Santhimandiram missionary |
| 4 | Rev. M.S Daniel | 1991-1995 | Ramachandrapuram |
| 5 | Rev. K.M Mathew | 1995-1998 | Ramachandrapuram |
| 6 | Rev. Thomas P.Koshy | 1998-2001 | Ramachandrapuram |
| 7 | Rev. K.A Abraham | 2001-2004 | Ramachandrapuram |
| 8 | Rev. John Mathew | 2004-2006 | Ramachandrapuram |
| 9 | Rev. George Varghese | 2006-2007 | Ramachandrapuram |
| 10 | Rev. Abraham Chacko | 2007-2007 | Ramachandrapuram |
| 11 | Rev. Joe Mathew | 2007-2011 | Ramachandrapuram |
| 12 | Rev. T.Babu | 2011-2014 | Ramachandrapuram |
| 13 | Rev. Jiji.Mathew | 2014-2017 | Ramachandrapuram |
| 14 | Rev. Thomas John A | 2017- Till Date | Ramachandrapuram |
Our present vicar, Rev. Thomas John took charge in May 2017. We thank God for the leadership rendered by all our vicars in the worship and for their services to the society. We also express our gratitude to all of them.
Throughout its growth, the Hyderabad St. Thomas Marthoma Church, Ramachandrapuram, has been a witness to the goodness of the Almighty Lord. The growth of the parish in the last 25 years is a glowing testimony to the care with which God has nourished this parish. What started as as a small parish with 16 families has now become a parish with more than 100 families with a total strength of nearly 320 members. When the Edavaka felt the need for a parsonage in the church premises, Rev. K.M Mathew (1995-1998) took the initiative in completing the construction of a parsonage. The parsonage was dedicated by our then Diocesan bishop, Rt. Rev. Thomas Mar Timotheos Episcopa on Sunday, the 19th of April, 1998.
The steady increase in our membership also meant that the old church building proved increasingly insufficient to accommodate the numbers. Rev.John Mathew (2004-2006) Achen’s selfless service and leadership saw the extension of our church building to its present shape and structure. The foundation stone for the new church building was laid on Saturday, the 2nd of October, 2004, by our then Diocesan bishop, Rt. Rev. Dr. Zecharias Mar Theophilus Suffragon Metropolitan. The new church building’s construction was completed within a record period of a few months. On Saturday, the 19th of March, 2005, the new church building was dedicated to the glory of God by Rt. Rev. Dr. Zachariahs Mar Theophilus Suffragon Metropolitan. Under the leadership of Rev. Joe Mathew (2007-2011), the construction of the first floor of the parsonage was undertaken and completed.
We are grateful to our Metropolitans, Diocesan Episcopas, Sabha Secretaries, Diocesan Secretaries and other Sabha authorities for their guidance through all these years. We also express our sincere thanks to the Hyderabad–Secunderabad center vicars, parish members and well-wishers for their co-operation and goodwill.
When we look at our humble beginnings and consider our present, we bow in gratitude to the God Almighty who has continued to bestow on us His unfailing love and grace. He has strengthened us in faith and has continued to uphold us in our weaknesses. We pray that His guidance be with us in all the days to come and that He uses us as His effective instruments to glorify the Kingdom of God.
May The Almighty Lord bless us to be like the trees planted by streams of water, that yields its fruit in its season, and its leaf does not wither and whatever it does prospers.