HISTORY OF CHRIST CHURCH, PADAPPAI

(Edited from an article in the David Nagar Family Magazine - Author Unknown)

Finding a new home

The son of the late Mr. Navamani David, the late Ambrose Davidar, had a clear vision to establish a family colony. He toured the whole of Tamil Nadu to find the best place suitable on the merits of locality, soil, water, and future development. He decided to locate the family colony in the village of Padappai.

Ambrose Davidar, through herculean efforts, managed to acquire bits and pieces of patta lands and amalgamated the same as a farming colony for the family, which was subsequently named DAVID NAGAR. With the family tradition for prayers and regular church attendance, inculcated by the late Mrs. Gnanammal David, wife of the late Mr. Navamani David, it was natural for the family members to think of a place of worship even before houses were built for family members within the colony. Thus, in the master plan prepared for the housing colony, the church occupied a pivotal position.

The Church of South India

On 27th July, 1956, a meeting of the family members took place and it was resolved to constitute a David Nagar Church Building Committee to establish the church, which was to be a regular place of worship for all Christians who live in David Nagar and nearby villages. Subscriptions and donations were collected from family members and it was decided not to approach the diocese for any assistance.

By 1959, it was decided to make a start on the building and a foundation stone was laid. Whilst laying the foundation stone, it was expressed by Rev. Peace B. David that the church, when completed, would be similar to any other C.S.I. church and that it would be handed over to the Church of South India.

This site was later abandoned and a new site was selected where the present church now stands and a new cornerstone was laid by Rev. Peace B. David on 29th December, 1960. It took another 4½ years to get the church ready for dedication. 14th of August, 1965, was a memorable day for the pulpit, baptismal font, communion vessel, lectern, benches, electrical fittings etc. The church was named Christ Church, Padappai, and was declared open to the people of David Nagar and those living in the surrounding villages of Padappai. Twelve days earlier, a gift deed was executed by Rev. P.B.David on behalf of Mr. Navamani David’s family, gifting about ¾ acres of land and church to the Church of South India. Thus a family church joined the larger C.S.I. family. The David family also gifted the Rt. Rev. Newbegin land adjoining the church to set up a retreat centre for presbyters. This plot was handed over to the C.S.I. through a deed of transfer letter. Thus the church is now in possession of about 1 Acre of land.

Ministry and Growth

Mr. J.S. David was made the first caretaker of the new church and his services to the Lord were so good that everyone appreciated his work. Preachers came from Tambaram as the church was under the Tambaram Pastorate. Mrs. Mercy Jesudason and Mrs. Christy Joseph provided leadership during the early days. Mrs. Karuna David was the first pianist, while Mr. Devaraj, Mr. Jeyaraj's father, used to organise special choirs for the Christmas Candlelight Services and the Nine Lessons Family Carol Service, which became a regular feature of the Christmas week programme. Mr. J.S. David's tenure as caretaker did not last long and he handed over the keys of the church to the second caretaker Mr. A.R. David on 13th March, 1966.

The church continued to be under the Tambaram pastorate until 1st November, 1974. When the pastorate found it a bit too unwieldy, it was trifurcated into three pastorates, namely Tambaram East, Tambaram West, and Perungalathur, and Christ Church became one of the six churches under the last name.When one of the family members, Mrs. Lillian Ebenezer died suddenly on 6th September, 1963, she was buried in the family farm. It was deemed necessary to have a separate graveyard for the church. The late Mr. S. Jesudason accompanied by Mr. A.R. David measured a piece of land on the north side of the David Nagar Colony and fenced the area by planting 'Velikathan'.

During the early seventies Mrs. Jothi Davidar started a Sunday School with five children. Hindu children also came to attend classes. When the children of Mr. Jimmy Davidar took over the running of the Sunday School, it became very popular particularly since they were musically inclined and encouraged singing. The women's fellowship was started in the seventies. A major renovation took place and the church was rededicated on 27th December, 1981 by Rev. R.T. Bhaskaran B.D., Bishops Commissary, Diocese of Madras. Mr. A.R. David served as the caretaker for 21 years and two months and on 10th May, 1987, he handed over the keys to the third caretaker, Mr. Job Ebenezer.