Tamil Evangelical Lutheran Church

The Tamil Evangelical Lutheran Church is a Christian

denomination in south India, which was established in 1919[1] and
has approximately 200,000 members.[2] Its headquarters is in
Trichy, Tamil Nadu.[1] It is one of the prominent mainline Lutheran
churches in Tamil Nadu.[3][4][5][6]

On 14 January 1919, the Tamil congregation of different German,

Danish, and Swedish Lutheran missions joined together to form the
Tamil Evangelical Lutheran Church (TELC). In March 1921, the
constitution of the TELC was amended to include the structure of
episcopacy. In 1921, a Swedish missionary, Ernst Heuman, was
ordained as the first bishop of the TELC. The bishop of TELC
holds the title Bishop of Tranquebar. In 1956, R B Manickam
became the first Indian to be ordained as the bishop of TELC.[7]

The bishops have the title Bishop of Tranquebar.[8] It belongs to

the Lutheran World Federation.[2] The Leipzig Evangelical
Lutheran Mission and Church of Sweden Mission were active in
the area of Trichy in the 19th century and are still active there
today. This Lutheran church comes under United Evangelical
Lutheran Church in India.[9]

Presidents of TELC and Bishops of

Tranquebar
1921-1926 Ernst Heuman Bartholomäus Ziegenbalg monument
1927-1934 David Bexell in Tranquebar, Tamil Nadu, South
1934-1956 Johannes Sandegren India
1956-1967 Rajah Bushanam Manikam [Late]
1967-1972 Carl Gustav Diehl
1972-1975 A. John Satyanadhan [Late]
1975-1978 Lasarus Easter Raj [Late]
1978-1993 Jayseelan Jacob [Late]
1993-1999 Jubilee Gnanabaranam Johnson [Late]
1999-2009 Thaveedu Aruldoss
2009-2014 H.A. Martin
2014-2019 S. Edwin Jayakumar
2019-2023 D. Daniel Jayaraj
 2023- d Dr. Christian Samraj

Congregations
TELC Ratchagar Church,
Tiruvallur[10] (த.சு.லு.தி இரட்சகர்
ஆலயம், திருவள்ளூர்])
TELC Good Shepherd Church,
Kumaratchi Pastorate.
TELC Immanuel church
konerikuppam kanchipuram
pastorate
TELC Holy Trinity Cathedral,
Tiruchirappalli
TELC Holy Cross Church,
Tamil Evangelical Lutheran New Jerusalem Church
kumbakonam.
TELC Adhisayanathar Church,
Erayamangalam
TELC Adiaikalanathar Church, Chennai[11]
TELC Christ Church, Tambaram - 45
TELC Christ Church, Thiruverambur, Tirchy- 13
TELC Christ Church, Thiruvotriyur, Chennai-600019
TELC Arulnathar Church, Kilpauk, Chennai
TELC Anbunathar Church, Annanagar, Chennai
TELC Holy Redeemer's Church, Madurai
TELC Holy Immanuel Church, Mayiladuthurai
TELC New Jerusalem Church, Tranquebar (Tharangambadi)
TELC New Jerusalem Church, Nadukottai, Thirumangalam, Madurai.
TELC Salvation Church, Madurai
TELC Good Shepherd Church, Puthur, Trichy
TELC Zion Church, Trichy-8.
TELC Saviour Church, Eachampatti, Trichy
TELC Christ Church, Anaimalai.
TELC World Saviour Church-Uluthukkupai, Mailaduthurai
TELC Abathu Sagayar Church, Kavalamedu. Manalmedu Pastorate.( த.சு.லு.தி. ஆபத்து
சகாயர் ஆலயம் - காவாளமேடு )
TELC Pavanasar Lutheran Church - Bangalore.
TELC Ziegenbalg Jubilee Church - Sirkali
TELC Pavasar Lutheran Church - Chidambaram
TELC St.Paul's Church, Sengaraiyur
TELC Arulnathar Church, Tirukattupalli
TELC World Saviour Church, Pollachi
TELC Bethlehem Church, (TBML College) Porayar
TELC Arulnathar Church, Tirukattupalli
TELC Saint John Church, Tiruchirappalli[12]
TELC Arockianathar Church, Thirupputhur, Sivagangai Dist
 த.சு.லு.தி கதிராலயம், பாண்டுர்
TELC Holy Cross Church, Chengalpattu
TELC Holy Comforter Church, Thanjavur
TELC Ebineaser Church, Villupuram
TELC Arulnathar Church, Kinathukadavu (த.சு.லு.தி. அருள்நாதர் ஆலயம்,
கிணத்துக்கடவு)
TELC Karunainathar Church Kinathukadavu (த.சு.லு.தி. கருணைநாதர் ஆலயம்,
கிணத்துக்கடவு)
TELC Bethel Church, Perambur, Chennai-11
TELC Arulnathar Church, Tirupur-641601
TELC Abishegha Nathar Church, Annamangalam, Perambalur-district.
TELC Bethlehem Church Ambattur Chennai 600 053
TELC Jesus Our Redeemer Church, Thirumangalam, Madurai.
TELC Calvary Nathar Church, J.Alangulam, Thirumangalam, Madurai.
TELC Good Shepherd church, Singanallur, Coimbatore - 641005.
TELC St.John's Church, perambalur.# TELC St.Paul's Church, Pattavarthy. Manalmedu
Pastorate.
TELC Bethlehem Church, Sevvapet, Thiruvallur-602025
TELC Christ King church, Kalpakkam - 603102
TELC Arul Nathar Church, Sadras - 603102
TELC THIRIYEGA NATHAR CHURCH, KOTTAIKARANPATTI, PUDUKKOTTAI
(DT)-622515
TELC ZION JUBLEE CHURCH, PUDUKKOTTAI.
TELC RATCHANYA NATHAR CHURCH, SAMALAPURAM-641663.
TELC JUBILEE CHURCH, PAMBARPURAM, KODAIKANAL-624103.
TELC Union Christ Christ, NGGO Colony, Coimbatore
TELC Christ Christ, Coimbatore
TELC Arputhanather Church, B P Agraharam.
TELC Nalmeipper Church, Kurumanoorkadu.
TELC Ebinezar church, Karaikal
TELC St.Peter's Jubilee Church, Melakottucherry, Karaikal
TELC Bethel Church, V.NALLALAM 605651

Colleges and schools

TBML College, Porayar[13]
TELC Teacher Training Institute (Male), Tranquebar
TELC Bishop Johnson Memorial Higher Secondary School, Tranquebar
TELC High School, Sengaraiyur
TELC Primary School, Nathamangudi, Lalgudi Taluk
TELC Bishop Hymen Memorial High School, Tiruchirappalli
TELC Primary School, Tiruchirappalli
TELC Teacher Training Institute (Female), Usilampatti
TELC ELM Hr Sec School, Chennai
TELC Lutheran Mission Central Higher Secondary School, Sirkali
 TELC Kabis Hr Sec School, Pandur
TELC Girls Christian Higher Secondary School, Thanjavur
TELC Middle School, Thanjavur
TELC SR Bergendal Girls HR Secondary School, Kinathukadavu
TELC Primary School, Kinathukadavu
TELC Middle School, Karunakarapuri, Kinathukadavu
TELC Primary School, Alampatti, Thirumangalam, Madurai.
TELC Primary School, Kurayoor.
TECL Primary School, Tirupur
TELC Higher secondary school, Pudukkottai. In pudukkottai itself two schools are operating
TELC Middle School, Pudukkottai.
TELC TSM Primary School, Sirkali
TELC PRIMARY SCHOOL, KOTTAIKARANPATTI, PUDUKKOTTAI (DT).
TELC Primary School, Kavalamedu ( Manalmedu ) Mayiladuthurai- DT

TELC-related seminaries
Gurukul Lutheran Theological College and Research Institute, Chennai.[14]
Tamil Nadu Theological Seminary (TTS), Madurai.[15]
United Theological College (UTC), Bangalore.

References
1. "United Evangelical Lutheran Church in India - Member Churches" (https://web.archive.org/
web/20090422023345/http://www.uelci.org/member-churches.asp). Archived from the
original (http://www.uelci.org/member-churches.asp) on 22 April 2009. Retrieved 22 April
2009.
2. "India | the Lutheran World Federation" (http://www.lutheranworld.org/country/india).
3. Rules of the Tamil Evangelical Lutheran Church (https://books.google.com/books?id=eeMs
PwAACAAJ). Nathan. 1968. Retrieved 23 March 2023.
4. Tamil Evangelical Lutheran Church; Raj, L.E.; Ahlander, J.; Edmund, T. (1977). Self-reliance
for Mission: The Tamil Evangelical Lutheran Church (TELC) and Self-reliance : a Case
Submitted to the Lutheran World Federation (LWF), Geneva, Switzerland (https://books.goog
le.com/books?id=130eMwEACAAJ). T.E.L.C. Retrieved 23 March 2023.
5. Constitution of the Tamil Evangelical Lutheran Church, and the Documents Regulating Its
Relations to the Cooperating Missions, the Church of Sweden Mission and the Leipzig
Evangelical Lutheran Mission (https://books.google.com/books?id=h6gjMwEACAAJ). 1928.
Retrieved 23 March 2023.
6. Fahlbusch, E.; Lochman, J.M.; Bromiley, G.W.; Mbiti, J.S.; Pelikan, J.; Barrett, D.B.; Vischer,
L. (1999). The Encyclopedia of Christianity (https://books.google.com/books?id=7ly4DgtT3L
kC&pg=PA357). Brill. p. 357. ISBN 978-0-8028-2415-8. Retrieved 23 March 2023.
7. Vethanayagamony, Peter (15 December 2009). "The Lutheran Churches of India" (https://arc
hive.today/20120906075803/http://www.lutheranforum.org/extras/the-lutheran-churches-of-in
dia/). Lutheran Forum. Archived from the original (http://www.lutheranforum.org/extras/the-lut
heran-churches-of-india/) on 6 September 2012. Retrieved 26 August 2015.
8. Presbyterian Life (https://books.google.com/books?id=B4bUAAAAMAAJ). Vol. 12. United
Presbyterian Church in the United States of America. 1959. p. 17. Retrieved 30 October
2013.
 9. "United Evangelical Lutheran Church in India" (https://web.archive.org/web/2011072809102
9/http://www.the-uelci.org/member-churches.asp). Archived from the original (http://www.the-
uelci.org/member-churches.asp) on 28 July 2011. Retrieved 28 July 2011.
10. "Google Maps" (https://www.google.co.in/maps/place/T.E.L.C+Ratchagar+Church/@13.119
751,79.912491,2a,90y,90t/data=!3m5!1e2!3m3!1s-oveDdwzno_8%2FVMoBiGBcdDI%2FAA
AAAAAAEzE%2Fmzhl2E4dNA4!2e4!3e12!4m6!1m3!3m2!1s0x3a52902ea0fb561f:0xa99f3b
9f6f58ec4d!2sT.E.L.C+Ratchagar+Church!3m1!1s0x3a52902ea0fb561f:0xa99f3b9f6f58ec4
d!6m1!1e1).
11. http://www.adaikalanatharchurch.com
12. "TELC St. John's Church - Home" (https://web.archive.org/web/20140908140104/http://ww
w.telcjohnschurch.com/). Archived from the original (http://www.telcjohnschurch.com/) on 8
September 2014. Retrieved 8 September 2014.
13. http://tbmlcollege.ac.in/
14. "GLTC site" (http://www.gltc.edu). Retrieved 28 October 2013.
15. "TTS site" (http://www.tts.org.in). Retrieved 28 October 2013.

External links
Website of the United Evangelical Lutheran Church in India (https://web.archive.org/web/20
090605112647/http://www.uelci.org/index.asp)
Johnson Gnanabaranam: "Tamil Evangelical Lutheran Church" in: "The Oxford
Encyclopaedia of South Asian Christianity". (http://www.oxfordreference.com/view/10.1093/a
cref/9780198073857.001.0001/acref-9780198073857-e-0963)

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