Kerala Brethren

The Kerala Brethren are a significant subset of the Open

Kerala Brethren
Brethren movement. In the South Indian State of Kerala, four
Syrian Christian (Nasrani) men who came from traditional Classification Protestant
churches were baptised in 1898, and many of the Kerala Brethren Orientation Plymouth
consider this event to have been the start of their movement. Some Brethren
600 of the 2,200 Brethren assemblies (as their churches are
generally called) in India are located in Kerala. Polity Congregationalist
Region Kerala, India
Characteristics Origin 1899
Congregations 600
The Brethren have no central hierarchy or governing body. They
see themselves as an informal network of like-minded autonomous local churches, not as a denomination in
the organizational sense. Common support for itinerant preachers, publications, seminaries, and missions
agencies, however, often leads to a high degree of cooperation among Brethren assemblies, and among
Kerala's Christians, the Brethren are noted for their strong sense of identity.

The Brethren assemblies in Kerala are also known as "verpaatu sabhakal" due to their heavy emphasis on
separation from the world for greater devotion to Jesus Christ. This emphasis on separation, although
common among the Brethren throughout India and in some streams of the Brethren internationally, is
particularly pronounced in Kerala.

History
Many Indian Christians believe that the Apostle Thomas brought the Christian message to India in 52AD.
In the words of an Indian hymn, "...It was his mission to espouse India to the One-Begotten...."[1] Some
Indian Brethren disclaim their missionary origins, instead making a case for historical continuity with the
First-Century converts of the Apostle Thomas,[2] claiming that for several centuries Christians on the
Malabar coast (modern Kerala) followed what Brethren believe to have been the New Testament model of
church organization and worship, with no clergy, and that clericalism began to creep in only after 345 AD,
when seventy-two families belonging to seven Jewish clans followed Thomas of Cana from Iraq to
Kodungalloor, which is now in Kerala. Thomas of Cana, they claim, brought in bishops and deacons,
changing the practices of the Kerala Christians. This interpretation of history is not widely shared by non-
Brethren Christians, however.

The modern Brethren movement was introduced into India in 1833 by Anthony Norris Groves,[3] a dentist
turned missionary who was one of the original Plymouth Brethren pioneers in Ireland. The Brethren
movement began to take root in Kerala when Mathai Upadeshi, who had been an (Anglican) CMS
evangelist from Tirunelveli, arrived in 1872. Another early preacher was Justhus Joseph (https://www.mgm
ministry.org/justhus-joseph-vidwan-kutty/), also known as Vidwankutty, a Tamil Brahmin and also a CMS
priest like Mathai Upadeshi. He arrived in Kerala in 1875, but his ministry declined after the failure of his
prediction that Jesus Christ would return in 1881.
A second wave of growth among the Kerala Brethren started in 1894 with the arrival of V.D. David, better
known in Kerala as Tamil David, and L.M. Wordsmith, the latter an Indian Tamil from Colombo, Sri
Lanka. They were joined by Herbert Handley Bird (https://archiveshub.jisc.ac.uk/search/archives/1c056a40
-d68f-3a54-89bd-5da0f4c72fce), who established assemblies in Northern Kerala.[4] They were helped by
Baptist preacher and Keswick Convention speaker J.G. Gregson, who visited Kerala in 1896. Although a
Baptist, he was sympathetic to Brethren viewpoints and helped to found the first Brethren assembly in
Travancore, central Kerala. He also preached in Ayroor, near Kumbanad, paving the way for German
missionary Volbrecht Nagel to conduct the first Brethren "meeting" (as they usually call their services) there
on 19 March 1899.

Persecution

Meanwhile, a period of persecution from the older churches had broken out in 1897. Concerned about
losing members, some priests in the Mar Thoma Syrian Church spoke out against the Brethren movement.
P.C. John, a young Mar Thoma Christian influenced by Brethren ideas, was physically assaulted by his
priest. John and his cousin, P.E. Mammen, who was a Mar Thoma priest, subsequently left that church and
joined the Brethren.[5] The Brethren further strengthened by continued defections from the Mar Thoma
Church. K.V. Simon was excommunicated from the Mar Thoma Church in Edayaranmula for undergoing
and practicing believer's baptism. After this event, which took place on 25 December 1915, Simon joined
the Brethren movement. Sporadic persecution of the Brethren continued. Lonappan, an evangelist, and
Kidangoor Thaipparambil Joseph were physically attacked in November 1921 by a mob which burned
Bibles and destroyed their agricultural produce.

Brethren unity

1929 was a significant year, when a small group of Viyojitha assemblies that stemmed from the work of
K.V. Simon came into fellowship with the wider Indian Brethren movement on 20 January. In practical
terms, this meant that the Indian Brethren, who were similar in doctrine to the Open Brethren movement,
recognized the Viyojitha Brethren as fellow-believers who shared the same principles of church order.
Edwyn Hunter Noel of the Indian Brethren was instrumental in this coming together. They were
subsequently joined by the Kerala Brethren, under the encouragement of P.E. Mammen.

Conventions and conferences

There is no General Convention for Brethren Assemblies in Kerala. Local assemblies throughout Kerala
often conduct their own conventions and gospel meetings.

Charitable work
In 1906, Volbrecht Nagel, who had been leading the Brethren work at Kunnamkulam in Thrissur District
on the Malabar Coast,[6] purchased 75 acres of land and started a school and orphanage in Nellikkunnu,
Thrissur. Tiruvalla Medical Mission (TMM) Hospitals have since been established at Tiruvalla,
Manthamaruthy, & Vazhoor and the College of Nursing at Tiruvalla.

Schools/colleges
Brethren Bible School, Kumbanad
 Brethren Bible Institute, Pathanamthitta (Offering B.Th., M.B.S., M.Div. & M.Th.)
www.bbipta.com, bbi@bbiindia.org
Brethren English Medium High School, Kumbanad.
Clarence High School, Bangalore
Noel Memorial High School & UP School, Kumbanad.
Noel Memorial High School & UP School, Kariamplave.
Noel Memorial U P School, Kalanjoor,
Noel Memorial Upper Primary School, Keekozhur,
Noel Memorial Upper Primary School, Edayaranmula,
Noel Memorial Upper Primary School, Kangazha,
Noel memorial LP Chethackal, Ranny,
Noel Memorial Lower Primary School, [Kanakappalam],
Noel Memorial Lower Primary School, [Thrikkannamangal (Kottarakkara)],
Noel Memorial Lower Primary School (N.M.L.P.S), Vilangara, Kottarakkara
Noel Memorial Lower Primary School, Oottupara,
Noel Memorial Lower Primary School, Mannarathara,
Noel Memorial Lower Primary School, Sabarimankal,
Noel Memorial Lower Primary School, Uthimood,
Noel Memorial Lower Primary School, Paamala,
Noel Memorial Lower Primary School, Pampady,
Noel Memorial Lower Primary School, Mylapra,
Noel Memorial Lower Primary School, Kariamplave
TMM Hospital College of Nursing, Thiruvalla
Hope Academy of Theology and Sciences, Bhopal (http://www.hatsindia.in/)
Rehoboth Theological Institute (RTI), Nellikunnu, Trissur.
Madurai Bible School & College (https://www.maduraibiblecollege.org), Madurai.

Mission funds
Kerala Evangelistic Missionary (KEM) Fund (https://kemfund.org/about/)
General Gospel Fund (https://www.brethrennews.com/apps/blog/show/13264871-general-g
ospel-fund-ggf-)
Gospel Missions of India (https://www.gospelmi.org/)
Gospel Fellowship Trust of India (https://gfti.org.in/)
Hope Assembly Workers Fund (HAWF)
Stewards Association in India (https://stewards-india.com/)

Homes for the elderly

Brethren Mercy Trust, Kumbanad
Rehoboth Old Age Home, Nellikkunnu

References and sources

Brethren Wiki (http://www.brethrenpedia.org/) BrethrenPedia
 Thiruvalla Medical Missions (http://www.tmmhospital.org/)
Keralabrethren.net History page (https://web.archive.org/web/20081014022509/http://www.k
eralabrethren.net/history_eng.asp)
Missionaryvoice.org (http://missionaryvoice.org/indianbrethren.html/)
Brethren institutions (http://hopethroughgrace.com/?p=151/)
Mahaakavi K. V. Simon, History of the Malankara Brethren Churches (malankarayile
verpaatu sabhakalute charithram) – republished by Sathyam Publications, Tiruvalla, Kerala,
India. in Feb 1999.
Lang, G. H., The History and Diaries of an Indian Christian: J. C. Aroolappen, USA,
Schoettle Publishing Co., Inc., 1988

Kerala Brethren pioneers

Herbert Handley Bird (https://www.library.manchester.ac.uk/rylands/special-collections/explo
ring/a-to-z/collection/?match=Handley+Bird+Papers)
Volbrecht Nagel
Edwyn Hunter Noel, (son of PB historian Napoleon Noel)
Mahakavi K.V. Simon
Y. Ezekiel
Alex Souter
M.E. Cherian (https://www.facebook.com/mecherian/), Madurai
T.K. Samuel
K.V.Cheru
J.M. Davies
Silas Fox (https://gfamissions.org/pages/learn-and-promote/detail/3/35/), aka "The White
Fox of Andhra"
J.G. Gregson
P.C. John Upadeshi
P.C. Joseph - Jospeh Chethackal
P.C. Joseph - Poikayil Joseph
K.G. Kurien
V.T. Mathai
M.M. John (Kumbanad)
A.A. Chacko
T.A. Kurien - Sagar
P.E. Mammen, "Kumbanattachen" - former Vicar of Kumbanad and Eraviperoor Marthoma
parishes
Mammen Kurien
E.J. Mathew
A.T. Mathew, (Gudalur, Nilgiris)
K.G. Thomas
Dr. Poulose Thudian
Avarachan Upadeshi
E.P. Varghese
 T.T Scariah

See also
Assemblies Jehovah Shammah
Indian Brethren
Open Brethren
Plymouth Brethren
K. V. Simon
P.C. John

References
1. St Ephraem. Lamy (ed.). Hymns of St Ephraem.
2. "Brethren Assemblies FAQ" (http://www.biblebeliever.co.za/Brethren%20Assemblys/Brethre
n%20Information/FAQ.htm#27.). Retrieved 28 May 2015.
3. Bahrain Brethren (http://www.bahrainbrethren.com/features.php?action=view&id=222)
4. Matthew, John. "Dr" (http://www.atlantabrethren.org/index2.php?view=history). History of
Brethren. ACBA.com. Retrieved 29 May 2015.
5. "India - BrethrenPedia" (https://web.archive.org/web/20150923194446/http://www.brethrenp
edia.com/India). BrethrenPedia. BrethrenPedia.org. Archived from the original (http://www.br
ethrenpedia.com/India) on 23 September 2015. Retrieved 29 May 2015.
6. "Plymouth Brethren" (http://keralabrethrenassembly.com/wp/?p=52). Kerala Brethren
Assembly. Retrieved 9 December 2014.

External links
Kerala Brethren Assembly (http://www.keralabrethrenassembly.com/)
Kerala Brethren Assembly-Forum (http://keralabrethrenassembly.com/phpbb/index.php/)
Kerala Brethren (http://www.keralabrethren.net/)
Kerala Brethren discussion forum (http://www.keralabrethren.net/)
brethrenassembly.com (https://web.archive.org/web/20171105105118/http://brethrenassemb
ly.com/)
Adelphoi News.com (https://web.archive.org/web/20150529161931/http://www.adelphoinew
s.com/)
Hope Academy of Theology and Sciences, Bhopal (http://www.hatsindia.in)

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