The story of the diocese of Nandyal

이신호 (2011-06-03 09:45)

난달노회의 역사(영문)를 올립니다. 남인도교회의 선교역사, 특히 난달노회를 이해하시는 데 많은 도움이 되실줄 압니다. 곧 번역해서 올리겠습니다. The story of the diocese of Nandyal The Early Christian work in our Diocesan area: The great religious reformation which occurred in Europe as well as in England in the eighteenth and nineteenth centuries inspired men and women to share the joy of being a Christian with the rest of the world. England had already established a society for the propagation of gospel in 1701. this was followed by the formation of societies by the Baptists Congregationalists, the Methodists and the Church of Scotland. The English people started the spread of the gospel in India and sent several missionaries to different places as well as to Nandyal. The first missionaries who came to Nandyal were Rev. Arthur Inman and Rev. Alfred Brittan in the year 1881. These two missionaries were responsible to establish the SPG High School in the year 1884 and to built the Holy Cross Church in the year 1905. These two pioneer missionaries who resided in Nandyal, living in tents went about preaching the gospel in and around Nandyal, building chapels. T hey traveled extensively all around Nandyal to many villages in  Kurnool, Giddalur, Kalasapad and Atmakur. Though they had to face lot of difficulties like language problem, severe heat, health problems and apart from these, the strong opposition from the high castes, yet empowered with religious zeal and indubitable spirit to preach the gospel, they stepped into every nook and corner of these districts, namely, Kurnool, Kadapa and Anantapur proclaimed the gospel and wherever they went, with the help of the converts they built chapels which served both as a place of worship and school. The schools those days attracted many children of other religions also who were taught the three "R"s and stories from the Holy Bible. Rev. Fr Shepherd was a powerful missionary filled with Holy Spirit and he was mainly responsible for missionary work in and around Mutyalapad. He built the Nativity Church, which is order than the Holy Cross Church in Nandyal. Rev. Fr Inman built St. Peter and Paul's Church in Kalasapad, Which is also older than the Holy Cross Church, Nandyal. Missionaries in Nandyal SPG area Mention should be made about  some of the missionaries who came from England to Nandyal compelled by the love of Jesus to share their joy in Jesus with the people in Nandyal who never knew reading or writing. They preached Christ in all love and compassion and they could slowly but steadily win people for Christ. Some such angels who worked in Nandyal were Hibbert Ware who had worked as the Principal of the favor St. Stephen's College, Delhi. Rev Fr AFR Emmet and his wife Mrs SF Emmet. Rev P B Emmet is remembered as one who traveled on his bicycle to preach the Gospel in 4 or 5 villages every day. Mrs Emmet worked among women and children. Rev Rumsey, Rev burnett, Rev Gledstone, Rev taylor, and Rev Finch were some of the dedicated missionaries who labored round the clock in Nandyal and the surrounding places. Miss Marsh, Dunhan, Graham, Kerby, Buttefield Wardle, Lamb and Pentelow were some of the women missionaries who worked among the girl students in schools and hotels. Hospitals were established in Kalasapad, Giddalur and Nandyal through which more missionary work could be done. Thus the Nandyal SPG area where schools, hostels, hospitals and chapels were started, grew into a big chuch by 1960. Nandyal SPG areas affiliation to Madras and Dornakal Dioceses Even before the year 1907 this Nandyal SPG area was affiliated to Madras Diocese under Bishop Whitehead. Later in the year 1922 this SPG area was affiliated to Dornakal Diocese to which Rt Rev Samuel Azariah was the Bishop from 1922 to 1947. This area was under Church of India, Pakistan, Burma and Ceylon and Bishop Whitehead from Domakal was looking after this SPG area. The formation of the Church of South India The idea of Union of different denominations of Churches in South India was uppermost in the minds of all the Church leaders from a very long time to express to the world the Unity, Solidarity and oneness of the churches, so that the unity could help for the preaching of the gospel among the non-Christian brothers and sisters and also oneness in worship and liturgy. This continued labour with determination to do before they died, of whom mention should be made about Rt Rev V Samuel Azaraiah, Bishop of Dornakal, was rewarded on the 27th of September 1947 by the formation of Union of Churches, a most memorable day which should be written in letters of ‘GOLD’ in the history of the Church of South India and which remains indelible in the  minds of all Christians in South India. Bishop Azariah remained as an Archetect of this Union of Churches. The Methodists, the Anglicans, the Congregationalists and the Presbyterias whole heartedly joined the Union and it was celebrated in all thankfulness to God amidst pomp and pleasure in the Historical Church, the St George's Cathedral, Madras. The Elevation of Nandyal to a status of a Diocese     WA Pat ridge from Madras was appointed a an Assistant Bishop of Nandyal. He discharged his duties as Bishop with a Missionary zeal from 1948-1963 during which period many problems and disputes between the majority SPG and minority CSI congregations regarding schools, hostels and place of worship were settled peacefully. In the year 1963 1963 Rt Rev Clement William Venkataramaiah from Bombay was appointed as the Bishop of Nandyal ,in the same year on  29-04-1963 Nandyal was made a diocese, consisting ogpsstortes in Kurnool, Kadapa and Anantapur Districts. After Bishop CW Venkatramaiah who was heretill 1967 left for Bombay on health grounds, Rt Rev Ernest John from Delhi was appointed a Bishop of Nandyal who worked here from 1967 to 1974. Merger of Nandyal Diocese in CSI The Diocese of Nandyal joined the Church of South India in the year 1976. The worship and thanksgiving service was hel in the Cathedralon 29 November 1976 in the  presence of the Most Rev P Solomon, the Maderrator of the Church of South India. Rev. N Benjamin was the vie president of the Diocese. The Rt Rev P John was appointed as the Bishop of Nandyal in the year 1977 that continued till 1985. Rt Rev Dr BR Devapriyam who succeeded him was very dynamic, but unfortunately died in harness while he was at Germany in the 1992. He was elected as Moderator of the in the year 1992 and had worked for seven months only as the Moderator. Later Rt Rev Dr GT Abraham was appointed as the Bishop of Nandyal Diocese in the  year 1994 and served on 11 years till September 2005 the longest period any bishop had served in the history  of the Diocese of Nandyal. After he retired Rt Rev Dr PJ Lawrence who had served in Jamaica as Representative of the Church of South India was appointed as the Bishop of Nandyal on the 29th May 2006. Ever since he became the Bishop, he has been working round the clock on war footing basis for the all round development o the Diocese both spiritually and physically. God has been giving this diocese good Bishops all these years and we are very thankful to God to have given us the present more dynamic Bishop Lawrence from whom the people expect many great things in the Diocese and for whom the prayers of the people of Diocese are always there for granting wisdom, health and long life. SPECIAL FEATURES OF THE DIOCESE OF NANDYAL Our Diocese is a rural Diocese having nearly 400 Village Congregations. The Diocese spread over 5 Regions in 5 Districts. We have 65 Pastorates. We have nearly 300 thousand people in our congregations. We have 18 Schools. We have 3 Colleges these Juniou College(+2) were recently established. We have 8 Boarding Homes & Hostels We have 2 Hospitals. At present we have 6 Profects. 50 Evenglists are working in our Evanglists. Now we have nearly 85 Presyters working in our Diocese. Till