THE HISTORY OF THE DIOCESE OF NANDYAL

이신호 (2011-06-03 09:52)

또 다른 난달노회의 역사(영문)를 올립니다. 남인도교회의 선교역사, 특히 난달노회를 이해하시는 데 많은 도움이 되실줄 압니다. 이 문서 또한 곧 번역해서 올리겠습니다. THE HISTORY OF THE DIOCESE OF NANDYAL Preamble : The great revival of religion which occurred in other lands as well as in England is the eighteenth and Nineteenth centuries made men and women want to share their 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 arrival of the English to Nandyal : 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 Briton in the year 1881. These two missionaries were responsible to establish the SPG High School in 1884and to build the Holy Cross Church in 1905 in Nandyal. These two missionaries who resided in Nandyal lived in tents and went about preaching the gospel in and around Nandyal in various villages and building churches. Their mode of travel in those days were bullock carts on most primitive roads or cart tracks. They learned the local language Telugu and Traveled extensively beyond Nandyal to place like Kurnool, Giddalur, Kalasapad, Atmakur and Nandikotkur and planted Churches in the villages. These Churches served as place of worship and also as schools. Those days the churches attracted many children f all religions and to these children the gospel was taught. Year by year the number of Christians began to increase despite the opposition from people of higher castes. Though the early missionaries had to face problems like language, sever heat, health problems and opposition from the higher castes yet with great religious zeal, spread the gospel in every corner and nock of the four District namely, Kurnool, Kadapa, Anantapur and Prakasam. SOME MORE EARLY MISSIONARIES WHO WORKED IN NANDYAL S.P.G. AREA The area where all these churches were built in different places was divided into districts namely the Kurnool, Anantapur, Cuddapah Districts for easy administration of the Church. One of the early missionaries in the 19th century was Rev. Shepherd, a man of Holy Spirit and he was mainly responsible to spread the gospel in and around Muthyalapad which is 40km. from Nandyal. The Nativity Church which he built there is older than the Holy Cross Church in Nandyal. The Church at Kalasapadu of Cuddapah district built by Rev. Inman is also older to the Cathedral at Nandyal. Rev. Howell, Rev. Clay and Alfred and Basil wood Brothers did tremendous service in Muthyalapad and Kalasapadu. Mention should be made of Rev. Hibbert were who was a Principal of the most famous college called St. Stephan’s College, New Delhi served as a Ministry for some years in Kalasapad. Rev. A.F.R. Bird, Rev. P.B. Emmet, Rev. Burnett, Rev. T.P. Rumsey, Rev. Gladstone, Rev. Tylor and other lady missionaries namely, Miss. Mish, Miss Dunham, Miss Kerby, Miss Butterfield, Miss Wardle, Miss lamb and Miss Pentelow did meritorious service for the advancement of the kingdom of God in various fields like education, health and preaching in the S.P.G. area. It is said of Rev. P.B. Emmet that he covered 26 villages on his bicycle in two days preaching the gospel. Even before the year 1907 this Nandyal S.P.G. Area was affiliated to the Diocese of Madras under the Bishop White-Head. Later in the year 1922 this S.P.G. area was annexed to Dornakal Diocese in which Rt. Rev. V.S. Azaraiah was the Bishop. Fro 1922 to 1947 this Nandyal area came under C.I.P.B.C. (Church of India, Pakistan, Burma and Ceylon) FORMATION OF C.S.I. The idea of Union of different denominations in South India was upper most in all Church Leaders since a very long time to express the solidarity and oneness of Churches in South India, so that such union of Churches would help the Church to preach the gospel outside among the non-Christians effectively and boldly  and also  to establish uniformity in liturgy and worship.  The labour towards this venture bore fruits in the year 1947 for which the Bishop V.S. Azaraiah was the main architect. The Methodist, the Anglicans, the congregationalists, the presbytarians who whole heartedly joined the Union. In Nandyal Diocese there was lot of opposition for Union of the Churches and many did not join C.S.I. except a few families in all villages and Nandyal. there was lot of confusion and misunderstanding between the C.S.I. and S.P.G Church. But slowly as years went by these disputes were settled and in the year 1963 this SPG area in Nandyal was given the status of Diocese and in 1970 the Diocese joined the C.S.I. THE ROLL OF HONOUR The following Bishops served the Diocese during the period shown against their name. S.No.Name of the Bishop Period of service 1.   Rt. Rev. W.A. PARTRIDGE Assistant Bishop 1953-1963 2.   Rt. Rev. CLEMENT WILLIAM VENKATARAMAIAH 1963-1966 3    Rt. Rev. ERNEST JOHN 1967-1973 4.   Rt. Rev. P. JOHN 1977-1985 5.   Rt. Rev. Dr. B. RYDER DEVAPRIYAM and also Moderator, C.S.I. 1985-1992 6.   Rt. Rev. Dr. G.T. ABRAHAM 1994-2005 7.   Rt. Rev. Dr. P.J. LAWRENCE 2006-   ACTIVITIES IN THE DIOCESE Evangelism : Too priority is given to Evangelism in the Diocese. To fulfill the command of Jesus to preach the Gospel, many cathelists and evangelists are being trained through out the year to equip them with required knowledge of preaching in the villages of the Diocese. They are doing really very good work. Out of these catechists with experience, some will be elected and sent to Divinity college and later ordained to work as presbyters in the Diocese. Construction of Churches :  Beautiful chapels and Churches exist in almost all villages in the Diocese. During the term of the Present Bishop 40 new churches have been planted and another 25 churches are proposed to be built which remains as a record in the history of Diocese. People have learnt to attend the divine services regularly and to participate in the Holy communion regularly. Every where women out-number the men in attendance in the Churches. The people have learnt to give liberally to the church. Education : There are 6 High Schools and 7 Upper Primary schools and 20 Elementary schools in the Diocese which are catering to the educational needs of the children irrespective of religion.  Minimum fees is collected to enable the poor to continue their studies. Though 125 years had passed there was no college for higher studies in the Diocese. But we thank God that with the coming of the present Bishop P.J. Lawrence now there are two Junior Colleges which are likely to be upgraded into Degree colleges. There is also one Vocational college for students who have got aptitude for Technical Education. Health Care :  St. Werburgh's Hospital at Nandyal and St. Rephael's Hospital at Giddalur which were said to be bet hospitals in the Diocese have not been functioning due to lack of good Doctors. The Hospital at Nandyal though functioning with skeletal staff at present is likely to be made into a full pledged hospital soon. Hostels for Boys and girls : There are hostels for boys and girls separately in places where there are schools and colleges. Food is provided 3 times in a day at concessional rates. The Bishop in now deeply concentrating on building a hostel for college girls in Nandyal. Regular morning and evening worship is conducted in these hostels. The boarders regularly attend the vespers. Festivals : The greater festivals and lesser festivals are celebrated with great favour observing the liturgical colours meticulously singing the Oregoricious music. Baptisms & Confirmations : Baptisms are given on every Sunday and on festivals. Both infant and adult baptism are done and recorded in the registers. Confirmations are given regularly once in two years in all the deaneries. Computer Education : We are very thankful to the Diocese of Oxford to have helped us financially to establish school for Computer Education on their name for the benefit of young boys and girls. Many have been trained and sent out with certificates. School of Music : It is an asset to the Nandyal Diocese to have a school of Music in Nandyal to teach people to play on different musical instruments. Women's Empowerment Centre : Women play on important role in the various activities of the Church. In order to empower them and to make their existence really meaningful in the church. This centre is opened whom they are taught crafts like church dress making, stitching clothes to hostel boys and girls, candle making, baskets and bags making etc., which are useful to others  thus enabling women to greater economic independence. Pre Schools :  Pre-Schools are opened in the Diocese to enable the working women to go to their jobs to saving their children in the care of the pre-schools. Programmes for the Youth : Youth retreats, are organised once in six months, selecting boys and girls from every pastorate of the diocese where they are given opportunity to develop their skills and talents. The youth learn to sing new songs also. School for the Visually handicapped  : A school for the visually handicapped children who are prosecuting their studies in the Church Schools under integrated education is functioning well. There are Graduates and post graduates and trained teachers who studied in the school and employed. Pension for the retired Clergy : Pastors who retire at the age of 65 tears are given pension of Rs. 1,000/- every month. If the pastor dies the pension is given to his wife as long as she lives. Houses are also provided to the retired pastors. Dalits in Diocese :  There are marginalised or whom we call dalits in many of the villages in the Diocese. The Diocese helps them financially to build their churches and at the time of natural calamities like floods and fire accidents the Church extends financial help and also give clothes utensils and food grains. Ordinations : Ordaining priests every year is a regular feature of the Diocese. Diocesan Festivals :  In regional level Diocesan festivals are celebrated. The purpose of these festivals is to encourage the congregations to participate in all church activities and to bring solidarity among different pastorates in the Diocese. Thus the Church for the past 200 years has been going on very well and we hope that this Church will flourish in years to come. Rt. Rev. DR. P.J. LAWRANCE Bishop. Diocese of Nandyal.