I learned of the Chennai Unitarians earlier this year. Six Canadian Unitarians had visited the Madras church and other congregations in India in 2008, and later gave a presentation of their visit to my congregation in Toronto. I contacted Harrison Kingsley, the minister of the congregation in Chennai, and he extended an enthusiastic invitation to attend. I am thankful to Reverend Kingsley and the members of the congregation for the very warm welcome I received in their church.
The Chennai congregation was founded in 1795 by Thiruvenkatam Vellala, who was born in the South Indian village of Mahkarai, Chingleput in 1768. After his parents died in the Mysore Wars of 1780-82, he moved to Madras for work in 1784. While there, his employer sold him as an indentured seaman aboard the East India Company ship Hastings. In the tumultuous years that followed, he eventually gained his freedom, worked in the service of different Englishmen and their families in England, France, Madras and at sea, and eventually settled permanently in Madras in 1794.
His religious journey was no less wide-ranging. He had been raised Hindu, then converted to Islam while at sea. He subsequently converted to Anglicanism in 1789, taking the baptismal name of William Roberts. He came in contact with the Unitarian writings of Joseph Priestly and Theophilus Lindsey in 1793 and by 1795 he was instructing others in Unitarianism. By 1813, the Madras congregation had erected a chapel. The cross atop the current church is from the original chapel.
The Madras church developed fairly independently of other Unitarian congregations, especially in the early years. Roberts did not make contact with any Unitarian organization until 1806, and then only for one brief meeting. In 1816, he wrote to the London Unitarian Society for Promoting Christian Knowledge and the Practice of Virtue by the Distribution of Books, requesting missionary assistance and other support. They sent him a parcel of books and a note mentioning that they did not have missionaries, but recommended that he train some himself. Ties of communication and support were eventually established between Madras and British Unitarians, and church work proceeded, including the creation of materials in Tamil, the language of the Madras congregation. This inscription found above the entrance is from the former church building and reads, in Tamil: "We believe in one God. Unitarian Christian Church."
Currently, the congregation has over 200 adult members. Services are conducted in Tamil and include readings, prayers, a sermon and hymns. Their hymnal is divided into Tamil and English sections. The congregation sang Tamil versions of What a Friend We Have in Jesus and We Shall Overcome, while I sang along in English.
At the end of the service, several members of the congregation approached the minister for a blessing, or to talk with him.
Madras Unitarians recently renovated their church, to repair damage caused by previous heavy monsoon rains, and to create additional space. They have put much care into their renovations, preserving some elements from before, and integrating them with new work.
This is the entrance to the main sanctuary, on the ground floor.
The congregation very recently completed renovations of the next level up, creating a multi-purpose hall that can be used for weddings or other gatherings.
Future plans include building a guest house on the level above the hall. Reverend Kingsley explained to me that some Indian functions can last a whole day, and a guest house will add to the comfort and convenience of those who make use of the hall. Foundation pillars have been installed
Outdoors, they have preserved the bell and belfry from 1933.
The main wooden doors depict the modern Unitarian symbol of the flaming chalice. The doors were carved by an artist from Mahabalipuram, a nearby town with a centuries-long tradition of sculpting. Reverend Kingsley appears on the left, with me on the right, in the photo below.
The congregation is active in its community. For students, it provides evening coaching classes and scholarships to continue studies. It provides bedding and clothing to the poor, and teaches young women sewing skills to help them find employment. About 50 km outside of Chennai, in the village of Ammanabakkum, it supports a late afternoon/early evening school program for children who cannot attend school during the day, because they must work in the fields to help support their families. The congregation also supports sewing classes for women in the village, helping them find work in a local textile factory.
The congregation maintains official ties with the Edinburgh and Glasgow Unitarian congregations through the denomination's partner church program.
This is a short post. I look forward to learning much more about this congregation.
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