Indian Christianity

HISTORY OF CHRISTIANITY IN INDIA : M. M. NINAN
KV Simon
1896 J. Gelson Gregson, the famous Keswick Convention speaker, visited Kerala and gave another
boost to the Brotheren growth. C. P. Thomas of Ayroor organised his Kerala visit. Gregson took various
sessions among the priests and laymen within the Marthoma Church. Many were convinced of the
Calvinistic "Once saved always saved" teaching. Baptism was also taught as a necessity for salvation.
Following these sessions, some of the priests and laymen had decided to receive baptism. This
development attracted fury of the Church leaders against Gregson and they barred him from ministering
in the Marthoma Church. In the year 1897, Rev. P. E. Mammen (Kumbanattachen), vicar of Kumbanad
and Eraviperoor parishes of the Marthoma church, received baptism from a Brethren missionary,
Handley Bird, at Kunnamkulam. He left the Marthoma Church and became a preacher in the Brotheren
Group. The first instance of the Holy Supper according to the New Testament pattern was conducted in
Kunnamkulam under the leadership of Volbrecht Nagel of German origin.
1899 J. G. Gregson, a baptist missionary visited Kerala in 1896 and conducted numerous Bible studies
and meetings organized by the Mar Thoma Church. It was in 1897, when he was a speaker at the
Maramon Convention. The vicar of the Marthoma Church of Kumbanad and Eraviperoor parishes, Rev.
P. E. Mammen (Kumbanattachen), left the Marthoma Church and received baptism from a Brethren
missionary, Hardley Bird, at Kunnamkulam. The first Brethren assembly meeting in Travancore took
place at Kumbanad on 19th March 1899
Volbrecht Nagel and Harriet Sabina Mitchell Nagel
(They found each other in Kunnamkulam and got married in April 1896)
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