House of PrayerPROPOSED TRUST · PATTABIRAMProposed trust — registration not yet complete.
OUR HISTORY
From a prayer group of four families to a lasting church home. Our story is rooted in the service and sacrifice of believers who gathered, worshipped and built a church family in Pattabiram.
The church began as a small prayer group of four families, led by Pastor Philip Sastry. While serving in the Indian Air Force at Avadi, he shared the Gospel with Air Force friends after duty hours. The group first met in his rented home behind the present ECI Church near Avadi Market. Br. T. K. Thomas and family, Br. Baby Mathews and family, and Br. Zachariah attended.
Br. T. K. Thomas and family and Br. Baby P. Mathews and family accepted the Lord as their personal Saviour and were baptised by Pastor Philip Sastry. As the group grew, meetings continued in rented homes and then in a simple thatched house in Dr. John Varghese’s compound.
When the group had to leave the compound, the believers prayed for a new place. They found the present location, moved their dismantled thatch there and erected it again. The place was named House of Prayer. New members came from the Air Force and HVF, including Fg/Offr P. V. Thomas, Evg. T. P. Abraham and Br. M. M. Varghese.
The thatch was later replaced by a single brick wall and tiled roof. As Tamil-speaking believers joined, Br. Baby Mathews translated messages into Tamil. In 1968, after returning from the Air Force, Br. T. K. Thomas again took charge of the church.
As the fellowship grew, the church approached IPC Kumbanad Presbytery and was welcomed into its fellowship. Pastor K. T. Ittiyevara was posted as the first Pastor of IPC Pattabiram. Many believers from the nearby defence establishments joined the church during their postings.
The present concrete church building, with parsonage on the first floor, was built after the foundation stone was laid by Pastor P. M. Philip, then General Secretary of IPC Kumbanad. It was dedicated by Pastor M. S. Joseph, District Pastor of IPC Madras. The church continues its ministry under Pastor Viju Antony.
Pastor K. C. John (Florida), Pastor Moncy Varghese, Pastor Raju John, Pastor Sunny Alexander, Pastor Sam P. Joseph, Pastor M. V. John, Pastor Binu Thomas, Pastor Jose Pappachan, Pastor Abraham Thomas, Pastor Jose Prasad, Pastor P. U. Benny, Pastor Mathew P. Thomas, Pastor Sabu C. Thomas and Pastor Viju Antony (present).