Our history

A Legacy That Continues

From a tiled-roof chapel built by thirteen families in 1969 to the House for His Glory dedicated in 2026: the story of CSI St. John’s Church, Perungalathur.

Milestones

Fifty-seven years of God’s faithfulness

Each brick laid and every prayer offered stands as a testimony to the faith, dedication and sacrifice of the congregation.

1969 Where the journey began
A tiled-roof church built by thirteen families

With the help of the Tambaram Pastorate, under the chairmanship of the late Rt. Rev. R. T. Baskaran, a plot of land was obtained in Srinivasa Nagar, Perungalathur. Thirteen households gave what they had to build a small church with a tiled roof on Balaji Street.

It was dedicated on 20 December 1969 by the late Rev. Peace B. David. Everything that followed grew from that first act of faith.
1974 Growing together in God’s grace
The church is extended and a pastorate is born

As families settled across Old Perungalathur, New Perungalathur, Srinivasa Nagar and Kamaraj Nagar, the little church filled up. It was enlarged in three stages, the first extension being completed in 1974.

In November 1974 the Perungalathur Pastorate was formed, bringing together the congregations at Padappai, Mudichur, Nedungundram, Vandalur and Otteri under St. John’s as the mother church.
- Four further pastorates have since grown out of the Perungalathur Pastorate.
- Five sister churches in village areas remain in the pastorate’s care today.
1986 A house of worship
The rebuilt church is consecrated

The later rebuilding gave the congregation a church with room for around four hundred families. On 20 December 1986, seventeen years to the day after the first dedication, the late Rt. Rev. Sunder Clarke, Bishop in Madras, consecrated it to the glory of God.

This is the church that generations of members were baptised, confirmed and married in, and the one many still picture when they think of St. John’s.
2000s Building a stronger legacy of worship
A church family of hundreds

Through the 2000s the congregation grew past six hundred and then eight hundred and fifty members, making St. John’s the oldest and largest CSI congregation in Perungalathur.

Sunday School, the youth fellowship, the women’s and men’s fellowships and the choir each found their place in the life of the church, and every summer Vacation Bible School filled it with children. The church also carried its share of the wider work of the CSI Diocese of Madras.
2019 Golden Jubilee
Fifty years on Balaji Street

In 2019 the church celebrated its Golden Jubilee: fifty years since thirteen families dedicated their tiled-roof chapel in December 1969. By then the plans for a new and larger church were already well under way.
2014 onward Twelve years of prayer
Land is bought and a new church rises

With the congregation grown to more than eight hundred and fifty people, the church decided to build anew. Nearby land was purchased and construction began under the leadership of the Presbyter, Rev. J. Johnson Jebakumar, who had already led the building of many churches before coming to Perungalathur.

Twelve years of prayer, sacrifice, hope and faith followed. Brick by brick, and gift by gift, the new church took shape beside the old one.
2026 The next chapter is being written
The House for His Glory

In August 2026 the congregation walked from the church that holds its memories into the church that will carry its future. The new church was dedicated with thanksgiving and worship, and a few days later it stood lit in the colours of the nation on Independence Day.

The legacy continues. Praise and Worship is at 8:00 AM and the service at 8:30 AM every Sunday, and all are welcome.
- Watch the dedication day video on Facebook
- See the latest updates from the church