Indian Community
The Syro-Malabar Church is an Oriental (Eastern Rite) Catholic Church, in full communion with the Church of Rome.
The Syro-Malabar Church, with its deep-rooted spirituality considered the most vibrant Catholic Church in the world , and has a strength of over 3.8 million believers. It is the second largest of the 21 Oriental Catholic Churches. Firm devotion, indomitable faith, deep-rooted spirituality, and rich traditions make the Syro-Malabar Church markedly special and vividly alive, making it an integral part of the One, Holy, Catholic, and Apostolic Church.
St Thomas Christians trace their origins and their faith to the missionary efforts of St Thomas the Apostle who landed at Kodungallur in Kerala in AD 52. Today, the Syro-Malabar Church is the major community of ancient St Thomas Christians in India. The Syro-Malabar Church hierarchy was founded in 1923. Since then, the Syro-Malabar Church has grown by leaps and bounds, and spread to regions outside Kerala and even overseas.
The term Syro-Malabar is a reference to the East Syrian (Chaldean) tradition the Church has followed and to the Malabar Coast where St Thomas the Apostle landed.
History of Syro Malabar Church in London
There are more than 45000 Indian Catholics following this rite in the UK and the number is increasing on account of the immigration of professionals.
The Syro Malabar Catholic Community is fastly growing through out the United Kingdom. Recently the number of immigrants from Kerala have been dramatically increased.
Syro Malabar community started moving to Basildon in 2003. There were very few families then and we started our First Holy Qurbana (Mass) in 2004. Fr George Cheeramkuzhiyil was the first Chaplin, who helped to establish our community. There were lot of difficulties we faced within our community to go ahead with the launch of Syro Malabar Mass in Basildon. In a critical situation there were only four Syro Malabar Catholics to vote for the community. We have been receiving enormous help from Parish Priests of Holy Trinity Church.
At present we have around 150 to 180 members in Basildon. We have Holy Qurbana in First Saturday of every month at 5.00 pm followed by Novena of our Mother of Perpetual Help. We have also catechism classes from 4pm to 5pm for our children.
Indian reps
Information can be found on the SMCIM website.