CSI St. Thomas English Church

CSI St. Thomas English Church St. Thomas English Church (STEC) is a CSI church with an Anglican background, built in 1842. An important landmark on the Chennai coastline, St. Since then, St.

Worship Services:
Sunday Morning at 7.30 am
Sunday Evening at 6.00 pm
Refer our website for Worship Schedule Thomas English Church (STEC) is also the oldest Protestant Church in Santhome. Our little white Church on the shore owes its origin to the missionaries of the Vepery Mission and Robert Carver, a dynamic Methodist missionary who came here from Ceylon and was instrumental in building the chur

ch. Consecrated on 10 December 1842, this little Church of ‘St. Thomas-by-the-sea’ (as it was called then), like the Roman Catholic Cathedral, and the Tamil Church of later date, was named in honour of the Apostle Thomas who was martyred and buried in this area. The immensely popular Rev. Robert Carver was the first Presbyter of this church, and when he passed away just three years later, he was buried under the altar. Among the many men of God who ministered here, a few like Rev. Thomas Dealtry and Rev. David Chellappa went on to become the Bishop of Madras. During the British period, “this was the Church of the Protestant elite in Madras, the residents of the garden-houses of Adyar, with the Governor having his own pew.”

When India became independent in 1947 and the Church of South India was formed, St. Thomas-by-the-sea came under CSI Diocese of Madras and was allowed to continue its Anglican tradition. Thomas English Church has been steadily growing not just in numbers, but in its many outreach activities too. The 1970s and 80s were a remarkable period for the church, best remembered for its well-known Presbyters like Rev. Honest Chinniah, Rev. Desmond C. Francis and Rev. Ebenezer Immanuel, lay preachers like David Samuel and the legendary choir master Seth Balasunder. The 1980s saw a flurry of activities like the starting of an English-medium school for the underprivileged, a picturesque open air altar and a medical centre. STEC has stood as a beacon of hope through the ages, and has been a second home to generations of Christians in and around Santhome. Now stepping into the 173rd year, STEC is eagerly looking forward to a revamped pipe organ and a brand new parish hall.

Here's a recording of the VBS Final Day Program...
08/05/2026

Here's a recording of the VBS Final Day Program...

Watch our children share what they learned this year, on the Final Day Program of VBS 2026.

🙏 We invite you to join us for a time of prayer and testimonies on Saturday at 10.30 am. Do come and be blessed… ...
22/04/2026

🙏 We invite you to join us for a time of prayer and testimonies on Saturday at 10.30 am. Do come and be blessed…

Our Church Newsletter - the EanMe - for April 2026 is now online! Click on the link to read it and stay updated: https:/...
06/04/2026

Our Church Newsletter - the EanMe - for April 2026 is now online! Click on the link to read it and stay updated: https://bit.ly/EanmeApril2026

04/04/2026

🎵STEC Choir presented ‘Redemption’ - a sacred cantata by Richard J Singh & Dr. Mathuram Santosham, on Palm Sunday. Here are a few excerpts from the Easter story in song… The full video is on our YouTube channel. Click on the link in bio

On Palm Sunday, the STEC choir presented 'Redemption' - a sacred cantata for Lent, Passiontide and Easter. Composed in 1...
01/04/2026

On Palm Sunday, the STEC choir presented 'Redemption' - a sacred cantata for Lent, Passiontide and Easter. Composed in 1963 by Richard J Singh with lyrics by Dr. Mathuram Santosham, ‘Redemption’ was performed with costumes and props... do watch:

The choir of CSI St. Thomas English Church in San Thome, Chennai presents 'Redemption' - a sacred cantata for Lent, Passiontide and Easter. Composed in 1963 ...

🙏 We invite you to join us for a time of prayer and testimonies on Saturday at 10.30 am. Do come and be blessed… ...
26/03/2026

🙏 We invite you to join us for a time of prayer and testimonies on Saturday at 10.30 am. Do come and be blessed…

mylapore

✝️ Snapshots from today’s Lenten Retreat & Quiz on John’s Gospel…
15/03/2026

✝️ Snapshots from today’s Lenten Retreat & Quiz on John’s Gospel…

🩺 On International Women’s Day, our church organized a Women’s Wellness Camp, offering free medical services to women in...
09/03/2026

🩺 On International Women’s Day, our church organized a Women’s Wellness Camp, offering free medical services to women in the neighbourhood.

🙏 We invite you to join us for a time of prayer and testimonies tomorrow at 10.30 am. Do come and be blessed… myl...
27/02/2026

🙏 We invite you to join us for a time of prayer and testimonies tomorrow at 10.30 am. Do come and be blessed…

mylapore

🦁 Don’t miss ‘Facing Lions’ a powerful short play written & directed by Shekinah Jacob, performed by during Evening Wor...
21/02/2026

🦁 Don’t miss ‘Facing Lions’ a powerful short play written & directed by Shekinah Jacob, performed by during Evening Worship, this Sunday…

Set in Ancient Rome, the play invites you to discover how faith can overcome fear, even in the face of lions.

⏱️ Sunday, 22 February 2026, 6.00 pm
📍CSI St. Thomas English Church, Chennai

Address

55, Santhome High Road, Santhome
Chennai
600004

Opening Hours

7:30am - 7:30pm

Telephone

+914429520925

Website

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