According to the Census of India, there are over a million Christians in Andhra Pradesh constituting 1.5% of the state's population,
although a decrease from the 1971 census figure which was 4.2%, as a result of low birth rates and emigration. Although the Franciscans of the Catholic Church brought Christianity to the Deccan Area in 1535,
it is only after 1759 AD when the Northern Circars came un
der the rule of the East India Company that the region opened up to greater Christian influence. The first Protestant missionaries in Andhra Pradesh were Rev. Cran and Rev. Des Granges who were sent out by the London Missionary Society. They set up their station at Vishakapatnam in 1805 AD. Most Telugu Christians are Protestant belonging to major Indian Protestant denominations such as the Church of South India,
the Andhra Evangelical Lutheran Church, the Samavesam of Telugu Baptist Churches and several others. The Church in Andhra Pradesh runs thousands of educational institutions and hospitals contributing significantly to the development of the state. Telugu Christians are found in all walks of life and have contributed much to the development of the state. Regions with significant populations of Telugu Christians include the erstwhile Northern Circars, the coastal belt and the cities of Hyderabad and Secunderabad. Many Telugu Christians have emigrated to other countries in the Anglosphere with significant populations being present in the United States, United Kingdom and
Australia.Telugu Christians also have one of the highest literacy, work participation and s*x ratio figures among the various religious communities in the state.
