Tamil Evangelical Lutheran Church is a Christian denomination in south India, which was established in 1919 and has approximately 200,000 members. Its headquarters is in Trichy, Tamil Nadu. It is one of the prominent mainline Lutheran churches in Tamil Nadu. Arunothayam is a monthly magazine released by this church.
On 14 January 1919, the Tamil congregation of different German, Danish and Swedish Lutheran missions, joined together to form the Tamil Evangelical Lutheran Church (TELC). In March 1921, the constitution of the TELC was amended to include the structure of episcopacy. In 1921, a Swedish missionary Rev. Dr. Ernst Heuman, was ordained as the first bishop of the TELC. The bishop of TELC holds the title Bishop of Tranquebar. In 1956, Dr. R B Manickam became the first Indian to be ordained as the bishop of TELC.
The Bishops have the title Bishop of Tranquebar. It belongs to the Lutheran World Federation. The Leipzig Evangelical Lutheran Mission and Church of Sweden Mission were active in the area of Trichy in the 19th century and are still active there today. This Lutheran church comes under United Evangelical Lutheran Church in India.
Presidents of TELCs and Bishops of Tranquebar
1921-1926 Rt. Rev. Dr.Ernst Heuman
1927-1934 Rt. Rev. Dr. David Bexell
1934-1956 Rt. Rev. Dr. Johannes Sandegren
1956-1967 Rt. Rev. Dr. Rajah Bushanam Manikam(Late)
1967-1972 Rt. Rev. Dr. A. Carl Gustav Diehl
1972-1975 Rt. Rev. A. John Satyanadhan(Late)
1975-1978 Rt. Rev. Lasarus Easter Raj(Late)
1978-1993 Rt. Rev. Dr. Jayseelan Jacob(Late)
1993-1999 Rt. Rev. Dr. Jubilee Gnanabaranam Johnson(Late)
1999-2009 Rt. Rev. Dr. Thaveedu Aruldoss
2009-2013 Rt. Rev. Dr. H.A. Martin
2013–present Rt. Rev. S Edwin Jayakumar (The Spiritual Head of TELC)
TELC Holy Trinity Cathedral, Tiruchirappalli
TELC Ratchagar Church, Tiruvallur ( த.சு.லு.தி இரட்சகர் ஆலயம், திருவள்ளூர்])
TELC Adiaikalanathar Church, Chennai
TELC Christ Church, Tambaram - 45
TELC Christ Church, Thiruvotriyur, Chennai-600019
TELC Arulnathar Church, Kilpauk, Chennai
TELC Anbunathar Church, Annanagar, Chennai
TELC Holy Redeemer's Church, Madurai
TELC Emmanuel Church, Mayiladuthurai
TELC New Jerusalem Church, Tranquebar (Tharangambadi)
TELC New Jerusalem Church,Nadukottai, Thirumangalam, Madurai.
TELC Salvation Church, Madurai
TELC Zion Church, Trichy-8.
TELC Christ Church, Anaimalai.
TELC World Saviour Church-Uluthukkupai, Mailaduthurai
TELC Pavanasar Lutheran Church - Bangalore.
TELC Ziegenbalg Jubilee Church - Sirkali
TELC Pavasar Lutheran Church - Chidambaram
TELC St.Paul's Church, Sengaraiyur
TELC World Saviour Church, Pollachi (The children home run by TELC in Pollachi was sealed by police after the rape incident of two girls staying in the home.)
TELC Bethlehem Church, (TBML College) Porayar
TELC Arulnathar Church, Tirukattupalli
TELC Saint John Church, Tiruchirappalli
TELC Arockianathar Church, Thirupputhur, Sivagangai Dist
த.சு.லு.தி கதிராலயம், பாண்டுர்
TELC Holy Cross Church, Chengalpattu
TELC Holy Comforter Church, Thanjavur
TELC Ebineaser Church, Villupuram
TELC Arulnathar Church, Kinathukadavu (த.சு.லு.தி. அருள்நாதர் ஆலயம், கிணத்துக்கடவு)
TELC Karunainathar Church Kinathukadavu (த.சு.லு.தி. கருணைநாதர் ஆலயம், கிணத்துக்கடவு)
TELC Bethel Church, Perambur, Chennai-11
TELC Arulnathar Church, Tirupur-641601
TELC Abishegha Nathar Church, Annamangalam,Perambalur-district.
TELC Bethlehem Church Ambattur Chennai 600 053
TELC Jesus Our Redeemer Church, Thirumangalam, Madurai.
TELC Calvary Nathar Chruch, J.Alangulam, Thirumangalam, Madurai.
TELC colleges and schools
TBML College, Porayar
TELC Teacher Training Institute(Male), Tranquebar
TELC Teacher Training Institute(Female), Usilampatti
TELC ELM Hr Sec School, Chennai
TELC Kabis Hr Sec School, Pandur
TELC Girls Christian Higher Secondary School, Thanjavur
TELC Middle School, Thanjavur
TELC SR Bergendal Girls HR Secondary School, Kinathukadavu
TELC Primary School, Kinathukadavu
TELC Middle School, Karunakarapuri, Kinathukadavu
TELC Primary School, Alampatti, Thirumangalam, Madurai.
TELC Primary School, Kurayoor.
Gurukul Lutheran Theological College and Research Institute, Chennai.
Tamil Nadu Theological Seminary (TTS), Madurai.
United Theological College (UTC), Bangalore.
Tamil Evangelical Lutheran Church Wikipedia (Text) CC BY-SA
