The history of Christianity in South India is often told through European missionaries like Schwartz of Tanjore and Clarinda of Palayamkottai. But what if the faith had already taken root among native believers before them?
One such name is S. Gnanakan Nallathambi, who turned to Christ in an era of spiritual transformation. His son, the late John Nallathambi, was later recognized as a native missionary in Gospel in All Lands (1881). If true, this suggests the Nallathambi family's Christian heritage predates Clarinda’s mission in 1778, revealing a hidden legacy of early indigenous believers.
Yet, history often overlooks such native pioneers. The CMS (Church Missionary Society) largely documented its own work, sidelining the contributions of Tirunelveli’s early Christian converts. How many other families share a similar yet unrecorded legacy?
This is not just a historical inquiry but a reclamation of identity. The forgotten native Christians of Tirunelveli played a crucial role in shaping the region’s faith long before Western missions arrived. Their contributions deserve recognition, for faith, once planted, thrives in the hearts of those who call the land their home.
-Hayden Victor, 7th generation of the Nallathambi family
