FIG: HACKER MEMORIAL CHURCH MOOLACHEL
HISTORY OF HACKER MEMORIAL
CHURCH MOOLACHEL
INTRODUCTION:
Hacker Memorial church was named in the Memory of Isaac Henry Hacker in
1935 March 24th with the permission of Mission Council. This church was raised
to District church on 24 th July 1960. During that time, Moolachel Hacker
Memorial church is one of the District church, among the 7 District churches
(Nagercoil, Neyoor, Marthandam, Moolachel, Thittuvilai, Kottaram, Irenipuram)
in Kanyakumari.
CHRISTIANITY IN MOOLACHEL FROM
“HISTORY OF LONDON MISSONARY SOCIETY OF TRAVANCORE”:
When Ringel thobae came to Travancore in (1810-1812) he preached
christianity on Moolachel, Ammandivilai, Anandanadankuli, Paeyankuli,
Mathicode. This was taken from History of London missonary society of Travancore
written by John A Jacob in 31st page.
MOOLACHEL CHURCH IN HISTORY:
From the report of the Trivancore Misson Report, the orgin of Church in
Nagercoil may be on 1800 and Neyoor chuch in 1828. The report of 1833 year
shows Moolachel church and five other churches, are get operated under the
Neyoor church. From this we conclude that Moolachel church orgins before 1833.
FIRST CHRISTIAN WHO BELIVED
CHRIST:
Ringel thobae & Mylladi Maharasan Vedhamanikam did their preachings
in muttaikadu, because of Maharasan Vedamanikam's caste peoples and relatives
lived there. Near Saralvilai there is a garden which belongs to an European in
Avarivilai. Vedamanikam & Thobae often come to this garden to take rest. A
man who married a women named Annal from Santhapuram & she is a Christian.
She went to her garden in Avarivilai daily to collect food materials. During
this time she participated the services taking place by Jeba Ganam. She invited
Ringel Thobae, Maharasan Vedamanikam to her house in Kaadanvilai through Keela
Moolachel crossing Valliyaru river. Finally she started worshiping from her
hut.
During this time, 1810 Neethiudaiyan who belived the preachings of
Maharasan Vedamanikam in Muttaikadu & took Baptisem converted to Christian.
After that service takes place in Neethiudaiyan house by Sivaganam. 7 familes
participated the service, it get increases day by day.
GANIYAR (1818-1900) FROM THE
REPORT OF “LONDON MISSONARY SOCIETY OF TRAVANCORE”:
He was born in a Hindu family in Naduvoorkadai located near Mandaikadu.
While he was young he lost his father. He was well educated in Tamil puranas
& hinduism belifs during his small age. His relatives planned to kill him
to take his fathers properties. So his mother took him to Moolachel. He worked
hard and become rich. One day God appeard on his dream & asked him to stop
beliving statues. He was frightened & next day he went to meet the
missonary Baylis from Neyoor. Baylis preached him & he converted to
Christian in the name Jeba ganam in 1856. This is given in page 157 & 158.
REPORTS OF ALEXANDRO BESKI AND
BAYLIS IN TRIVANCORE MISSION REPORT:
Alexandro Beski in 1862 wrote about Siva Ganam that he prayed 3 times a
day, also Siva Ganam went with him to preach about christianity in village. His
son in law Perinbanathan who converted to christian, become sick and during his
death in February 1862, he told that, ‘I’m not afraid of death, i will be with
god in Heven’.
Bayles reported in his 1863 report, that when he took charge in Neyoor,
2 peoples are removed from the Moolachel church. Reason one who married a young
girl, when his wife is alive and the other who worshiped idols while he become
sick. From the report of Yaesuvadiyan, Kunamudaiyan while he is in bed due to
sick, he askd his only son to promise, to live for christ.
OLD CHURCH:
Due to the increase in christians, they brought 45 cents from a hindu
men Muchsanti in Saral vilai at 1860. In that place construction of church ends
on 1870. Many persons get gathered and praised the lord. The important persons
who participated the service are Vedha manikam (Sunapara vilai), Vedha manikam
(Aaluvilai), Yakobu (Manali), Neethiudaiyan (Kaadanvilai), Narkunathan
(Palavilai), Gana mony (Kristu Nagar), Yakobu ( Thanthavilai). Now this church
was operating as childrens home. Again due to increase in christians the place
where the present church is found, is brought which is one & half acres.
GANIYAR’S SERVICE & DEATH:
During that time there may be 3 decons, ganiyar is one among them. He
is the secratry of the church and he played an important role in the
construction of church. While Hacker visits moolachel, ganiyar invited him to
his house. During the prayer in his house he used drum & it is present now
in his house he lived. He has 4 sons & 7 daughters. In May 14 , 1900 at his
82nd age he expired.
HACKER MEMORIAL CHURCH MOOLACHEL:
Due to the increase in christians decons planed to construct a new
church on 17th October 1920. In 1921 church is operated under the Marthandam
district church. During that time marriage fee may be 8 and half for males
& 5 and half rupees for women is collected. New church plan was done by
Sinclair, & its length may be 70 and breadth 35 feets. For the construction
6 level taxes are provided. Based on that 1st tax is 100 rupees, 2nd tax 75 rupees,
& 50,35,20,10 rupees respectively.
Decons planned to start the work by Mrs. Sinclair on March 10th 1929.
In 1932 May 20th Moolachel church became Pastate church. In 1933 the income of
church is 2245 rupees, 7 chakram, 11 paise & loss is 1698 rupees, 4 chakram,
18 paise. And on March 24th 1935 decons planned to name Hacker memorial church
for the new church.
ISAAC HENRY HACKER (1848-1933):
Isaac Henry Hacker was born on July 7th 1848 in Birminghram. He was
blessed for service on October 3rd 1877. He was sent to Neyoor after the death
of Baylis on 9 th January 1878. He married Elizabeth Dymond Pollard (1849) on
1879 November 4 th in Neyoor, who died on 1st April 1885 in Mottam near Neyoor
at her 36th age. After the death of Elizabeth, Hacker married the daughter of
Baylis named Winifred Baylis (1868) on 24th August 1887. He wrote books named,
‘ The hundred years in Trivancore’, ‘Memories of Thomies Smith Thomson’. He
built many churches & he become author in Desopahari. He did his missonary
service & lived in Kodaikanal. Finally he died on May 5th 1933.
CONCLUSION:
The church opening
ceremany takes place on December 24th 1957 in the name of Hacker Memorial
Church. Various changes and reconstruction are done and we can see the new
church in Moolachel. In short, Moolachel is nothing but a beautiful extension
of God’s own village where nature and developments go hand in hand.
D. JBN
.
