Indian Brethren
Encyclopedia
The Brethren are a Christian Evangelical premillennial religious movement.
The "Brethren" churches or Assemblies are completely independent of each other.
Local assemblies are autonomous but are often informally linked with each other.
There is no denominational headquarters or any governing body to which local assemblies are accountable.
Brethren remain affiliated with one another, mostly through common support of missionaries, area conferences, Youth Ministries, and the ministry of travelling preachers.
Each church will have a number of Elders and these Elders are the spiritual leaders of the assemblies.
found its way to India
in 1833 through Anthony Norris Groves
, who was professionally a dentist. His activities centred in the Godavari
delta area of Bihar, Andhra Pradesh and Tamil Nadu.
John Arulappan, who was a disciple of Groves, acted on Groves' principles and as a full-time worker lived "by faith." Through Arulappan's ministry, a revival broke out in Tinnevelly in South India and many congregations were formed.
J.G.Gregson, a Baptist preacher from England delivered sermons in the Convention at Maramon, Kerala. His Bible classes inspired several people in Kerala. In AD 1896 Gregson came to the place Ayroor near Kumbanad and preached gospel. Later he conducted a series of bible studies on the Epistle to Romans and taught that through water baptism a believer identifies with the death, burial, and resurrection of Jesus Christ and becomes a disciple of Christ. Rev PE Mammen (Kumbanattu Achen, a Priest of Marthoma Church) was one of the attendees of these meetings. Later he went to Kunnamkulam and took believers baptism. Bro Handley Bird administered the baptism. Later Rev P.E. Mammen left the MarThoma Church and became a gospel preacher
On March 9, 1899, following the Dublin example, four men congregated at the residence of Kuttiyil Mathai, Kumbanad
, for the breaking of bread, without a priest. This marked the beginning of Brethren movement in Kerala. They were PE Mammen, his brother PE John, P.C. John
, and PC Chacko, Melathethil. There were a few others who also attended but did not take part in bread and wine.
Later the missionary work of V.Nagal, Handley Bird, E.H.Noel, Mahakavi K.V. Simon, and P.C. John
went a long way in the growth of brethren Assembly in Kerala.
It was an ardent task for Kerala Brethren to spread the message in Andhra Pradesh, India. Mr. M.T.Yohannan from Mylapra took the Gospel to Andhra Pradesh.
The "Brethren" churches or Assemblies are completely independent of each other.
Local assemblies are autonomous but are often informally linked with each other.
There is no denominational headquarters or any governing body to which local assemblies are accountable.
Brethren remain affiliated with one another, mostly through common support of missionaries, area conferences, Youth Ministries, and the ministry of travelling preachers.
Each church will have a number of Elders and these Elders are the spiritual leaders of the assemblies.
Start of Brethren Movement in India
This spiritual movement of Plymouth BrethrenPlymouth Brethren
The Plymouth Brethren is a conservative, Evangelical Christian movement, whose history can be traced to Dublin, Ireland, in the late 1820s. Although the group is notable for not taking any official "church name" to itself, and not having an official clergy or liturgy, the title "The Brethren," is...
found its way to India
India
India , officially the Republic of India , is a country in South Asia. It is the seventh-largest country by geographical area, the second-most populous country with over 1.2 billion people, and the most populous democracy in the world...
in 1833 through Anthony Norris Groves
Anthony Norris Groves
Anthony Norris Groves has been described as the "father of faith missions". He launched the first Protestant mission to Arabic-speaking Muslims, and settled in Baghdad, now the capital of Iraq, and later in southern India. His ideas influenced a circle of friends who became leaders in the Plymouth...
, who was professionally a dentist. His activities centred in the Godavari
Godavari River
The Godavari is a river that runs from western to southern India and is considered to be one of the big river basins in India. With a length of 1465 km, it is the second longest river in India , that runs within the country and also the longest river in South India...
delta area of Bihar, Andhra Pradesh and Tamil Nadu.
John Arulappan, who was a disciple of Groves, acted on Groves' principles and as a full-time worker lived "by faith." Through Arulappan's ministry, a revival broke out in Tinnevelly in South India and many congregations were formed.
Kerala Brethren
In 1872, this movement was spearheaded in Kerala by Mathai Upadeshi, a disciple of John Arulappan, who took the baton from Groves. In December 1894, a well-known gospel preacher, Tamil David visited Kerala and preached on assurance on salvation and many were saved.J.G.Gregson, a Baptist preacher from England delivered sermons in the Convention at Maramon, Kerala. His Bible classes inspired several people in Kerala. In AD 1896 Gregson came to the place Ayroor near Kumbanad and preached gospel. Later he conducted a series of bible studies on the Epistle to Romans and taught that through water baptism a believer identifies with the death, burial, and resurrection of Jesus Christ and becomes a disciple of Christ. Rev PE Mammen (Kumbanattu Achen, a Priest of Marthoma Church) was one of the attendees of these meetings. Later he went to Kunnamkulam and took believers baptism. Bro Handley Bird administered the baptism. Later Rev P.E. Mammen left the MarThoma Church and became a gospel preacher
On March 9, 1899, following the Dublin example, four men congregated at the residence of Kuttiyil Mathai, Kumbanad
Kumbanad
Kumbanad is a place in koipuram panchyath Pathanamthitta district of Kerala state, in India. It is a part of Thiruvalla Taluk. It is situated on the Sabarimala pilgrimage route on the Thiruvalla - Kumbazha road . Kumbanad is one of the wealthiest settlement in India...
, for the breaking of bread, without a priest. This marked the beginning of Brethren movement in Kerala. They were PE Mammen, his brother PE John, P.C. John
P.C. John
P. C. John was an evangelist and Bible teacher among the Syrian Christians and the Plymouth Brethren for 38 years.-Birth and early years:John was born in 1876 at Kumbanad, Kerala to Padinjattedathu Chacko of the Kumbanattu family. After the basic Malayalam education, he started his life as a farmer...
, and PC Chacko, Melathethil. There were a few others who also attended but did not take part in bread and wine.
Later the missionary work of V.Nagal, Handley Bird, E.H.Noel, Mahakavi K.V. Simon, and P.C. John
P.C. John
P. C. John was an evangelist and Bible teacher among the Syrian Christians and the Plymouth Brethren for 38 years.-Birth and early years:John was born in 1876 at Kumbanad, Kerala to Padinjattedathu Chacko of the Kumbanattu family. After the basic Malayalam education, he started his life as a farmer...
went a long way in the growth of brethren Assembly in Kerala.
It was an ardent task for Kerala Brethren to spread the message in Andhra Pradesh, India. Mr. M.T.Yohannan from Mylapra took the Gospel to Andhra Pradesh.
Present
Today this movement has over 1200 churches in Kerala, an equal number in Andhra Pradesh and is estimated to have over 2200 churches in India.External links
- Kerala Brethren Assembly
- Discussion Forum Brethren Assembly
- Brethren India Forums
- Kerala Brethren discussion forum
- IBF Conference
- FIBA Conference
- http://www.indianbrethren.co.uk Christian Web Site for Brethren from India Living in UK
- http://www.brethrenassembly.com/IndiaBreth1.htm
- Statement of Kerala Brethren beliefs
- Bahrain Brethren A site exclusively for the brethren and by the brethren.
- Brethren Assembly Plymouth Brethren Assembly, Bangalore, India.