Our Church HistorySt Thomas Indian Orthodox Church, Poole, UK

In the third millennium year of 2001, few female members of the Indian (Malankara) Orthodox Church in India, who were health professionals, arrived in Poole and Bournemouth. When their family members joined them from India, members of our early congregation travelled to London to attend Holy Eucharistic services.

Fr. Abraham Thomas (HG Abraham Mar Stephanos), Vicar at the time of St Gregorios Indian Orthodox Church, London, facilitated to start St Thomas prayer fellowship in Poole in 2003 led by Fr. Varghese Mathew (1st Vicar 2004-2014), which was the inception of our congregation. The First Holy Eucharist of our congregation was celebrated on 27th September 2003 in the Church of Christ the Saviour, Bournemouth, by Fr. John Mathew, Pallipadu, in the presence of Fr. Abraham Thomas (HG Abraham Mar Stephanos), supported by late Mr. P C Joseph and attended by about 12 faithful of our early congregation.

In Jan 2007, the congregation was declared as a Parish by Metropolitan of U.K & Canada Diocesan HG. Dr. Thomas Mar Makarios of blessed memory. St. Thomas is our Patron Saint who was one of the twelve Apostles of Jesus Christ. St. Thomas arrived in India in AD 52 and founded the Indian (Malankara) Orthodox Church. The main Church is in communion with Oriental Orthodox Churches and in good ecumenical connection with the Eastern Orthodox, Roman Catholic, and Protestant Churches.

St. Thomas Indian (Malankara) Orthodox Church, Poole, belongs to the Diocese of UK-Europe & Africa of the Indian (Malankara) Orthodox Church .

Our parish had its blessed inception as a congregation with prayer fellowship by loyal and dedicated members ever since through the years for its growth in spirit and numbers. The parish has been functioning as a registered charity (No 1142499) in Dorset and Hampshire since June 2011. We welcome viewers to our official website for more information and to be connected.