Thumpamon valia palli cemetery

Thumpamon Diocesian Church A Historical Look Thumpamon Martha Mariam Dicesam Church , Historical Out Look D 717 to Ad 1932 Thumpamon Church is one of the ancient churches in the state. It was after the establishment of the 7½ Churches by St.Thomas, that the Martha Mariam Church was built in Thumpamon. Most of the historical documents were some how lost but the forefathers had spoken about the history of the church. Same in the case with many other churches, but the words are counted as proof of the history St Thomas had built the Nilackal Churches in AD 52. It became difficult for people to stay there by AD 325. So from there people started moving on to places like Thumpamon, Chenganoor, Kadampanad, Kanjirappally and Kayamkulam. This is being mentioned in the Ranny Taluk Diary 1 Thumpamon is just forty miles away from Nilackal, and it is on the banks of the river Achenkovil. There was no difficulty in reaching this place through waterways and so the history of people settling in this tertile area is considered as something believable. This place was good far cultivation and there were no dangers from wild animals and no threats from robbers in this place. The people who came to settle here realised that they could have a peaceful atmosphere here. The people who came here liked the place and in the places they built huts and started staying here. Those ancient Christians were very much hardworking and at the same time they were prayerful and loving human beings. Even from very ancient days, Quilon was a place where agricultural products were brought and sold, ginger, pepper and such agricultural items were sent from here to China and other persian countries. The trade connections that Thumpamon with Quilon helped to increase the fame of Thumpamon and it also helped to strengthen the bonds with other places. This trade connection also helped to increase the settlements in Thumpamon. The Christians who had settled here in the first half of the fourth century and those christians from Kadampanad had trade connection with the Christians in Quilon . The Church in Quilon was completed destroyed due to the flooding of the sea there and the Christians there moved to other places by AD 700. The early Christians in Thumpamon used to go to Kadampanad Church for attending Services on the Holy Days walking several miles. This long journey was very difficult and so by about Ad 325, on the northern side of the Pandalam- Pathanamthitta road a small place was arranged for conducting services. This is being recorded in the book titled Dinavrithantha Kuripukal 2 The First Church A D 717 3 In due course, the number of members of the families increased , Their connection widened. The number of the settlers also increased So in the same place where worship was conducted, a church was establised in the name of the mother of Jesus, and was named Martha Mariam Church. The people in Thumpamon gave this name to their church following the tradition of the Martha Mariam Church establised by St.Thomas, the disciple of christ at Niranam. That Church was a very simple one not like the present church with it architectural style or width or shape. It was a symbol of simplicity made of grass, palm leaves and bamboos. It was a place where one would being ture with nature and could feel the present of got and worship him.

The first church in Thumpamon was built in AD 717, and the structure of that church was not like present one. The first church was a small prayer hall. As the years passed by, the Nazarene population in Thumpamon increased and in AD 900 the old church building was demolished and a much larger building was constructed in its place. Histories of Thumpamon states that in AD 900 (kollavarsham-350) Thumpamon Pally was built and it was the second structure of the church.

Between the two centuries, after the construction of the second church the population of Nazarene Christians in Thumpamon had increased considerably. So also, the influx of people from other places continued particularly from Nilakkal. Nilakkal was ravaged by attacks from dacoits led by Fakhuruddin Polygar. As the frequency and intensity by the robber gangs increased, agriculture and trade became disrupted and peaceful life made impossible at Nilakkal. Raja of Pandalam whose capital at that time was Konniyoor near Nilakkal. The Raja also found it impossible to continue his domain at Nilakkal. Hence in AD 1170 (ME 345) the Raja and retinue abandoned Nilakkal and chose Pandalam has headquarters for governing his territory. Consequently the Nazarene in Nilakkal also had to emigrate to other places such as Kanjirappally, Thumpamon and other places.

In AD 1175 to construct a bigger Church building, the Nazarene's of Thumpamon demolished the existing building. At this time, the authorizer of the Thumpamon Vadakkumnatha Temple which cannot desire antiquity prior toAD 950 opposed the reconstruction of the Church on the ground that the Velichappad of the temple had predicted that the construction of a Christian church there would pollute and de-santise the temple. The Raja was very much inclined to favour the Nazarene's as they were hardworking, peace-loving and model adhering to the lofty principles enshrined in Christianity. The Raja and his officers, therefore personally visited Thumpamon and surveyed the land which came with in his jurisdiction and permitted the construction of the church, notwithstanding the opposition of the land records residing nearly Thatta. The foundation for constructing a church building was laid on 15 August 1175 (15th Chingam 350 ME), the feast day of Virgin Mary.

Famous christian pilgrim place.
Parking available.