My brother T. M. Varghese (Joy, a teacher in Peroorkada) introduced me to Christ Church in 1963 when I visited the capital city and Kanyakumari for the first time. The following year I began my studies at the University College and later at Loyola College.
The Mar Thoma parish was inaccessible from where I used to hang out – LMS and the University residences within walking distance from Christ Church as well as the YMCA. Therefore, I became a regular worshipper at Christ Church for five years; this provided me an inspiring perspective about worship – much different from the lingering Mar Thoma liturgy. Later as a Theological student in Edinburgh and a research scholar at Christ Church College, University of Oxford, those great reminiscences became ever more part of who I turned out to be both as a church leader and teacher here in The United Church of Canada.
Of all the warm memories from those formative days I still hold close to my heart is a sermon by Prof. Samuel Mathai, Vice-Chancellor of the Kerala University, which still remains evocative within me as an ordained minister in the Reformed tradition.

Rev. Dr. John T. Mathew

The United Church of Canada