Who we are

CHURCH WWR

Established in 1982, the Church of South India Malayalam Congregation of Greater New York is the largest C.S.I. congregation in North America.  Our congregation’s origins can be traced to 1979 when C.S.I. members in the New York metropolitan area began worshiping at the St. James Chapel of the Union Theological Seminary and later in a church at 57th Street in Manhattan.  In February of 1982, a majority of this congregation moved to Woodhaven, Queens to form the C.S.I. Malayalam Congregation of Greater New York.

Our congregation has grown from 30 families to over 100 families.  
From 1985 onwards, we have been blessed to receive the services of full-time pastors, who are posted by the Madhya Kerala Diocese for 3-year terms.  The full-time pastor is also the President of the Board of Trustees of our Congregation.  Day to day administration is handled by the Board of Trustees.  Our congregation is a pastorate of the Madhya Kerala Diocese and is also affiliated with the United Church of Christ (UCC) in the United States.

Rev. George Koshy was our first Vicar and he served the Congregation until May 31, 1982.  Rev. K.K. Koshy took charge as of June 1, 1982 and served until January 1984.  Reverends John J. William and K.K. Cherian also served the Congregation for short periods after that.  The following pastors were appointed subsequently by the Bishop of the Madhya Kerala Diocese:

  • Rev. T.M. John (1985-88);
  • Rev. T.O. Oommen (1988-91);
  • Rev. Chery John (1991-94);
  • Rev. Thomas K. Oommen (1994-97);
  • Very Rev. Punnoose Cherian (1997-2000);
  • Rev. Sam T. Mathew (2000-2003);
  • Rev. Cherian Thomas (2003-2006);
  • Rev. Kurian Mathew (2006 to 2009)
  • Rev. Nebu Skariah(2009-Present)

In 2001, with the generous contributions of our members, we bought our own church in Seaford, Long Island.  We began worshiping at this location on December 22, 2001.  The church was formally dedicated by Rt. Rev. Thomas Samuel (Bishop of the Madhya Kerala Diocese) on July 24, 2002.

The second stage of our building project (to build a parsonage and the hall on the church property) was completed in December, 2008.  The project was funded by our members donations and from proceeds of the sale of our parsonage in Queens Village, NY.

Our congregation is constantly growing, with a membership of over 100 families.  Average attendance on a Sunday is over 200 people.  Our Atmaya Sangatna, Choir, Sunday School, Womens Fellowship and Youth Fellowship remain the mainstay of our congregation.