Our Church
The church was established in 2003 by a group of Kerala Christian families who migrated to Manchester and the surrounding areas. The church is affiliated with the Malankara Mar Thoma Syrian Church, a reformed Oriental Syrian church based in Kerala, India.
The Mar Thoma Church of Great Britain and Europe provided guidance and support to the new prayer group. The initial worship services were held in Saint Mary’s Hospital Chapel in Manchester. The growing membership of the prayer group prompted it to look for an alternate worship place which could accommodate more people and had better parking facilities. As a result, the prayer group started worshipping at the Holy Innocents Church in October 2004.
As the number of members of the Manchester Mar Thoma fellowship increased manifold, the prayer group was recognised as a congregation in May 2004, and as a parish in May 2007. The parish grew steadily over the years, and in 2019, the church purchased a building in Heywood, which became its permanent home. Since then, Tabore Mar Thoma Church in Manchester has become an important spiritual center for the Mar Thoma community in Manchester and the surrounding areas. The church provides various services and activities for its members, including weekly worship services, prayer meetings, Bible studies, youth programs, and community outreach activities.
In addition to serving the spiritual needs of its members, Tabore Mar Thoma Church in Manchester is involved in various charitable activities both locally and internationally, regardless of their background or religion. The community is also active in organizing events and activities that promote their faith and culture, such as celebrations of major festivals, cultural events, and charity fundraisers. Overall, the church’s history is one of growth, dedication, and service to the community.
Our relationship with the Anglican Church
The Mar Thoma Church is in full communion relationship with the Anglican Church.
As a Reformed Church with Episcopal traditions, the Lambeth Conference considered possibilities of communion between the two Churches. A commission was appointed by the Anglican Church in India in 1957 to study the possibility of intercommunion. After considering the report of the Commission, a concordat was agreed upon in 1961 establishing Communion relationship between the two Churches.
Lambeth Conference declared acceptance of the ministry and full communion relationship. Thus the Mar Thoma Church is now in full communion relationship with the Anglican Church all over the world.