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Contents  History of Tellippalai Church  Map of Jaffna  Pictures of Tellippalai Church in 1980  Pictures of Tellippalai Church in 2011  CD Release  Donation 2

History Of Tellippalai Church  Our Church which was established in 1831 has been an active and enthusiastic church and today many of our friends are living scattered around the globe and doing well too. Unlike other churches ours has a special historical background. In the 17 th century during the Dutch Period a, missionary called Phillip Baldeus landed at Tellippalai and he started his work at Tellippalai.  The present Mission House is built on the foundation of his residences, and he used to call all the catechists who were working under him on Saturdays, and dictate the sermon for the following Sunday, under the tamarind tree, which is still standing as a witness in the Mission compound.  Later in the early 19 th century the American Missionaries, who came from Haystack Massachusetts too, landed at Tellippalai in 1816 and started the American Ceylon Mission work in the Jaffna Peninsula, which later became a part of the Jaffna Diocese of the Church South India. That’s how our church stands in the forefront of the History of the American Ceylon Mission. 3

 Almost two hundred years ago providence certainly chartered the course of the early missionaries who came to Jaffna. When they set off from the United States in answer to their call following their commitment to serve in the mission of God, Jaffna was not their destination.  How they came to Jaffna describes the prejudice the colonial government had against the US, and by sending these missionaries to Jaffna the British authorities were sure they would soon get tired of the Dry Zone nature of the region and several other inconveniences they would face there.  Fortunately for the people of Jaffna it was not to be as was expected by the British. Realizing the extreme nature of the challenges they faced and the conviction that they were led to undertake this task by divine guidance, they set up their mission at Tellipallai in  This event hailed an incredible socio-educational and health revolution in the Northern Province. The British government has told the missionaries that they were welcome to use the ruined churches that were built or renovated by the Dutch from the ruins of Portuguese churches which again was a Herculean task. 4

 But one by one churches rose and among them the Vaddukoddai Church, the JDCSI cathedral was first built in 1626 by the Portuguese and was extensively ruined twice. Today this church is a glorious sentinel to the faith and visions of the founder missionaries and all those who have served in it since that time.  October 10, 1947 when its bell chimed, it announced to the world the unique spirit of Church Union, the arrival on the world's stage the first union of diverse churches, the Church of South India.  It is perhaps God gives us a chance and opportunity now and then to renew our spiritual fervor and the will to maintain or undertake a mission, events of recent years have been a great challenge to our people.  Some parts of our province have been ruined consequent to the civil calamities suffered and among the churches to be affected, one is Tellipallai where the American Mission founded the first congregation. A historical significance of this place is the sacred grounds of everlasting memory where the remains of our early missionary friends from the US have been interred. 5

Map of Jaffna 6

Picture of the Tellippalai Church in

Picture of the Tellippalai Church in

Picture of the Tellippalai Church in the Present 9

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Donation Towards Rebuilding Jaffna Diocese Parish of Tellippalai  Today, we are faced with a new challenge to rebuild our churches and institutions, rehabilitate our people who have suffered some of the worst of physical and emotional traumas a community could be exposed to, and renew our faith.  We need to work from the very grass roots where our early missionaries started but our progress must be rapid because thousands of families have to be rehabilitated and our young people in particular must be availed of skills and opportunities as a matter of urgency in our rehabilitation efforts. 11

CD Release – Songs Sung By Shamini Vasanthy Ariyaratnam 12

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Thank you நன்றி வணக்கம் 14