Christ the King Church
Church History
According to the Mission catalogue of 1914, Nanguneri was one of the 22 substations of the Anaikarai mission.
Already in 1880, there was a chapel dedicated to the Sacred Heart of Jesus at Nanguneri.
On 1st May 1937, Bishop Tiburtius Roche bifurcated Nanguneri from Anaikarai and made it into a separate mission.
In the beginning, Singaneri was the headquarter of the Nanguneri Mission.
On 13th June 1940, the headquarter was shifted to Eruvadi.
From 1961 onwards Nanguneri serves as the main centre of the mission.
During the tenure of Rev. Fr. Antony S. Fdo, Nanguneri became an active mission centre.
It was a boon to our mission life that in 1968 Pope’s Internuncio to India, Bishop Knox visited Nanguneri mission and blessed the chapels at Unnankulam and Erukkalappatty.
In 1968 the presbytery was built.
Two former Vicar Generals of the diocese of Thoothukkudi late Msgr. Mariadas (from Meenavankulam) and Msgr. Stephen Das (from Thottakudi) hailed from this mission.
During the time of Rev. Fr. Stanislaus Pandiyan (1972-76) school buildings were put up at Karankadu, Meenavankulam and Pothaisutthi.
The new Church of Nanguneri was built by Rev. Fr. Arthur James (1977 - 87).
From Nanguneri Mission, Vallioor (1968), Elangulam (1981), Eruvadi (1985) and Malayankulam (2000) were bifurcated and became separate parishes.
Sub - Stations
1. Ambalam
2. Erukkalappatty - St. Antony
3. Idayarkulam - Our Lady of Vailankanni
4. Kannanalloor
5. Kusavankulam - St. Francis Xavier
6. M. Thuvaraikulam - St. Michael
7. Melakaarangadu - Immaculate Heart of Mary
8. Muthulapuram - St. Sebastian
9. Nadukaarangadu - Our Lady of Assumption
10. Nambinagar
11. Paanaankulam
12. Pothaisutthi - St. Michael
13. Sahayanagar - Sahaya Matha
14. Singaneri - St. Antony
15. Singikulam
16. Srirangarajapuram - Christ the King
17. Thazhaikulam
18. Therku Meenavankulam - Sacred Heart of Jesus
19. Unnangulam - St. Joseph
20. Vadakku Meenavankulam - Our Lady of Rosary
Grottos in the parish:
1. St. Antony - Meelakanam
The Succession of Parish Priests:
1. Rev. Fr. Gabriel Britto - 1937 - 1942
2. Rev. Fr. G. Michael - 1942 - 1955
3. Rev. Fr. Arulsamy - 1955 - 1956
4. Rev. Fr. L.X Fernando - 1956
5. Rev. Fr. Stephendas - 1956 - 1959
6. Rev. Fr. Joseph Arulsamy - 1959 - 1960
7. Rev. Fr. Rosari Fdo - 1960 - 1961
8. Rev. Fr. Antony S. Fdo - 1961 - 1969
9. Rev. Fr. Richard Rodrigo - 1969 - 1972
10. Rev. Fr. Stanislaus Pandian - 1972 - 1977
11. Rev. Fr. Arthur James - 1977 - 1982
12. Rev. Fr. S. Gabriel - 1982 - 1983
13. Rev. Fr. Panneer Selvam - 1983 - 1989
14. Rev. Fr. Methodius - 1989 - 1990
15. Rev. Fr. Wingling Ravi - 1990 - 1995
16. Rev. Fr. S. Jerald - 1995 - 1997
17. Rev. Fr. Jerosin A. Kattar - 1997 - 1999
18. Rev. Fr. S. Jerald - 1999 - 2001
19. Rev. Fr. Norbert Thomas - 2001 - 2003
20. Rev. Fr. Victor Salomon - 2003 - 2008
21. Rev. Fr. John Britto - 2008 - 2013
22. Rev. Fr. Jesu Nazarene - 2013 - 2014
23. Rev. Fr. Mani S.K. 2014 - 2019
24. Rev. Fr. Denzil Raja 2019 -
Information
Nanguneri S.O.
Tirunelveli Dt.
Tamil Nadu - 627 108 - India