Kayamkulam

St. Antony’s Church

It is believed that there was a small Christian Community in Kayamkulam at least from the ninth century which was strengthened with the arrival of Portuguese (1503) who made Kayamkulam a centre for their trade and military operations. Kayamkulam was officially erected a Parochial District in 1580. Kayamkulam is listed as one of the important churches visited by Arch Bishop Menesis in 1599. Jesuits & Franciscans were administering Kayamkulam and it was considered one of the two important Churches (along with Arthumkal) between Quilon and Cochin. During the Schism of 1653 a good chunk of Christians of Kayamkulam went over to the Jacobine Church. There was a big Anglo Indian Community in Kayamkulam but almost all of them left for Australia and other parts of India for better prospects reducing Kayamkulam Parish to a small Community. The Parish has given two Bishops to the Church-Bishop Lawrence Pereira the first Bishop of Kottar and Bishop Maxwell Noronha the former Bishop of Calicut. Rt. Rev. Msgr. A.J. Rozario the Judicial Vicar and the former Vicar General hails from Kayamkulam.