History
The Chicago Mar Thoma church was originated in the early nineteen
seventies as small worship group. The Late Most Rt. Rev. Dr. Alexander
Mar Theophilus Metropolitan on his visit to Chicago in May 1973
encouraged the few marthomites in the area to meet for regular worship.
This worship group became the first Chicago Mar Thoma congregation which
grew in numbers with the influx of immigrants, and eventually was
registered in March 1977 in the state of Illinois as not-for-profit
organization. The congregation was assigned pastoral services for the
first time in Sept 1977 and was approved, by the synod of the Mar Thoma
church, as a congregation in May 1978. The congregation increased in its
activities and member-enrollments was raised to the status of a parish
in Aug 1981. The parish was not assigned its full time vicar until
October 1984.
The parish ventured to acquire its own church, which was a big step from
the rented buildings where the worship was previously being conducted.
In January 1985 the existing land at 240 Potter road was purchased and
in July 14, 1985 the foundation stone for a new church was laid, by the
Late Most Rev. Dr. Alexander Mar Theophilus. The church building was
completed and dedicated in November 1986. Later, the church acquired the
adjacent land for parking and purchased a parsonage for the vicar. In
1995 the church was blessed with the services of a second assistant
vicar. The church, which started with less than twenty families in 1973
has now emerged to be the biggest parish in North America with around
430 families. Year 2004 is witnessing a significant turning point in the
history of the Chicago Mar Thoma Church and St. Thomas Mar Thoma Church.
As per the Kalpana of the Metropolitan, 110 families from current
membership became members of the new St. Thomas Mar Thoma Church of
Chicago.