History of Christianity in India
Christianity’s roots are ancient and for some, apostolic. Tradition insists that the first Christian in India was the apostle Thomas and was martyred. The ancient church he founded is still going in India today, known as St Thomas Christians, and even preserve ancient liturgies in Syriac and Chaldean. But they were largely high caste, and either unable or unwilling to evangelize lower castes.
Roman Catholicism established itself with the arrival of the Portuguese in south India in the 1500’s and still give southern states like Kerela a Christian character. Protestant missionaries arrived in the early 1800’s. India’s Christian churches were notable for their ability to found schools and hospitals. It was said recently that 60% of all schools and 70% of hospitals traced their founding to Christian churches. In more recent years.
Christianity has prospered with its strong appeal to bring dignity to the lower castes, and many so called “Dalits” – otherwise known as “untouchables” by traditional Hindus – have found refuge in a faith that refuses to regard them as inferior. It is thought up to 60% of India’s Christians come from these lower castes.
