St. James Church – Karupandurai Tirunelveli

Contact Details:

St. James ChurchKarupandurai, TirunelveliKarupandurai Village, Kunnattur Post – 627006, Tirunelveli District, Tamil Nadu.
Parish Priest – Rev. Fr. M. A. Seshuraj.

Brief History:

The parish originated 150 years ago when a Christian from nearby Ayangulam married the widowed daughter of a martial arts teacher from Kanniyakumari district. The woman was skilled in traditional arts like Silambam and Kalaripayattu, which she transmitted to her descendants, the original Christian inhabitants of Karupandurai. Around 110 years ago, the growing community established a palm-thatched chapel. In selecting their patron saint, residents chose Saint James, believing he would protect them from negative forces. The community eventually constructed a tiled-roof church, and the current modern structure was completed and consecrated on June 7, 2010 by Bishop A. Judeo Palraj. Located on the banks of the Tamirabarani River, the church serves 206 families. The feast is celebrated July 16-25 over ten days.