Welcome to the web-site of St. Peter's Mar Thoma Church, the worship is held at: St. Luke’s Church, Baxter Road, Ilford, Essex, IG1 2HN (London Borough of Redbridge).
Verse of the Day:
"For I know the plans I have for you", declares the LORD, "plans to prosper you and not to harm you, plans to give you hope and a future"
Jeremiah 29 vs 11v
From Vicar's Desk:
Greetings to you in the name of our Lord and Savior Jesus Christ. We are happy to welcome you to the web site of St. Peters Mar Thoma Church, London, UK. St Peters Mar Thoma church is part of Mar Thoma Syrian Church of Malabar whose headquarters is at Tiruvalla, in Kerala a state on the southern coast of India. Mar Thoma Church has 11 dioceses all over the world and St. Peter’s parish belongs to North America – Europe Diocese centered at New York. Mar Thoma Church bears the traditions of the Syrian Christian community who claim to have embraced Christianity in 52 AD with the influence of St. Thomas, the apostle of Jesus. It is an interesting fact that Christianity came to India even before it reached Europe. The traditions of these Christians emerged in a pluralistic context where they absorbed certain native customs and practices as part of their faith expression. The early nineteenth century witnessed an explosive reformation initiative within the Syrian Christian community which resulted in publishing worship orders in the vernacular language and giving emphasis to Bible studies in worship and following Christ in their day to day life. This initiative can be assessed as equipping the Church to face the challenges posed by modernity. The reformed group was later known as Mar Thoma Church. The Mar Thoma Church functions as a bridging Church between eastern and western traditions of Christianity. Our Church is in full communion with Anglican Communion of Churches and we are a special invitee for the Lambeth Conference organized by the Arch Bishop of Canterbury.
