About Us
Hermon Mar Thoma Church, Midlands is a Parish of the Mar Thoma Syrian Church of Malabar, which has its head office in Thiruvalla, Kerala, India. This parish is a member of UK & Europe Zone administered by Council of Mar Thoma Parishes in Europe (COMPE).
In the Midlands, traditional worship services were conducted from 1996. It was during this time in 2002, that an influx of Diasporans came into the UK. With the growing number of highly skilled Migrant workers pouring in from India as doctors, nurses, teachers and others, there was a need to support and nurture the traditions and cultures that they are accustomed to. As a result, the Indian Church groups encouraged the formation of relevant prayer groups, congregations and parishes and organised outreach services where the members are able to continue to get the necessary spiritual strength and support to live in this country. This helped to identify members leading to the formation of a prayer group in Midlands. The wholehearted support and guidance of St. John’s Mar Thoma Church, Hounslow was immense in our growth and development, which in turn formed Midlands Prayer group in 2004. As memberships grew, the desire for establishing a parish at regional level became necessary for effective ministry.
The prayer group became a congregation in 2006 and later given the status of a Parish Church. Hermon Mar Thoma Church was formed in May 2007. Hermon Mar Thoma Church is based in Birmingham to meet the needs of its members residing in the Midlands and to serve the community. We thank the Almighty for all the blessings that have been showered upon us and pray that our Parish will be a beacon of hope for the desperate and lonely, to seek refuge in the arms of our Lord.
Our Objectives
The main objectives of the Church are to,
- advance the Christian religion in the Midlands Region,
- provide its members with regular Christian worship services, in accordance with the traditions of the Mar Thoma Syrian Church of Malabar,
- provide pastoral care and organize activities to promote the spiritual life of its members,
- make voluntary contributions for evangelistic and charitable work in the United Kingdom and abroad – especially India.
Our Mission
The Mar Thoma church defines itself as ‘Oriental in origin, Eastern in traditions, Episcopal in nature, Democratic in administration, Catholic in mission, Reformed in faith, Evangelical in outreach work and Ecumenical in vision. Each and every adult member of the Church is considered to be an Evangelist.
The Church may participate in collaborative programmes with other Churches with which it has communal relationships and also participate in all acceptable ecumenical relationships as a full member of the World Council of Churches (WCC), Churches Together in England (CTE) and Churches Together in Britain and Ireland (CTBI).
Former Vicars
2004-07 Rev. Giji Thomas
2007-09 Rev. Shibi Abraham
2009-10 Rev. Dr Abraham Mathew
2010-13 Rev. Sabu C Mathew
2013-16 Rev. Vinoj Varghese