St. Thomas More Syro-Malabar Church, Alakode (Meenmutty)
St. Thomas More Syro-Malabar Church, Alakode (Meenmutty) is a Syro-Malabar Catholic parish church in Kothamangalam, Kerala. It is situated in a beautiful place called Alakode (Meenmutty), 6 kilometres away from Thodupuzha town and close to Thodupuzha – Poomala main road. This is the only church in the Syro-Malabar Catholic Eparchy of Kothamangalam in the patronage of St. Thomas More, who took martyrdom for the protection of faith when he was the Chancellor of England.
Parish History
Karikkodu, Thodupuzha areas were big trade centers under the control of land lords. During that time of farmer’s movement, many Christian migrations happened here. They toiled hard, fought with the wild animals, faced hazardous illnesses and in spite of all these, reaped golden harvests. Many Christians have lived in Alakode, Meenmutty and Edavetty for many years. The faithful from this area had to depend on Kalayanthani Church for their spiritual needs. The Catholics from this area called a meeting. All those who attended that meeting expressed their desire to have a church here as it was difficult to go up to Kalayanthani church. They submitted an application to the then bishop of Kothamangalam diocese Mar Mathew Pothanamuzhy to grant permission to establish a church at Alakode (Meenmutty) area. The permission was granted soon.
A person named Kuriakose from Thurackal Puthanpurayil family donated two acres of land for the construction of a church in 1963. That land was far away from the road that used for trade transportations in those days. The land on the both sides of the main road were part of Mar Thoma Estate owned by natives of Alappuzha. It was decided to call a meeting of the faithful to discuss about the construction of the church. Meanwhile, a ‘sign of cross’ was found on one of the stones, which were blasted for making walls in the estate. The whole faithful from this area gathered there in prayer and informed the owner of the estate about the same.
By the grace of God, the then Managing Director of the estate Georgekutty Madathilakkal, a native of Alappuzha, donated one acre of land for the construction of the church, where the present church is constructed.
Rev. Fr. George Nedungattu, who was the parish priest of Kalayanthani church during 1964, obtained the permission to erect a church at the above said place, erected a temporary shed with the support of the people and began to offer Holy Mass on Sundays. Following that Rev. Fr. Olickal, the then Asst. Parish Priest of Kalayanthani used to celebrate the Holy Mass here on Sundays.
The church at Alakode was raised to a parish by fixing the new boundaries bifurcated from the parishes of Muthalakodam, Kallanickal and Kalayanthani in 1967. Rev. Fr. John Kallarackal, who was the librarian of Thodupuzha New Man College, took the charge as the new parish priest of Alakode on 16 May 1970. The construction work of the church was started soon after that. The work of the present beautiful church was completed and blessed in 1975. During the tenure of Rev. Fr. Mathew Karottu Kocharackal the church was more beautified by laying marble on the floor and ceiling on top in 2003. The works of steel flag-post, stone cross, the construction of a beautiful grotto of Mother Mary and the large presbytery etc. were done by Rev. Fr. Jose Pulparambil with the help of the parishners in 2009.
This parish of Alakode has been led by 14 priests from the first parish priest Rev. Fr. George Nedungattu till the present parish priest Rev. Fr. Jose Pulparambil.
St. Thomas More Church at Alakode is one of the most beautiful churches in the low-range. Many Youth and political leaders come to their patron saint St. Thomas More to pray and thank him for the blessings.
"St. Thomas More Church in Alakode has the honour of being the only church in Kothamangalam Diocese named after St. Thomas More, who is the patron Saint of youth and politicians."
