Auckland Marthoma Church

Our members had started to migrate about fifteen years back and they were attending the worship service in different churches in Auckland. In the year 2002 Dr. Kuruvilla Mathew from Perth, Australia came to New Zealand and saw the need for a Mar Thoma church here although there were only 12 known Marthomite families in Auckland. His dream got fulfilled when Rt. Rev. Dr. Zachariah Mar Theophilus Suffragan Metropolitan became the first Bishop of Mar Thoma Church to set foot on New Zealand soil and officiated the first Holy Communion Service in Mar Thoma order on 14th November 2002. His inspiration also led to sprouting of other Syrian churches in this country. With the arrival of Thirumeni, our own worshipping community was formed in Auckland. Later in the year 2004 we were acknowledged as a congregation by Rt. Rev. Dr. Isaac Mar Philexenos Episcopa on his visit here as the Diocesan Bishop. Then onwards worship service started taking place in our own order.

In January 2005, the then Metropolitan, Most Rev. Dr. Philipose Mar Chrysostam approved us as a parish with the name St. Thomas Mar Thoma Church, Auckland and Rev. Dr. Varghese Mathai, the vicar of Sydney church, was given the responsibility of leading our parish. He visited Auckland once a quarter to conduct Holy Communion and other services. We also had visiting priests from Melbourne and Singapore.

Our parish was then officially incorporated with the Ministry of Economic Development in New Zealand on 7th of September 2005 and later registered with the Charities Commission New Zealand on 30th June 2008. In the year 2006, our Diocesan Bishop Rt. Rev. Dr. Geevarghese Mar Theodosius Episcopa visited Auckland and he felt the need of a resident vicar for the parish. On seeing the enthusiasm of the parishioners Thirumeni took special interest and this resulted in appointing Rev. Raji Eapen as the first resident vicar of our church.

Achen arrived with his family in November 2006 and took charge as the vicar. From then, all the activities started on a regular basis and we became a full-fledged parish of the Mar Thoma Syrian Church. Rev. Raji Eapen on completion of his term went back to India in April 2010. We thank Rev. Raji Eapen for his leadership and guidance as the 1st resident vicar of our church and fondly remember Binu Kochamma along with their children Navin and Navya. Rev. C. Jacob George arrived with his family in May 2010 and returned to India on completion of his term in April 2013. Rev. M. K. Biju arrived with his family, wife Biji Kochamma, son Abhishek and daughter Anupama arrived in June 2013 and went back April 2016.

Our new vicar Rev. V.T Kurian along with Kunjumole Kochamma arrived on July 1st 2016 and is now staying at the new parsonage at 4/167 Whitney Street Blockhouse Bay Auckland. He continues to give leadership for all the activities of the parish and also caters to the spiritual needs of the members. He also continues to serve as the vicar of Wellington-Christchurch congregation and the Hamilton congregation.