By Mr.S.Solomon.
B.C.Secretary
In those days whole India was ruled by British government,Mogul Kings ruled Hyderabad the Nizam State.Hyderabad and Secuderabad were the twin cities,were having the mixes population of Hindus and Muslims .During those days Spirit of God was working in twin cities.The missionaries established the Wesleyan Methodist Churches one in Hyderabad and other in Secunderabad somewhere in the year 1879,under the control of District chairman.
It was the time of Second World War,when whole world was under the grip of life and death,at Secunderabad Lords sprit was actively working through District Chairman Late rev.Frank Colyer Sackett.Wesley Methodist Church Secunderabad was also called as central church,near clock tower,which was only meant for Wesley boys and girls schools and hostels,Tamil and Telugu congregations also used to join in the Sunday service.Rev.M.Arthur was presbyter in-chargeSecunderabad central church was having five satillite churches,in which Chilakalaguda congregation was the largest to which Lalaguda,Mettuguda,Mailargadda wre attached.A small piece of land was purchased for the purpose of the church near the Railway lines,with in few days it was sold away due to legal litigations.Then the Sunday services conducted in a rent house,which was also used as pastor's residence. There were ten Christian families in Chilkakalaguda area they were:.Mr.N.T.Raja Rao,Pakalapati John Devaiah,Mr.Ch.Emmanuel,Mr.Govade Sundershanam,Mr.P.Mohan
Rao,B.Samuel,B.J.SaulRev.B.K.James,Pastor Chekram David,Sanga John Wesley.
These families had about 30 to 40 member.Pastor Ch.Prasanna Rao was transferred from Dudigoan to lead this Chilkalguda congregation but unfortunately,after some months he resigned and joined Railway services.
In 1947 when whole India was celebrating it's independence ,the Christian community in southern India was looking for a united Christian Church and formed .The Church of South India in which processes the Christian districts were replaced with C.S.I.dioceses,Late .Rev.F.Whittaker as Bishop and Late. Lecato Edwards as treasurer for the Medak dioceses.With formation of C.S.I. Number of Christian believers at Chilkalguda increased,the worship place in the rented house has become very small growing for membership.The elders of the congregation under the leasdership of Mr.N.T.Raja Rao and Mr.Sanga John Wesley approached Diocesan authorities for purchase of a land for worshipping place,seeing the enthusiam Mr.L.Edward treasurer was kind enough to arrange the money 2,856.00 rupees or 60.57 $ now. to purchase 816 sq yards land from Mr.C.W.Naidu om 18 th feb.1950.
Chilkalaguda congregation with lot of commitments started collecting the funds for construction of a church.The leaders headed by Mr.N.T.RajaRao collected some substantial amount and all leaders approached diocesan authority,on seeing the enthusiam of the members,diocess liberally added 718 British pound then,it was a great help and a big amount.Mr.C.C.Paul then chief engineer of state government got prepared the estimates,plans and approved them.The contract was awarded to Mr.Kokku Ananda Rao a member of Wesley Church Ramkot.
The Zealous member Late Dr.O.W.Elias donated Alter Table and communion railing Mr.O.W.Joseph gave preaching desks,Mr.Sanga John Wesley gave alter Chairs and Mr.N.T.Raja Rao donated reading desk others gave chairs and benches.
The new church with Lime mortar,wood and tilesdedicated for the glory of GOD by then Bishop Rev.F.Whittaker on 17th Feb.1952. Later on 3rd july 1957 the adjacent plot Late Mr.Manuel's house admeasuring 408 sq.yards was purchsed for Rs.13,000=00 from chinnamma.
Till 1966 Chilkalaguda church was under control of Central Church .In 1967 this church was made seperate pastorate called C.S.I. Wesley Church Chilkalaguda Pastorate under the control of Medak Diocese.Day after this young and energetic church started growing in Jesus Spirit and became the mother churches of five more young churches they are Mettugudda,Lalaguda,Warasiguda,ECIL,Moulali Railway colony and Moulali leprosy colony.
During the time of Late Rev.Nemuri.Joseph Period I must mention that Late Mr.Manuel,was instrumental in introducing sunday evening English services.
Days,weeks,Months and years passed in the service of our heveanly Father,10 families grown to 360 families,30 members beacme over 1000 members .After 50 yeras of age once again Chilkalaguda congregation felt tht the church built by our fathers not sufficient for their children and grandchildren .In 50 yeras time spiritual growth is strengthening but the materialistic body will be decaying,same way the tiles wooden roof started giving up and the lime mortar walls started dropping down.In this situation th spirit of Nehemiah possessed the chilkalaguda congragation and its presbyters.
The idea of new church ,started at the time of Rev.T.S.Kanakaprasad.From then a study progress was made by subsequent committees andpresbyters,Rev.Ch,Sadanandam,Rev.V.Yesushanker,Rev.B.D.Premsagar
,Rev.Robert nathaniel,Rev.shanty Roberts and real nehemiah's spirited Rev.G.T.Jayaraj along with the existing Bishop's Commision and elders who could able to shoulder the burden of constructing the grand new church for the glory of God Almighty and to be jewel in the crown of Medak Dioceses.
In 1993collection of donation started .In Feb,1998 the foundation stone was laid by our beloved Bishop Rt.Rev.Dr.B.P.Sugandhar.Though 5 years back the foundation was laid we could only start construction of the church by the Chilakalaguda congregation themselves.M/S Base Associates,Architects & Structural Engineers,Narayanaguda headed by Mr.R.C.Poloju and Mr.Lakshmikant have helped us in preparing the plans and documents for construction.The present Bishop commision along with Rev.G.T.Jayaraj,presbyter-in-charge with moral and financial support of thandrigaru and Diocesan authorities concerne,have taken a lot of pains to get permission from muncipality.The estimates were made and quotations were called for dismantaling of old church and construction of new chiurch seperately.Mr.Chshyam Rao,Advocate and member of musheerabad church gave honorary legal consultancy.
Mr.Gopichand dismatling contractor came forward spontaneously out of nine contractors to dismantle the old church and take away material by paying Rs.1,11,111=00 (2356.54$ now) and it was the highest bid.
M/S Palam Nirman Construction Govt.Registered class-II contractors,Narayanaguda,headed by Mr.Lakshmikanth engineer contractor could able to bag the contractors out of 16 contractors .And build this Holy living church with all his untiring effort with most religiously.I thankfully record the valuable honary services rendered by Mr.D.Wilson George Rtd.Engineer superintendent of state govt.And Mr.D.Solomon Rtd.Engineer ,who helped us in technical details and in checking the measurments and bills.
Sicere dedicated and hard work of Rev.G.T.Jayaraj,present Bishop's Commission and efficient skill full technological sound knowledge work of M/S.Palam Nirman construction to day 9th august 2003 we are able to dedicate this beautiful church for the glory of GOD Almighty by our beloved Rt.Rev.Dr.B.P.Sugandhar,Bishop in Medak,deputy moderator.
Lastly,I bow my head along with my presbyter-in-charge Rev.G.T.Jayaraj and Bishop's commissions members and elders in respect of those leaders ,volunteers and presbyters who worked hard to construct old 1952 church and modern new church of 2003.At the end we thank and glorify LORD GOD for giving us this beautiful church to worship HIM.
prepared and read by
Secretery,Bishop's Commission
C.S.I,Wesley Church ,
Chilkalaguda pastorate
Secunderabad