Kumbanattu Kudumbayogam was inaugurated on April 9, 1988. A. very concise history of our Kudumbam was then published as a small pamphlet. It was in some respects supplemented by the President, the present writer, in his Presidential address.

This evoked a keen interest among a large number of the family members, particularly the younger in age, and there was a pressing demand to prepare a full and detailed history of our family. Accordingly, the Kudumbayogam has adopted a resolution to prepare a directory of the family. Such a work is bound to take time. I have, therefore, ventured to prepare this brief history of our family.

The history of our family is closely linked with the establishment and growth of the Christian Church (Mar Thoma Church) in this village of ours.

The knowledge of the history of the Church is even poorer than that of the family. Though there are many books dealing with Church history, they are not within easy reach of everybody. Reading them is often cumbersome because of their involvement in the different order of faiths and various interpretations.

The present aim is only to give something like a gist without going into details or getting involved in the discussion of different faiths, beliefs and interpretations. Though not exhaustive, care has been taken to be as accurate in facts, as possible.

Part I of this treatise deals with the history of the Church in Kerala - the Malankara Church, with special emphasis on the Mar Thoma Church. Part II deals with the history of our family. The two parts are practically independent of each other.

Sd/ T.J. Thomas

Theckethil, Kumbanad

December 20, 1990