History
As centuries rolled by, the Christian community in the country grew in number and strength. But through the influence of theHindu community pagan customs andsuperstitious practices entered the church and the holy faith handed down by the forefathers was diluted and distorted. In the beginning of 18th century, the Almighty God, byHis mercy raised two leaders,Palakunnathu Abraham Malpan (Maramon)and Kaithayil Geevarghese Malpan (Kottayam), the two teachers of the Theological Seminary Kottayam to fight against the wrong faith and the corrupt practices in the Church.Thus started the Reformation in the Malankara Church. With the support of the CMS Missionaries working in the area it gained the momentum. But there 
was strong opposition to this move in the Church itself and cases arose in the courts. The verdict of the Royal court in 1889 was against the Reformation group. This finally led to division in the Church. The Reformation group separated from the main church and set themselves as an independent, reformed section and called themselves the Mar Thoma Church. For this they had to forsake all their rights in the Church and its ancestral properties.
At this point of time, Pattamukkil Geevarghese Kathanar Yakoob Kathanar was the Vicar of the Niranam Valiyappally. He was a strong supporter of reformation and he promoted the true Christian faith among the people through his preaching and Bible classes and many faithfully followed him. But with the separation in the Church, when pressures from the opposite group grew strong Pattamukkil Valiyachen decided to leave all his positions and privileges as the chief vicar of the Niranam Valiyappally. Pattamukkil Valiyachen left the church with his followers without knowing where to worship and to bury the dead.
The great God honoured their faith. They were able to build a temporary shed as a place of worship in the neighbouring Pulimpally Purayidam. In 1894 they bought a land and a school building a few miles west from the CMS Missionaries and constructed a church there. It was named as the St.Thomas church (Kattunilam Pally) Niranam. All the Mar Thoma members in Niranam gathered there for worship. Pattamukkil Valiyachen was the founder vicar of the church.
The Mar Thoma members in Niranam East and Valanjavattom found it difficult to attend the church activities due to the long distance to the church. They looked for a suitable place to start worship in their locality and at last they found one to build a church in their locality. But the land was owned by a Muslim named Pareed Ashan. Other Church leaders had been trying to buy this piece of land popularly considered sacred by Thomas’ visit. By the persistent persuasions of some of his friends, Ashan sold the land to Mar Thoma Believers. The land our fore fathers found and bought happened to be the very same place where Apostle Thomas planted the cross for a place of worship in Niranam. We are deeply grateful to God Almighty for the providence in getting back this sacred land after centuries to build the church as St. Thomas the Apostle originally wished. In 1906 a new church was built in this place and Pattamukkil Valiyachen himself was the founder vicar of the church and he named the church as Jerusalem Mar Thoma Church.
Some local Non Christians were against the construction of a church at the place. Anticipating opposition, the then Vicar General Rev. Kovoor Iype Thoma Kathanar approached the British Resident and sought his support and permission to build a church in Niranam. The request was granted. Enthused by this the believers in a single night constructed a Mulamkoottu. This provoked some local Hindus and they threatened to disrupt further work. Communal feeling stirred up in Niranam. Divan Sir Madhavarayar himself came directly to enquire about the troubles. After ascertaining the facts he gave permission for proceeding further construction.
While digging the land for laying the foundation for a brick and mortar building in the place of the existing Mulamkoottu a stone cross with four stones set in the form of a cross and a square stone covering them, was found. It looked like a foundation stone of a church. News spread all around that the cross laid by St. Thomas was found. Many gathered to see it. Experts after examining the cross testified that it was an ancient relic. 
Titus I, then Metropolitan of the Mar Thoma Church did not conduct foundation lying of the new church as he said the foundation of the church has already been laid by the hands of St. Thomas; and hence he was unworthy to do it again. As instructed by the Metropolitan the cross is kept protected on the northern side under the madubaha (Sanctuary) of the present church building. The parishioners cherish this as a sacred treasure they inherited from their founding father St. Thomas. Inscription regarding the cross is given on a marble slab fixed on the exterior side of the church. This was unveiled by His Grace The Most Rev. Dr. Alexander Mar Thoma Metropolitan on 17.4.1978. Metropolitan Titus I along with Titus II conducted the consecration of the church on 1081 Medam-30 (1906). The first church was thus materialized. Members in the Valanjavattom area decided to construct a church of their own and thus the Valanjavattom Ebenezer church became a reality in 1921. The Jerusalem Mar Thoma church was rebuilt and extended in the years 1934 and 1985 respectively. In the wake of centenary some projects/programmes have been initiated in 2006. The church and its premises were renovated in a befitting manner. St. Thomas Gate has been constructed to commemorate the arrival of St. Thomas in Niranam. The parish has started mission fields and hostel facilities for the poor children at
Veeraghatam in Andhra Pradesh. Other programmes are De-addiction activities among Alcoholics, career guidance and counselling programmes, seminar/study on St. Thomas tradition, celebration of St. Thomas day on December 21st and public meeting on cultural significance of St. Thomas tradition. The church intends to start a library and museum on life and mission of St. Thomas. The Parish has begun a social project “Jerusalem Mar Thoma centre”. This project envisages activities such a de-addiction centre, counselling classes, prayer meetings, medical clinic, pakalveedu home for the aged etc. Our mission is to spread the light of the Gospel we have inherited from St. Thomas, our Founding Father, to all people through our life and deeds.
