Co-operation with the
C.M.S
By 1795 the British established themselves
in South India and Kerala came under their sway. During
the time of Col. Munroe who was the British Resident in
Kerala, P'ulikottillttoop Ramban expressed his interest
in founding a Seminary for the teaching of the Church's
Clergy. The Resident supported him and the seminary was
founded in 1815. Pulikottil lttoop Ramban became a Bishop
-Metropolitan Mar Dionysius II.
From 1816 the experiment of co-operation
between the Malankara Church and the C. M. S. of the
Anglican Church was carried on, but it was found to be
unsuccessful and was called off in
1836.
This incident led to the division of the
community into three bodies. One of them a reformed group
tried to bring about serious reforms in the liturgy and
practices of the Church as a whole but failed. After
about half a century of conflict within the church this
body had to withdraw and organise itself as the Mar Thoma
Syrian Church. A smaller body of the Syrian Christians
opted to join with the missionaries and be absorbed in
the Anglican Church. The majority of the community
continued in the Church without accepting the
reforms.
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