The arrival of St.Thomas the Apostle in Kerala in A.D52 laid the foundation of hristanity in Kerala. He Esablished seven Churches. Kollam was also his Center of Missionary work. Christanity flourished in all respects politically, spiritually and financially. The state  uthorities could not ignore such a luminous Community. The Kollam Cheppeds (copper plates) is an insignia of their state wide acceptance. In A.D 823, a group of Syrian immigrants came to Kollam. They included Mar Sapor and Mar Afrod. They erected a church there. Later the Kollam community declined, their church and their properties were lost in natural calamity. The community dispersed and they migrated to near by places. It is believed one group came to Kallada. The present Kallada Valiya Pally is in the name of St.Mary. It was originally at Elavukkavu on the eastern bank of the Kallada River. As years passed some sort of enmity arose among the local people and it developed in to a feud and the church was destroyed and the cross of the church thrown in to the river. One morning it was high tide time, the river was flowing towards the east unlike west in the normal time. a venerable old lady of the Thulassery Manappuraathu family came to the river side for taking bath. She saw the cross floating in the river. She took it home and with the help of prominent and reputable persons of the area installed it at the present site of the church, thus the demolished church was reestablished. So is the folk-lore.

Traditionally four families of the parish viz. the Thulassery Manappuram, Chanthravil, Pedikayil and Cheruthottam contributed the clergy and the priests of the church. Membership of the church was more than 2000 houses. Later for convenience six new parishes were formed to reduce the cumber- some membership. Rev.Fr. Jose M Daniel is a member of this parish. Inspite of the antiquity of the church dating from the 9th century, the church emerged in to a famous pilgrim center with the entombment of Mar Andrews in the Madbaha of the church in 1692. The pilgrims include devotees from all religions in the state. It is also known as the Jerusalem of the southern zone. Mar Andrews

Mar Andrews

Saints are spiritually superior elect. The church considers those who teach true faith and those who are tortured for the sake of faith, to be saints. Mar Andrews, (‘Kallada Valiya Appoppan’) came from Syria in 1678, travelled from Cochin to Mulamthuruthy, Vettikal Dayara, Kuruppam pady, Piravom, Manarcadu, Puthencavu, and found his center of Spiritual activity at the St. Mary’s Church (Kallada valiya Pally ) He died in 1692 and his relics are entombed in the Madbaha of the Church. His tomb has been a source of spiritual zeal to thousands irrespective of caste, creed, or religion. Miracles happen here-: divine healing, so many types of favors, exorcism of evil spirits and above all peace of mind, yes a mind free of tension. No wonder the Church has been declared the first pilgrim centre of the southern zone.