Jerusalem Marthoma Church which stands right in the heart of Kottayam, the city of letters is greatly associated with the reformation Movement in the Malankara Church.
In the second half of the 19th century Palakkunnathu Abraham Malppan and kaithayil Geevarghese Malppan together lighted the lamp of reformation in Kottayam. They took the initiative to wipe off the superstitions and bad customs which had crept into the Church and to renew the liturgy on the basis of the Scripture. they also taught the believers that the chief mission of the church is evangelization. They worked tirelessly to inspire people to be interested in the study of the word. we can proudly remember that it was in old seminary that the reformation had its beginning. it was the establishment of old seminary that lifted kottayam to the great position of the centre of malankara church. palakkunnathu abraham Malppan and kaithayil gheevarghese malppan wanted the church cleansed and renewed without joining the anglican church.
As a Metropolitan who was in support of the reformation movement was required for the new church the nephew of Abraham Malppan was sent to the Patrirach Elias and was ordained as Mar Athanasius. He was approved as the Malanakara by the erstwhile rulers of the princely state of Tranvancore. Later in 1877 Abraham Malppan's son Rev.Thomas Kaseesa was ordained as the assistant bishop. After the demise of Mathews Mar Athanasius the reformed Church had to pass through a period of fiery trials. Those in Opposition got Pulikkottil Mar Divanyasios ordained as a Metropolitan and he was recongized by the princely rulers as the new head of the Malankara Church. this was followed by a case file by the Mar Divanyasious for the right of the churches and the all the wealth that belonged to them. the verdict in favor of them left the new Church with no wealth but nothing could take away its morale and fervor.
With the end of the court known as 'Seminary case' the Malankara Church started functioning seprately as Jacobite church and Marthoma church thus it was that the efforts at reformation that began in 1836 came to an end.
Thomas Mar Athanasious passed away in 1893 without even being able to get his successor ordained However tiding over all obstacles, theethoos the first was ordained by Thozhiyur Metropolitan who was specially brought to Kottayam for this purpose. it was just because of the courage and the self sacrificing service if Thazathu Chandappilla Kaseesa and also because of the determination and god reliance of our forefathers that the new Metropolitan was ordained. it was during the times of Theethoos the First that the Marthoma Church began to grow. the believers in the new church wanted an institution like that of Old Seminary in Kottayam. the land for this was brought from Pukadiyil Chackochan, the brother-in-law of our respected Thazathu Chandappilla Kaseesa.
After the seminary cas those who stood against Reformation filed a case for the churches also. Fearing that the church would lose Cheriapally our members wanted a church in the heart of kottayam town. But as those against us were determied to undermine our efforts it became a dream too good to be true.the land where our church stands now then belonged to Joseph Lawrence Gomas who was a goverment doctor. he refused to sell his land to Marthomites So two members of the Anglican Church Manjadikkara Thoppil Mathen Chacko and Puthupparambil Ithack Ouseph bought the land in their name and later on the 28th of January 1897, Chakkalayil Abraham Itticheriah Abraham and Palathinkal Mathen Ithakku go the land transferred into their name.
On the 14th of January 1899 a meeting was held in Chakkala Malikayil. Ulasseril Joseph Malppan presided over the function. Those who had bought the land in their name agreed to give the land to build the church. Each one present promised to contribute as much as they could afford and for the time being it was decided to raise Rs.2000 by taking contributions. A committee was also formed. Ulasseril Joseph Kaseesa was elected as the secretary and Chakkalayil C.I Abraham as the trustee.
The Below mentioned were to form the committee:1. Ulasseril Youseph Malppan2. Chakkalayil C.I Abraham (trustee)3. Panampunnayil P. John4. Pukadiyil P.A. Cherian5. Palathinka P.M Ithack6. Thannikkal T.M Uthup7. Chillakkat K.A Varkey8. Thadathil Mani9. Arackal Itty Ipe10. Vahanatt V.K Itty 11. Pukadilyil P.J Jacob12. Chirayil Korah
Another meeting was held on 30th of 1899 and as the owners has agreed to give the land in getting Rs.1000 immediately and the rest later at the convenience of the buyers the land came in possession and within a short time government approval for the construction of the building was got.
As the court verdict was once again against the Reformists it was decided to build churches in Thirunakkara,( the heart of Kottayam) Kummanam, Thiruvarpu, Thazathangadi, and Pazhayachanda.
In a meeting held on the 20th of January 1901, the final decision to build the church in the town were taken. The first land marking was done in the presence Thazhathu Chandappilla Kaseesa. Ulasseril Joseph Kaseesa, Chakkalayil C.I Abraham, Palathinkal P.M. Ithack, advocate Fen and John the Overseer made the plan for the new church in the measurement of Cheriapally. The construction was begun on the 7th of February.
As the verdict for cheriapally was against the supporters of Reformation it became impossible to have the Holy Communion Service and therefore it was decided to build a temporary shed and the English lady in Baker hills gave the permission to take bamboos from there. On the 24th March 1901 during the period of the Lent Theethoose the first offered Holy Communion along with Thazathu Chandappilla Kaseesa, Ulasseril Ouseph Kaseesa, Omasseril and Cheriamadathil keeping the Cross in front. The members of Jerusalem Church along with many other Marthomites participated in this service.
The First vicar of Jersualem Church was Thazhathu Chandappilla Kaseesa and Ullasseril Joseph Malppan was the assitant vicar. On the 14th of July 1901Thazathu Chandappilla Kaseesa offered the first Holy Communion Service in Pazhayachanda Church. When he became t he vicar here Ulaseril Joseph Kaseesa became the vicar of Jerusalem Church. In 1902, ie on the 9th of Makaram in the Malayalam era of 1077 this church as made a parish registering the agreement under the supervision of Kovoor Ipe Thoma Kaseesa.