About Emmanuel Lutheran Church

The Lutheran Christian Community in Visakhapatnam grew with the influx of people from other parts of the state. Population growth in Visakhapatnam and city expansion to Greater Visakhapatnam with the establishment of Industries like Steel Plant and other major public sector units like NTPC, etc, in the eighties, brought about the need for establish¬ing the Lutheran Churches on the Peripheral Zones of the city. This was well conceived and executed by the Trinity Lutheran Church headed by Rev. Pitta Prasadarao, Parish Pastor, along with Mr. Sallapudi Abraham, Chairman, Sri. B.V. Chandra Bob and Sri K. Abel, Treasurers, and the P. C. C. members of that time. They exhibited nothing less than missionary zeal, Vision and foresight on the future growing spiritual needs of the Lutheran masses in and around Visakhapatnam City. The search for private places to construct more churches continued. Mean while, thanks to the Visakhapatnam Urban Development Authority (VUDA), a self sufficient satellite township at Muvvalavani Palem came into existence. The Management of the Church approached VUDA authorities for allotment of a considerably big site for the construction of a Church and Parsonage in MVP Colony. Thus the birth of Emmanuel Lutheran Church at Muvvalavanipalem (M. V. Palem) took place for serving the members of the Trinity Lutheran Church residing in and around Muvvalavanipalem with the purchase of 1587 sq. yards (1323 sq.m) of site at a concession cost of Rs.100/- sq. yard from Visakhapatnam Urban Deve¬lopment Authority in October, 1987 with the good will Co-operation and assistance of Sri D. V. Subba Rao,. the then Chairman, Vuda Urban Development Authority Sri S. Challappa, I.A.S., Vice Chairman, V.U.D.A., and Sri K. Raju, I.A.S., Commissioner of Visakhapatnam Municipality , Visakhapatnam and in-charge Chairman ,VU.D.A.

Immediately after allotment of the site the first service was conducted at Muvvalavani Palem Church site on 27th December, 1987 by the Rev.Pitta Prasada Rao under shamiyane for two weeks and subsequently under erected thatched shed. A group of Lutherans consisting of the families Dr. Pitta George Wilhelms, Sri. Gathala Thomas Henry, Dr. P.A.Jayakar, Sri Kappala Deva sahayam, Sri.B.S.Paul Mohan Rao, Sri.T.P.Benedict Smt. E.Anandamary, Smt. Bushi Alice Siromani Devaraj, Sri.Choppala Mohanarao, Er.V.Daisy Bob, Sri G.Surya Rao, Sri G.Joseph, Sri.V.Raju, Sri.V.Jacob Raju, Sri. G.H.V.Rajasekhar and some enthusiastic Lutherans attended the services. After the worship they used to meet the Lutheran families who were inhabitants of M.V.P.Colony and encouraged them to participate in the worship. The regular Sunday services from 27-12-1987 onwards were conducted by the additional pastor of the Trinity Lutheran Church Rev. Percy Hirams. He was very enthusiastic and improved the congregation in a prayerful manner. He worked for five months till May 1988 and was succeeded by Rev. Busi Suneel Bhanu who served till May 1989. Thereafter Rev. Pitta Prasadarao served the church from 1988 to 1994 with an extended service of one year, Rev.K.Sudhakar Rajaratnam served the church from 1993 to 1999 and 2004 – 2007. Rev.B.Abraham Lincoln served the church from 1999 to 2004; Rt.Rev.V.G.Devadas is serving the church since 2007. Some of the Pastors are also look part in the worship service frequently specially Re. P.Samuel Martin, Former President, East Godavari Synod. During the tenure Rev. Pitta Prasada rao the elders of the church decided to construct a permanent church building. Accordingly, Ground breaking service for the construction of 90 feet x 40 feet permanent church building was conducted on 26th June 1988 and the foundation stone was laid by a Rev. Dr. K. Nathaniel, the then President A.E.L.C., and Dr. Sallapudi Fleming on the same day. The technical expertise and supervision were provided by the following congregational members. (1) Mr. Gathala Thomas Henry, (2) Sri.V.Daisybob (3) Mr. Kappala Devasahayam, (4) Mr. G. Ganganna,(5) Sri.V.Sudhakar babu (6) Sri.Ch.Mohan Rao. Planning and Structural designs were provided by Mr. G. Thomas Henry. The framed structure of the church was constructed by Delta Builders a vizag based contracting firm. Within a year's time, the church services were shifted to the semi completed permanent church building following collapse of the thatched shed due to cyclone, the financial resources for the Church Construction were generated internally from many of the members of the Emmanuel Lutheran Church and the members of the Trinity Lutheran Church who liberally contributed their might with a sense of sacrifice and service for the church construction. Several members of the church donated items of utility like Chairs, Benches, Fans, Sound systems, Carpet and contributed towards full costs of furnishing items like altar finishing, Portico flooring, alter cross, Pulpit, Electrical Fittings, White Cementing etc. Construction of parsonage was taken up and completed simultaneously along with the finishing works of the church building planning of the parsonage was done by Mr. Ganganna.

The church remained as a part of the Trinity Lutheran Church for a period of two and half years from the date of the first service on 27th December 1987 till it was recognized and declared as a separate “C” class Parish on 1st June, 1990. Till such time its collections, offerings and donations reaching Trinity Lutheran Church, the mother church and all its expenses were being met by it.

Dr. P. G. Wilhelms has taken initiative in taking up and completing the execution of Vestry, Altar, Pulpit, Mensa Portico Flooring and the pavements around the church in record time as per the plans provided by the Technical Committee. A huge church was constructed sufficient for 800-1000 members to worship. The church building was completed for the Glory of God due to the close and timely supervision by the members of the technical committee. The cost of expenditure for construction of the building including wood works, furniture and fittings etc., was about RS.20, 00,000/-. The Church was dedicated to Glory of the God by Rev. Dr.Victor Paul, President, A.E.L.C. and Rev. P.Samuel Martin, Synod President, East Godavari Synod on 28th of May, 1994 subsequently construction of Bell tower was taken up by the church. The technical expertisation was provided by Sri.G.Thomas Henry and Sri. V Daisy Bob and constructed by Sri.R.Laxmana Rao, Contractor. The front elevation work,Bell tower finishing works and compound wall rising works were executed by Sri.Er.V.Daisy Bob,Sri.G.Ganganna under close supervision and guidance of Rev.K.Sudhakar Rajaratnam. The bell was donated by the family of Smt.E.Ananda Mary. After completion of the elevation works and erection of the bell, the bell tower was dedicated by Rev.B.Abraham Lincoln, President, Visakha Synod and the Bell inaugurated by Rev.P.Prasad Rao on 14/05/2000. This is the First Lutheran church of Visakhapatnam provided Sexton Quarter.

During the tenure of Sri.V.Daisy Bob,as Chairman took initiative to start English Service and it was inaugurated on 2nd February, 1997 by Rev. Dr.Samuel W. Schmittener, Former President ( A.E.L.C) and Parish Pastor Rev.K.Sudhakar Rajaratnam.

The church was upgraded to ‘B’ class parish and subsequently, it was upgraded to ‘A’ class parish with effect from 1st Jan 2001. The Parish Church council elected Dr. P.G. Wilhelms as lay-Chairman of the Parish Church Council for 2001 to 2003. He is the first lay- chairman for the Emmanuel Lutheran Church.