TELC Church

The Tamil Evangelical Lutheran Church (TELC), is a Protestant Lutheran Church of Tamil speaking people. The Church is spread over FOUR STATES of India namely, Tamil Nadu, Pondicherry, Karnataka & Kerala. The Church was founded by Rev. Barthollomaus Ziegenbalg the first Lutheran German Missionary who came to Tranquebar, India in 1706. He is also credited with printing the first Tamil Bible in 1713, constructing the first Lutheran Chapel in 1707 and the first Lutheran Church “The New Jerusalem Church” at Tranquebar which was dedicated in 1718. 

The Tamil Evangelical Lutheran Church was registered as a Religious society in 1919 and has been serving the underprivileged and deprived members of our society since. The TELC has more than two lakh members with 125 Pastorates and more than 600 worshiping places. The TELC Society also manages 182 Govt. Aided Schools, 1 Arts & Science College, 5 Hospitals and 17 Children and Old age Homes.