Four missions were established in tinnevelly namely; the society for promoting of the gospel in foreign parts (S.P.G), the church missionary society (C.M.S), and the church of England Zenana missionary society (C.E.Z.M.S). These Missionaries in Tirunelveliwere sent to Udangudi to preach the gospel of Jesus Christ. The S.P.C.K’s aim was to promote education and to support missionary activities in the colonies. The women missionaries served through these missions in Tirunelveli. Their aims were to impart female education, uplift the women and carry out welfare schemes.
Rev. Christian Samuel Kohlhoff, The grandson of John BalthosarKohlhoff and son of John Casper Kohlhoff was born on the 15th May 1815. He was ordained on 6th January 1839 and died at Tranquebar in 1881 completing 41 years of his ministry. He was one of the S.P.C.K missionaries at Tanjore who proceeded to Tinnelvelly and stationed at Mudalur. While Rev. Christian Samuel Kohlhoff was in charge of Mudhalur (1839 - 40) several heathen families in a village near Udangudi were provided withChristian instructions. But before the people were regularly received into church he was transferred to Dindigul. In remembrance of his efforts they called the village as Christianagaram, after his first name “Christian”
The Church was built at Christianagaram on January 1849. Apart from Biblical names, Christian Tamil names were also given to settlements and Christian villages. One among them was christianagaram (Christian town) this place has taken a high position amongst the S.P.G Villages in Tinnevelly, in consequence of its having made the headquarters of a district by Rev. J.K. Best, who built a house and a beautiful church.
Rev. James Kershaw Best started a school at Udangudi. Education was imparted to both boys and girls in the beginning. Later a separate school for girls was started in the year 1961 in memory of the honourable service rendered by Mrs. J.K. Best. This school was named as Mary Ann Best girl’shigher secondary school. It was later upgraded to high school in 1963 and was then called as higher secondary in 1978. This great institution was formed because of the dedicated sacrifice of James Best Korsha and his wife Mary Anna Best. They aimed to bring a lasting change in the person educated. As a result, the oppressed and the poor improved their self-image and personal habits and discarded feudal activities. Both boys and girls schools satisfied the need of the people of Udangudi and it’s surrounding with regard to educational and social service.
In 1887 Christianagaram mission district had 20 schools for both boys and girls to awaken the consciousness of the poor and the oppressed communities. They came to know of their rights and the opportunities around them. Boarding schools were established in most of the mission districts. These schools played an important role in the development of spiritual, moral and personal standard of the younger generation. The Christian mission brought changes in the thinking of the natives. The girls were taught to consider themselves at par with men.
Twin stars in Christianagaram (1839-49)
Twin stars in Christianagaram were Christian Kohlhoff and James Kersha Best. The people of Udangudi came to Rev. Renius who was preaching Christianity in and around the area. They requested him to start a school and accordingly, he started a school in 1823. The Christian missionaries offered education out of love and concern for the poor who could not otherwise get educated. The education given by them was charitable in nature. As a result boarding schools were opened in all S.P.G Centres. Christianagaram was one of the six centres where boarding schools were opened to educate the native children.
