Society for Propagation of Gospel (SPG) Mission - Anglican Mission

The London Missionary Society Preachers who came later preached gospel in many areas of Rayalaseema and started Churches in Nandyal, Jammalamadugu, Gooty, Kamalapuram etc. When the Church of South India was formed in 1947 these Anglican Churches in Rayalaseema did not join in Church of South India. But later in 1975 the SPG Church which belonged to Anglican Church joined in Church of South India. SOCIETY FOR PROPAGATION OF GOSPEL (SPG) MISSION ANGLICAN MISSION Towards the end of Seventeenth Century there was a marked increase in missionary interest in England. The Pious Christians in England wanted to spread the knowledge about Christianity to other parts of the world. With this aim in 1698 The Society for Promoting Christian Knowledge' (S.P.C.K) was formed. Three years later, in 1701 the Society for Propagation of Gospel (SPG) was founded and incorporated in Royal Charter. This Mission could establish many Churches in various countries in the world. This Society also established good number of Churches both in North India and South India including in Telugu speaking areas and Rayalaseema region.

While discussing about London Missionary Society it was mentioned that William Howell who served as missionary in Cuddapah left that Mission in 1842 and joined in Anglican Church. Followed by him as many as 46 families also joined in Anglican Church. When William Howell left Cuddapah, once for all, the SPG Church from Madras sent W.W. Wittford as Pastor and he served this Anglican Church of 46 families for seven years. At the time when Wittford stayed at Cuddapah one dalit by name ‘Aakula Nancharu’ from the village known as ‘Rudravaram’ of Kurnool district who got baptised through a missionary when he was in jail worked for propagating Christianity in Kurnool area. He was responsible for requesting the SPG Missionaries to send one Preacher to Cuddapah. When they sent the Preacher to Cuddapah, through him the relatives and friends of Akula Nancharu and his village people converted into Christianity. In this way the mass conversions in Kurnool district took place through SPG Missionaries. Within no time the Gospel was spread to surrounding areas of Kurnool district namely Muthyalapad, Kalasapad, Giddalur, Kurnool, Nandyal and Jammalamadugu. The Dalits who belonged to Mala caste in these areas were converted into Christianity through two Anglo-Indian

Missionaries namely Robert-Spencer and John Clay. These two were assisted by two brothers namely Basil Wood and Alfred Wood. The SPG Mission in England came to know about the speedy evangelical work carried out in Rayalaseema. Consequently, this Mission sent two Missionaries namely Rev. Groves and Rev. Brink to Kurnool. Later Rev. Richard Shepherd, Rev. Alfred Briton and Rev. Arthur Inmann were sent to Kurnool. These missionaries travelled all areas in Kurnool district and did good evangelical work. The SPG Mission in Britain established High Schools in Nandyai and Primary Schools in many villages in Kurnool district and contributed for the education of both boys and girls. This Mission also started Theological Schools at Nandyai to train Christian Preachers and evangelists. In 1905 a beautiful Church was constructed in Nandyai by SPG Mission. The SPG Bishop of Madras entrusted the work of looking after the Anglican Churches in Kurnool and Cuddapah Districts to Rev. V.S. Azariah, the Bishop of Dornakal in 1912. Later the SPG Mission Churches of these areas were merged to Dornakal Diocese.46 When the Church of South India (CSI) was formed in 1947 and when the proposal was made to invite the Anglican Churches to join in the Union more than 40,000 SPG Christians rejected the offer and