Work of Rev. C.F. Heyer

WORK OF REV. C.F.HEYER: After reaching Guntur on July 31, 1842 Fr. Heyer began his work on the first Sunday in August when a service was held in a building provided by Stokes the then Collector of district. The same building and compound was later used for a school and meeting house. Two Telugu schools were started in September, in order to help people to get education in their vernacular language. The English-Telugu school which was hither to under the patronage of the Collector and other English residents was formerly transferred to the care of Fr. Heyer. At 8’ ‘O’ Clock in the morning he opened the English Telugu School with prayer and a Bible class. Religious service on every Sunday was conducted in Telugu. Heyer employed four teachers of whom none was a Christian. A month later Fr. Heyer established six schools in Guntur District. All Telugu schools except the original English one were attended not only by the children of upper castes but also children of low castes and outcastes. In November, Father Heyer, with the support of the wife of Judge Walker organised the first Hindu caste girls school with 15 pupils to provide educational opportunities to the Hindu girls who were avert to attend to co-educational school.

Walter Gunn, Second missionary to Guntur arrived on June 18, 1844 along with his wife. While Mr. Gunn taught English to Hindu boys and conducted Bible study class for the English residents, his wife taught English and needle work to Hindu girls. Another missionary, Vallet opened two schools, one in English-Telugu and the other purely Telugu at Rajahmundry situated 115 miles away from Guntur on the Godavari • river. Mission Stations were established at Guntur, Palnad and Rajahmundry by 1851. These stations not only cared the educational work but also the evangelistic work. Several churches were constructed at different towns and villages with liberal donations from America and native Indians. The mission has also established orphanages, assylums, for the benefit of the needy. No caste distinctions were allowed and all the members of the congregation were treated alike. The selfless efforts of Fr. Heyer and other missionaries gave great boost to the establishment of Lutheran Church in Andhra which in no time became one of the biggest Church establishments in India and an met spiritual and academic and sociological needs of the people.49 The missionaries of the Lutheran Church in Guntur and Godavari District worked strenuously to improve the condition of the widows. The missionaries brought western education and modern