An Overview

AN OVERVIEW: The entry and spread of Christianity in Andhra Pradesh in general and Rayalaseema in particular is quite historical in nature. The Andhra Desa and Nizam Dominions have opened their doors for sowing the seed of Christian faith inspite of the oppression of the native kings. It is also a fact that the missionaries from England and America could venture to go deep into the hinterlands and propagated the Word of Jesus Christ. Christianity which was limited only to South West Coast of India spread to various parts of Andhra Pradesh as a dynamic activity with a continued zeal and commitment of the foreign missionaries. Though the political situations in Andhra as well as the attitudes of Andras were not supportive to the spread of Christianity, still slowly Christianity penetrated. In the beginning years, there were very few missionaries available to send to unexplored interior areas like Bisnagar Kingdom. The Catholic missionaries also did lot of evangelical work by offering medical services to the people. To convert upper caste people, the Jesuit Missionaries adopted various techniques of following Hindu traditions and practices and attracted them. That way they could slowly penetrate into their society and induced them towards Christianity. The upper castes like Kamma, Reddi, Velama and Brahmins were attracted towards Christian faith. Later followed Protestant missionaries. During the Eighteenth Century the Missionary activity was activated and by the beginning of Nineteenth

Century Protestant Missions like London Missionary Society, Church Missionary Society, American Baptist Mission and so on came into existence and these missionaries started their evangelical work. These Missionary Societies started establishing their own denominational Churches in South India. Few such denominational Churches formed into one Union and emerged as Church of South India. This unified Church also covered the Ceded districts of Rayalaseema like Cuddapah, Kurnool and Anantapur including Chittoor district and created a new Diocese under its jurisdiction i.e., Church of South India - Rayalaseema Diocese (CSI RD). A detailed study of formation of Rayalaseema Diocese is attempted in the next Chapter.