St. Thomas Marthoma Church, also called as Kozhencherry Valiya Palli is a prominent Christian church under the Malankara Mar Thoma Syrian Church, located in the heart of Kozhencherry town on the banks of River Pamba in Pathanamthitta district of Central Travancore region of Kerala, India. The Maramon Convention, the largest Christian gathering in Asia, is held in every February on the sand bed of Pamba which is near to the church. This is one of the oldest churches in Kerala, established in AD 1599. In 1941 the new church was built adjacent to the old church. At the time of construction of the new church, this was the biggest Christian church building in the Central Travancore region. Church history Kochupally Certain ancient Christian families who resided on the banks of river Pampa have recorded their origins and these evidences speak of the early Christian settlers around Kozhencherry to have worshiped in the churches at Maramon and Chengannur. According to these records, the earliest church at Kozhencherry was constructed in AD 1599, according to the Malayalam Era (M.E. 775). The location of the church, a small thatched building was at Vennapra, a hilly area on the eastern part of the Mulayodil field which is situated towards the east of the present St. Thomas Marthoma Church Kozhencherry The society in those days of Hindu domination was plagued by the evils of caste discrimination and untouchability. While the renovation of the church was in progress, the Kovilans demolished the church enraged by the supposed disrespect of some of the 'Mappilas'. The prominent Christians of the time organized themselves and brought their grievance to the attention of the then ruling King Maharaja Thekkumkur Kulasekhara. As a result, His Highness the Maharaja graciously granted the land which belonged to the Chengazhasseri illom (where the present Kochupalli is situated) and the land was exempted from giving tax by the authority of the seal of the Maharaja on a Chempola. Worship was resumed in a temporary structure constructed on the north of the Kochupalli, where the present cemetery stands. The people of the locality joined the Maramon Church for worship until the church was re-established in Kozhencherry. Around 950 M.E. (1774) a new church was established in the name of Virgin Mary in the location of the present Kochupalli. Subsequent to the 'Naveekaranam' in Malankara Church, launched by Abraham Malpan, in 1012 M.E. (1836) the Malankara Syrian