St. Thomas Evangelical Church of India (STECI) is an Oriental Protestant (Reformed Orthodox) episcopal denomination based in Kerala, India. It derives from a schism in the Malankara Mar Thoma Syrian Church in 1961 and forms a part of the Saint Thomas Syrian Christian community. The church is engaged in active witnessing and building up of faith communities that will witness the love of God and serving people around in need. The headquarters of the church is at Tiruvalla, Kerala. History The St. Thomas Evangelical Church is one of several groups of Saint Thomas Christians claiming origins to St. Thomas the Apostle who, according to their tradition, came to India in AD 52. While STECI is considered to be an episcopal church, it is also deeply influenced by evangelicalism. Until 1961, the church's history was deeply connected to the Malankara Mar Thoma Syrian Church, and South Indian Christianity's contact with Evangelical British missionaries during British colonial times. The missionaries facilitated the translation of the Bible into Malayalam in 1811. This was the first vernacular Bible in Kerala. Further changes introduced by the influence of missionaries led to a schism within the Thomas Christians. Bishops Bishop KN Oommen (Late) Bishop P John Varughese (Late) Bishop Dr. TC Cherian (Retd.) Bishop Dr. MK Koshy (Retd.) Bishop A.I Alexander (Retd.) Bishop Dr CV Mathew (Retd.) Bishop Most Rev Dr Thomas Abraham (Presiding Bishop) Bishop Rt Rev Dr Abraham Chacko (Prathinidhi sabha Adhyakshan) STECI Boards Board for Evangelistic Work Board for Youth Work Board for Women's Work Board for Sunday School Work Education Board Department of Music & Communications References Christian organizations established in 1961 Evangelicalism in India 1961 establishments in Kerala Evangelical denominations in Asia Christianity in Kerala Thiruvalla Saint Thomas Christians