A small beginning, a great journey of faith
Every church has a story. Ours is one of faith, prayer, sacrifice and commitment.
Holy Jerusalem Church was established on 20th November 1976, beginning with a small gathering of believers who shared a vision of a place of worship and fellowship.
The earliest services were held in a small room at Uma Chawl, Technical Area, Marol Pipeline, with just four to five families. What began as a humble gathering grew into a congregation united in faith and devotion to God.
In those years there was no Tamil-speaking pastorate church in the Andheri–Marol area. Families travelled to their mother church, Good Shepherd Church, Dharavi, or to nearby prayer houses. With the guidance of Late Rev. S. James Paul, then Reverend of Good Shepherd Church, the founding members took the initiative to establish Holy Jerusalem Church.
20th November remains the official Church Day. The annual festival was later moved to 11th November to avoid clashing with the Ayyappa Temple festival held the same day, so that celebrations could be held peacefully with the whole congregation.
Built by many hands
When the church was built on a levelled pit at Marol Pipeline, help came from people of every faith: a Muslim family donated bricks and a Hindu family contributed sand, a true reflection of communal harmony.
Our First Reverend
Late Rev. S. James Paul guided the congregation through its formative years and suggested the name “Holy Jerusalem Church,” which the congregation adopted.