Christanity came to India very early in its history,the Syrian Christians of Kerala tracing the origin of the early Malabar Church to St.Thomas,an apostle of Christ,who is believed to have visited India.Christanity therefore came to India earlier than than to Europe.The Syrian Christians on their part maintained their Indian customs and culture through the centuries.The Syriac rites of the church that they followed have given them their name.Christanity spread peacefully in Kerala and elsewhere in India from this period onwards.
In the 16th century the Portuguese made Goa the base of Catholic Christanity.During this period,there were forcible conversions and destruction of Hindu temples, especially during the period of Inquistion in Europe,but this was confined to Portuguese territories only.During the British rule,foreign missionaries spread all over the country,especially to tribal areas.
The Christian Church and community have contributed greatly in the social welfare and educational fields and to the spreading of teaching in the English language. Equally important has been the work of the people of this community in the medical and nursing fields.Their great contributions to Indian society far outweigh their numerical strength.
