மததபபடட பனத கணகக அனன ஆலயமம சதபத மனனரகளம / Muthupettai Punitha Kannikkai Annai Church and Sethupathi Kings

Antony Crmonoly was an Italian clergyman and Francis Xavier was a Portuguese clergyman. They visited India and established several small churches along the Tamil Nadu coast by year 1555 AD. Between 1532 and 1537 AD, a majority of the Parava fishing community converted themselves to Christianity. The Sarveeswarar Church was built in Periyapattinam, Ramanathapuram to serve these new converts. However, King Ramanathapura Sethupathi who was the ruler at the time demolished the church. In 1713, the ruling Sethupathi kings permitted the reconstruction of the church. In 1723, the Jesuit priest Francis Vice resumed missionary work at the Periyapattinam Church and served there until 1737. That year, the church was again demolished and the land was sold for 30 rupees. Later, King Vijayaragunatha Sethupathi donated land and two villages to the Sarveeswarar Church. It has been documented in inscriptions and copper plates. According to the Bathruwado, several priests served the church over time. Between the years 1737 and 1740, Father Manuel Pimel relocated the church to Muthupettai to avoid further destruction. A small church was built there and Tiruppali rituals were conducted. There are many nscriptions and copper plate records confirm the relocation of the Periyapattinam Church to Muthupettai. Hence, this article on the facts related to it.