City's first Telugu baptist church is 137 Old
CHENNAI: The Waterbury Memorial Telugu Baptist Church at Perambur - the first Telugu church in Chennai - is all set to celebrate its 138th anniversary. Built by an America
Built by an American named Rev Norman Mather Waterbury in 1886, the church is the result of his exceptional sacrifices. According to Pastor Rev. Dr. M. Paul Eswarappa, he (Waterbury) was appointed as a missionary to India by the American Baptist Foreign Mission Society. βHe arrived at Perambur with his wife in November 1881 and started working among the Telugu speaking population residing in the area. They mostly concentrated on the well-being of laborers, whose wards got an opportunity to learn both English and Telugu,β he added. The American mastered Telugu in just five years and even authored five books.