C.S.I. Wesley English Pastorate, Chennai
The C.S.I. Wesley English Pastorate or Circuit as it was known in earlier times comprises three Churches – the Egmore Wesley Church, the Broadway Wesley Church and the St.Thomas Mount Wesley Church. Of these the oldest is the Broadway Wesley Church which is the birthplace of the Methodist Mission in Southern India.
C.S.I. Broadway Wesley Church
Broadway Wesley Church , the oldest in the Wesley English Circuit was opened on 25th April, 1822. It was built by the Methodist Missionary the Rev. James Lynch who had been sent by the Wesleyan Methodist Foreign Missionary society. He began his services in a stable in Black Town on Popham’s Broadway and then shifted to a godown in the same area. The original chapel built on this site deteriorated was torn down and rebuilt in 1844 in the form in which it exists today.
C.S.I. Egmore Wesley Church
Egmore Wesley Church, is the youngest in the Wesley English Circuit. At the turn of the century it was felt necessary to build a church on the grounds of the Methodist Manse on Poonamallee High Road at Egmore to serve the growing Christian population in and around Vepery. Thanks to the efforts of the Rev. John Breeden who was in charge of the circuit at this time the foundation stone was laid on Monday 28th December 1903 by Prof. G. D. Findlay D.D. The Church was dedicated on 11th February 1905. More about this church can be seen at www.ewchurch.net