It is also claimed that he went to Constantinople to meet Emperor Constantine (306-337 AD) of Rome. Map of Andhra Pradesh showing regions with significant populations of ChristiansĪt least one author claims that a certain man named Theophilus who lived during the third century AD in Divi, an island near Machilipatnam on the East Coast of India was the first Christian among the Telugu speaking peoples. Telugu Christians also have one of the highest literacy, work participation and sex ratio figures among the various religious communities in the state. Many Telugu Christians have emigrated to other countries in the Anglosphere with significant populations being present in the United States, United Kingdom and Australia. Regions with significant populations of Telugu Christians include the erstwhile Northern Circars, the coastal belt and the cities of Hyderabad and Secunderabad. Telugu Christians are found in all walks of life and have contributed much to the development of the state. The Church in Andhra Pradesh runs thousands of educational institutions and hospitals contributing significantly to the development of the state. Most Telugu Christians are Protestant belonging to major Indian Protestant denominations such as the Church of South India, the Andhra Evangelical Lutheran Church, the Samavesam of Telugu Baptist Churches and several others. They set up their station at Vishakapatnam in 1805 AD. Des Granges who were sent out by the London Missionary Society. The first Protestant missionaries in Andhra Pradesh were Rev. Although the Franciscans of the Catholic Church brought Christianity to the Deccan Area in 1535, it is only after 1759 AD when the Northern Circars came under the rule of the East India Company that the region opened up to greater Christian influence. According to the Census of India, there are over a million Christians in Andhra Pradesh constituting 1.5 % of the state's population, although a decrease from the 1971 census figure which was 4.2%, as a result of low birth rates and emigration. Telugu Christians or Telugu Kraistava (తెలుగు క్రైస్తవ) are an ethno-religious community who form the second largest religious minority in the Indian state of Andhra Pradesh. Predominantly Anglican( Church of South India), Lutheran, Methodist, Baptist but also significant number of Roman Catholics and Evangelicals See Indian Christian for wider definitions of Christianity in India Telugu ChristiansĬoastal Andhra, the Northern Circars, Hyderabad, Secunderabad and MedakĬountries: India United Kingdom United States Australia United Arab Emirates Kuwait
This is about Christianity in the Indian state of Andhra Pradesh.