The Mar Thoma Church Canterbury has had a humble beginning with few families in Ashford, Kent coming together as a small group conducting a prayer occasionally during 2005-2006. By 2007 this gathering became an official prayer group called “Kent Prayer Group” under St. Johns Mar Thoma Church, Hounslow, UK. The Kent prayer group involved families from the towns of Ashford, Margate, Maidstone, Tunbridge Wells, Hastings and from the city of Canterbury.
There was an increasing need felt by the prayer group members, due to the growing difficulties and struggles to attend regular services at St. John’s Mar Thoma Church, London and the members earnestly aspired to the leadership of Rev. Jose Punamadam, Vicar, St John’s Mar Thoma Church (2013-2016), Hounslow. Achen acknowledged our felt need and together with his vision of the local church has created another milestone in the history of the Diaspora community in the UK as well as in the history of Malankara Mar Thoma Church. With the support of Rt. Rev. Dr. Geevarghese Mar Theodosius Episcopa, Rev. Jose Punamadam Achen and St. Johns Mar Thoma Church Hounslow, the “Kent Prayer Group” with 17 families became a congregation called “Canterbury Mar Thoma Congregation” on 1st April 2015.
The Kent Prayer group further gained 12 more families from the Kent County and an application duly signed by 29 families along with the approval from St John’s Mar Thoma church London was submitted to the Honourable Episcopal Synod through, Rt. Rev. Dr. Geevarghese Mar Theodosius Episcopa, Diocesan Bishop, North America – Europe Diocese and the Malankara Metropolitan, The Most. Rt. Rev Dr. Joseph Mar Thoma Metropolitan officially named the new parish as “Mar Thoma Church Canterbury, Kent” and the new parish came into existence on December 1st, 2015. Our church was entered on the Register of Charity, Charity Commission for England and Wales on 19th Jan 2018.

Worshipping Place
The St. Andrew’s Church, St. Andrews Road, Maidstone, ME16 9AN continues to be our worshipping place, a centre point in the county of Kent with ease of access, with a vision for the future to involve more families in and around Kent County to come together and enjoy the fellowship and ministry of Mar Thoma Church Canterbury.