H. D. L. Abraham
Encyclopedia
Henry Diwakar Luther Abraham (H. D. L. Abraham; known as Luther) was the second successor of Frank Whittaker as Bishop in Medak and an able administrator.
N. Sabhapathy, a former Presbyter in Bellary who wrote about the life of Abraham:
to Evangelist J. Y. Abraham and Smt. Paranjyothamma and studied at Wardlam High School in Bellary
from where he went to Anantapur and studied for a degree in Arts (B.A.
) at the Ceded Districts (C.D.) College in Anantapur. He went to the United Theological College, Bengaluru between 1934 and 1937.
In 1937, he was posted to Hacholli as Assistant Pastor and in 1940, he was ordained by C. B. Firth in Adoni
. Abraham also established new congregations in Challakudlur, Ravihal, Lingaladinne and Chickbellary. He seemed to have a good influence among Village Elders and Christians in many villages. E. Herbert Lewis, then Missionary supervised Abraham in his work. In 1945, Abraham was transferred from Hacholli to Adoni to a Kannada-speaking congregation.
Two years later, the Church of South India
was formed on 27 September 1947. After serving three years in Adoni, Abraham was transferred to Bellary
where he served till 1962.
In 1953, he proposed to start a Jathara at Chickbellary during holy Easter week for three days under the mangroves of the River Tungabhadra. It was in April 1954 that the Jathara was held. In 1956, Abraham was sent to the Selly Oak Colleges
, Birmingham
to lecture on Pastoria and Church Ethics for overseas missionaries. He was then assigned a teaching and administrative roles at the Union Kanarese Seminary in Tumkur
before being transferred back to Bellary
.
In 1962, Abraham was transferred to Cowlbazar where he began serving until his consecration as Assistant Bishop in Mysore on 17 November 1966 at the St. Mark's Cathedral, Bengaluru by N. C. Sargant, Bishop in Mysore. After a year, Abraham was transferred to Medak
, thereby becoming the first Indian Bishop, to set right some long-pending problems and to provide stable leadership. Abraham retired in 1975 on reaching superannuation. When Abraham retired as Bishop in Medak, he settled down in Bellary
.
He also became the President of the College Council of Karnataka Theological College
, Mangalore
.
The Synod of the Church of South India again sought Abraham to set right disturbances at the Diocese of Krishna-Godavari as N. D. Ananda Rao Samuel, Bishop - in - Krishna Godavari had left the diocese in 1978 and sought refuge in Chennai, the Synodical Headquarters of the Church of South India. Abraham was again brought to Diocese of Northern Karnataka to act as Moderator's Commisary until the consecration of V. P. Dandin in 1981.
Writings
- Church and Evangelism
- The Teaching Ministry in My Diocese - Efforts and Deficiencies
Appraisal by Scholars
K. M. George who authored Church of South India: Life in Union, 1947-1997:N. Sabhapathy, a former Presbyter in Bellary who wrote about the life of Abraham:
History, Studies and Contribution
Abraham was born on 8 February 1908 in Vikarabad, Andhra PradeshAndhra Pradesh
Andhra Pradesh , is one of the 28 states of India, situated on the southeastern coast of India. It is India's fourth largest state by area and fifth largest by population. Its capital and largest city by population is Hyderabad.The total GDP of Andhra Pradesh is $100 billion and is ranked third...
to Evangelist J. Y. Abraham and Smt. Paranjyothamma and studied at Wardlam High School in Bellary
Bellary
Bellary is a historic city in Bellary District in Karnataka state, India.-Origins of the city's name:There are several legends about how Bellary got its name....
from where he went to Anantapur and studied for a degree in Arts (B.A.
Bachelor of Arts
A Bachelor of Arts , from the Latin artium baccalaureus, is a bachelor's degree awarded for an undergraduate course or program in either the liberal arts, the sciences, or both...
) at the Ceded Districts (C.D.) College in Anantapur. He went to the United Theological College, Bengaluru between 1934 and 1937.
In 1937, he was posted to Hacholli as Assistant Pastor and in 1940, he was ordained by C. B. Firth in Adoni
Adoni
Adoni , is a municipality, mandal headquarters and commercial town in Kurnool district in the Indian state of Andhra Pradesh. It is 180 miles from Hyderabad and 307 miles from Chennai by rail. It has a population of about 2,43,247 people . Adoni is 245th biggest city in terms of population in India...
. Abraham also established new congregations in Challakudlur, Ravihal, Lingaladinne and Chickbellary. He seemed to have a good influence among Village Elders and Christians in many villages. E. Herbert Lewis, then Missionary supervised Abraham in his work. In 1945, Abraham was transferred from Hacholli to Adoni to a Kannada-speaking congregation.
Two years later, the Church of South India
Church of South India
The Church of South India is the successor of the Church of England in India. It came into being in 1947 as a union of Anglican and Protestant churches in South India. With a membership of over 3.8 million, it is India's second largest Christian church after the Roman Catholic Church in India...
was formed on 27 September 1947. After serving three years in Adoni, Abraham was transferred to Bellary
Bellary
Bellary is a historic city in Bellary District in Karnataka state, India.-Origins of the city's name:There are several legends about how Bellary got its name....
where he served till 1962.
In 1953, he proposed to start a Jathara at Chickbellary during holy Easter week for three days under the mangroves of the River Tungabhadra. It was in April 1954 that the Jathara was held. In 1956, Abraham was sent to the Selly Oak Colleges
Selly Oak Colleges
Selly Oak Colleges was a Federation of educational facilities, primarily concerned with theology and social work, in Birmingham, England. The Federation was for many years associated with the University of Birmingham...
, Birmingham
Birmingham
Birmingham is a city and metropolitan borough in the West Midlands of England. It is the most populous British city outside the capital London, with a population of 1,036,900 , and lies at the heart of the West Midlands conurbation, the second most populous urban area in the United Kingdom with a...
to lecture on Pastoria and Church Ethics for overseas missionaries. He was then assigned a teaching and administrative roles at the Union Kanarese Seminary in Tumkur
Tumkur
Tumkur is one of the busiest industrial towns located in the state of Karnataka. Since 28 August 2010, Tumkur has been accorded the status of a Corporation city. It is situated at a distance of 70 kilometers north west of the city of Bangalore along National Highway 4...
before being transferred back to Bellary
Bellary
Bellary is a historic city in Bellary District in Karnataka state, India.-Origins of the city's name:There are several legends about how Bellary got its name....
.
In 1962, Abraham was transferred to Cowlbazar where he began serving until his consecration as Assistant Bishop in Mysore on 17 November 1966 at the St. Mark's Cathedral, Bengaluru by N. C. Sargant, Bishop in Mysore. After a year, Abraham was transferred to Medak
Medak
Medak , is a municipality in Medak District in the state of Andhra Pradesh, India. It is 100 km to the north of Hyderabad.-Geography:Medak is located at . It has an average elevation of 442 metres .-Demographics:...
, thereby becoming the first Indian Bishop, to set right some long-pending problems and to provide stable leadership. Abraham retired in 1975 on reaching superannuation. When Abraham retired as Bishop in Medak, he settled down in Bellary
Bellary
Bellary is a historic city in Bellary District in Karnataka state, India.-Origins of the city's name:There are several legends about how Bellary got its name....
.
He also became the President of the College Council of Karnataka Theological College
Karnataka Theological College
Karnataka Theological College is an ecumenical seminary catering to the Kannada-speaking students wishing to pursue the priestly vocation. KTC is located in Mangalore of Karnataka in South India, and is affiliated to the Senate of Serampore College .The Karnataka Theological College was...
, Mangalore
Mangalore
Mangalore is the chief port city of the Indian state of Karnataka. It is located about west of the state capital, Bangalore. Mangalore lies between the Arabian Sea and the Western Ghat mountain ranges, and is the administrative headquarters of the Dakshina Kannada district in south western...
.
The Synod of the Church of South India again sought Abraham to set right disturbances at the Diocese of Krishna-Godavari as N. D. Ananda Rao Samuel, Bishop - in - Krishna Godavari had left the diocese in 1978 and sought refuge in Chennai, the Synodical Headquarters of the Church of South India. Abraham was again brought to Diocese of Northern Karnataka to act as Moderator's Commisary until the consecration of V. P. Dandin in 1981.