When both India and Singapore were under the British Colonial rule, predominantly, large
number of Indian immigrants went to Singapore to find work and to serve military duties.
Primarily during this period, many of the Roman Catholics in Latin Rite also went there to
work. Some of them, as they were English educated, were brought to work as clerks in the
civil services and European firms, as there were few locals qualified to do these jobs.
Others became teachers,journalists , nurses, doctors and lawyers.
However, as the withdrawal of British military forces in the 1970’s many of them who were
given British Citizenship migrated to the United Kingdom.
Since 1970, the Roman Catholics in Latin Rite who arrived in the United Kingdom settled
down with their families in and around, Croydon, Eastham, Manor Park, Upton Park,
Barking, Southall, Edmonton, North London, Willesden Green, Haze,
Ilford ,Hatfield, Stevenage and many other locations out of London
The community has developed and their children and grandchildren, the first and second
generations, married to young men
and women from Kerala to maintain the traditional customs and cultural heritage of
Kerala.
Currently the fourth generation children still speak the Malayalam language and follow
the customs and traditions of their grandparents. Most of the families in the community
try to guide their children to grow up in Catholic faith and
mould their life with good values. Practicing catholic faith, I believe will bring the
children and dutiful citizens of the United Kingdom
This community practise the Liturgical rites currently use within the Latin-Rite
Catholic Church. The Diocese of Westminster is made up of the diverse range of people
from all countries and nationalities and everyone is welcome to participate in their
local parish. In addition, the ethnic chaplaincies in the Diocese seek to provide
sacramental and pastoral support for people of all languages and cultures. Our community
also benefited from this to help preserve and nourish their cultural expressions of
faith.
The Kerala Latin Rite community, requested for a chaplain to the Roman Catholic
Archdiocese of Westminster. In 2011,Rev Fr.Johnson Alexander from Archdiocese of
Trivandrum, Kerala has been appointed as the chaplain for the Roman Catholic
Latin Rite community in England.
The chaplain is serving the community by providing sacramental and pastoral support in
Malayalam Language for the congregation at various locations at St. Mary’s
Church-Croydon, St. Michal’s Church-Eastham, St.Anselm’s Church-Southall, St. Stephen’s
Church-Manor Park, Our Lady of Compassion Church-Upton Park and St. Antony’s
Church-Forest Gate, St. Lourdes Church-New South Gate. Our Community is already
integrated in to their local parishes
and yet keep their identity.
The spiritual support and assistance in the ecclesiastical requirements from the Kerala
Region Latin Catholic Bishop Council in Kerala through the Roman Catholic Bishop Council
in the United Kingdom to the Chaplain and to the community.
