Tamil Nadu News

History of Mudalur

October 29 , 2026 14 hrs 0 min 13 0

Mudalur in Tirunelveli district, Tamil Nadu, is known for being the first exclusive Christian settlement in the State, established in 1799.
Mudalur was founded by David Sundaranandan, the first Shanar catechist in Tirunelveli district.
It was established as a settlement for newly converted Christians who faced attacks, and its name means “First Town.”
The first church was built in 1799, while the present Church of St. Michael and Other Saints was constructed in 1883.
Following the Mudalur model, other Christian settlements, including Nazareth, Sawyerpuram and Bethlehem, developed in the region.
David Sundaranandan died in 1806 at the age of 34 and is remembered as an early Christian missionary in Tirunelveli.