Holy Family Syro-Malabar Church, Mannila

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Holy Family Church Mannila is a Catholic church in Mannila, about 10 kilometers from Changanacherry in Kerala, and is part of the Archdiocese of Changanacherry.

The church began in 1927 when Fr. Karingida Thomma, with help from the Marthoma Dasa Sangham, placed a cross on Mannilakunnu and started prayers there. A small shed grew into a church, and the official church building was completed in 1940. The present church on the same site began construction around 1991 and was finished in 1995.

Marthommadasasangham, a youth prayer group founded by Bishop Mar Thomas Kurialassery in 1919, played a major role in Mannila’s church life by conducting prayers and teaching catechism in remote areas. Fr. Dominic Thottassery was the first president of the group.

In 1972, Archbishop Antony Padiyara declared Mannila an independent parish, with Mathew Kallukalam as its first vicar. A parish hall was built in 1982, and an ASMI convent was established the same year. The foundation stone for the new church was laid in 1991 by Archbishop Mar Joseph Powathil, and the church was blessed in 1995 by Powathil, with Joseph Vaniyapurakkal serving as vicar at that time.

Later, Thomas Thekkekara served as vicar in 2014, and Antony Nereyath became vicar in 2023.