Kottapalayam / Kampal Naidu (published in 1998)

In this Book written by the French Missionary Priest Adrien Launay published in 1898, we see the following written : Elders reports that earlier the Valavikara Vadugar Family from Kottapalayam (Kampal Naidu?) were living in Madurai.

After the Family objected to a Marriage proposal from a Cammala Vadugar Prince with one of the girls of the Family. Five Families leave Madurai and came and settle first in Uppiliburam. Their god at that that time was the Lord Perumal from the mountains of Kirambur.

We see that the little children were suffering from a frequent blood vomiting disease and the milk when it was boiled used to turn red.

That is when a catholic women Beggar from Prattacudy who was passing by, asks for Benediction from priests and teaches them the principles of Catholicism. She herself gives benediction to them many times and the disease stops.

Then one by one, people of the family go to Prattacudy and chose to become Catholics. This happened in the Second half of the 17^th Century.

With the the advice of a missionary they leave Uppilaburam and were the first to settle in Kottapalayam which was filled with full of torn and bushes at that time. There they build a small chapel made of a thatched roof.

Later one Jesuit Father probably Saveriar Suamy starts to build the actual church (old church), the heart of the church, the walls of the main body of the church and pillars, during festival season a Pandal would be installed.

Daïrianada Suamy (Father Beshi) completes the construction of the Church like we see today (old church). After the disappearance of the Jesuit administration, Goan priest took over of the administration of this area.

Source: Histoire des missions de l ' Inde , Pondichéry, Maïssour, Coïmbatour. Tome 1 / par Adrien Launay,...1898. Author : Launay, Adrien (1853-1927).