Kerala’s Christian presence (18% of 34.8 Million over the geographical area of 15,005 Square Mile) has immensely contributed to the overall development of the State, especially in the areas of education and health care. This has encouraged the young people to migrate to other parts of India and the World in search of better job opportunities. Today, there are significant number of Syro-Malabar faithful in the Middle East, the US, the UK, Ireland, Australia, New Zealand, and the African Countries. During the 1960s and 70s, small numbers of professionals migrated to the UK from Kerala, and found work in the NHS as well as other occupations.

The next distinctive phase of migration of Syro-Malabar communities from Kerala to the UK occurred from 2000 onwards. Many families had migrated from the Middle Eastern counties at this time as well. With the help of the Syro-Malabar priests working in the Latin parishes or studying at various universities, communities were formed. At present we have around 8000 families in Great Britain, mostly belonging to the age group of 30-40. We thankfully remember the local ordinaries and parish priests who welcomed the Syro-Malabar families and provided them with pastoral care and support.

‘Erga Migrantes Caritas Christi’, Holy Father John Paul II’s instruction on the pastoral care of migrants, observes the growing number of Eastern Rite Catholics in the Western World and their duty and right to follow their liturgical tradition. ‘Eastern Rite Catholic migrants, whose numbers are steadily increasing, deserve particular pastoral attention. In their regard we should first of all remember the juridical obligation of the faithful to observe their own rite everywhere insofar as possible, rite being understood as their liturgical, theological, spiritual and disciplinary heritage (cf. CCEO Can. 28, §1 and PaG 72).’

On 28 July 2016, our Holy Father Pope Francis established the Syro-Malabar Eparchy of Great Britain (for England, Scotland & Wales), with its see in Preston at St Alphonsa Cathedral (formerly St Ignatius Church, Preston). Among the 35 Eparchies of the Syro-Malabar Church, Eparchy of Great Britain for the Syro-Malabars is the third outside of India. The Syro-Malabar Church is grateful to the Bishops’ Conference of England and Wales and Scotland for the support to the new Eparchy. Bishop Michael G Campbell of Lancaster was directly instrumental in the establishment of the Eparchy. There are 4 Parishes, 52Missions, and 30 Proposed missions for the the Syro-Malabar Eparchy of Great Britain to serve nearly 50,000 Syro-Malabar Catholics in Great Britain. Currently, there are 68 priests working for the community in England, Wales and Scotland. The new eparchy is rich in terms of the human resources and the active liturgical and spiritual life of the faithful. Our main attention will be to facilitate the growth of the communities to achieve even greater heights. We are in the process of setting up key ministries for the co-ordination of people and resources.