Indian Priests employed in Britain continue increasing

Adding to the number of Indian priests working abroad in countries like Britain– is Reverend Kesari Godfrey, newly appointed. The Rev. has been designated the cleric at the Priory Church in Bridlington, Yorkshire.

According to reports, the shortage of Priests in Britain is being filled by the Indian priests hailing from states like Mizoram, Kerala and Goa.

Apart from being employed–the migrated priests are also helping the churches in Britain revive.

During the 18th and 19th century, it was the Western missionaries who evangelized the remote tribes and Hindu dominant areas in India–to convert them to Christianity.

Missionaries from Wales evangelized Mizoram, between 1840 and 1960. Today the majority Christian population in India is from Mizoram. One of the first Indian priests to arrive in Britain to preach Christianity was Rev Hmar Sangkhuma–from Presbyterian Church of Mizoram in northeastern India.

The local Welsh population in Maesteg, near Bridgend, is been encouraged by the presence of Sangkhuma, who has been offering spiritual guidance from the time of his arrival in Britain.

Mizo’s consider the Welsh Presbyterian Church the "mother church."

Reports say, the attendance in churches in Britain have been decreasing recently. The 2001 census showed that fewer than one in 10 people in Wales regularly attended church or chapel.

In Staffordshire, sources say, Indians and others from various countries like Poland and Fiji are helping boost congregations.