Thankey church

 Steeped in the history, the our Lady of Purification Church, Thankey, has comes to symbolize the transformation of a humble coastal village into a place of great significance on the map of Catholic faith in India, where Christianity is believed to have arrived in 57 AD on a trading ship along the St.Thomas the Apostle.

The place name Thankey is derived, by some accountants, from the Tamil language word thanghi, meaning a stopover or a night halt on what must have been in times of yore an arduous journey between the southern and northern district of what became Kerala, on Indians south-west cost. It is widely believed that Christian community existed in the region inclusive of Thankey in the first century AD. The amorphous community acquired certain contours and definite social shape under the guidance of the Jesuits who in 1579 established the Sant Andre mission Arthunkal about 5 km south of Thankey falling almost in a straight line with it on the west coast.

Vasco da Gama landed on the coast of Kerala in May 1498 on, what history books describe as his search of "Christians and spices" and the Portuguese arrival changed the situation rapidly and substantially. Thankey entered a historic face when the Jesuits began their missionary activities. A lot of new conversions in their walk and the acceptance of the Latin rite by Marthoma Christians. So the Church around area growing rapidly.

The first chapel was established here in 1583, was expanded in 1709 with money from Kochumareekka Muthy of Aarkatty family, a rich lady who on account of her prominence in society, was given privileged to guide the local chieftains on their journey using waterways that crisscrossed Thankey and its neighbouring areas. The Bishop of Cochin Diocese Joachim da santa rita Bottello raised Thankey to the status of an independent parish in 1832. The facade of the church that stands today was built in 1930.