CMS College History

CMS College, Kottayam: A Peep into the Past

Now thanks be unto God, which always causeth us to triumph in Christ, and maketh manifest the fragrance of his knowledge by us in every place. For we are unto God a sweet aroma of Christ.

2 Corinthians, 2: 14-15.

Timeline

1817
Establishment of ‘College Cotym’ which later became CMS College
Establishment of ‘College Cotym’ which later became CMS College

Establishment of ‘College Cotym’ which later became CMS College, Kottayam, Rev. Benjamin Bailey took charge as the first Principal of the College.

1818
Rev. Joseph Fenn reaches Travancore and takes charge of the College from Bailey.
Rev. Joseph Fenn reaches Travancore and takes charge of the College from Bailey.

Rev.Joseph Fenn was made the Principal of ‘Cotym College’ by Rev. Benjamin Bailey and he himself concentrated into establishment of a Press and Bible translation.

1819
Construction of a Bunglow by Rev. Joseph Fenn
Construction of a Bunglow by Rev. Joseph Fenn

Construction of a Bungalow by Rev. Joseph Fenn (the present-day Principal’s Bungalow) (the oldest building on the campus) Establishment of Grammara School as an incubator for college studies. Maha Rani Gouri Parvathi Bai awards 2000 acres of land at Kallada

1820
Benjamin Bailey Establishes a Printing Press at Kottayam
Benjamin Bailey Establishes a Printing Press at Kottayam

Benjamin Bailey establishes a printing press at Kottayam

1821
Printing Press from England Reaches Kottayam
Printing Press from England Reaches Kottayam

Printing Press arrives from England An astronomical observatory first of its kind in India was present also, almost all scientific instruments known to the then world were present – (as noted by Col. Welsh and Archdeacon Robinson)

1824
Fenn establishes his living quarters in a hillock called Annankunnu.
Fenn establishes his living quarters in a hillock called Annankunnu.

Fenn establishes his living quarters in a hillock called Annankunnu. Renovated first in, this building (Fenn Bunglow)  continues to be the official residence of CMS Principals.

Encouraged by the Hindu Munshis (teachers) who taught Malayalam
Encouraged by the Hindu Munshis (teachers) who taught Malayalam

Encouraged by the Hindu munshis (teachers) who taught Malayalam, Hindu students enroll in the College.

1825
Col. James Welsh, an officer of the East India Company, visits the College
Col. James Welsh, an officer of the East India Company, visits the College

Col. James Welsh, an officer of the East India Company, visits the College and reports of a well established “library containing 2,250 elegantly bound volumes on Theology, Astronomy, Mathematics, and History, in short every other science, English, French, Latin, Greek,

1826
A full-fledged department for translation functions in the College.
A full-fledged department for translation functions in the College.

A full-fledged department  for translation functions in the College.

1830
Archdeacon Robinson, who visited the College
Archdeacon Robinson, who visited the College

Archdeacon Robinson, who visited the College, reports of the curriculum used in the college, which includes Selectae e profanis, Virgil’s Aeneid, Cicero’s Orations, Horace’s Epistles, Demosthenes, the first six books of Euclid and plane and spherical trigonometry