Talluru Thomas Gabriel ''(born December 15, 1837;Mary Stillwell McLaurin, ''Chetti Bhanumurti'' in John Craig, J. R. Stillwell, I. C. Archibald, A. E. Baskerville (Edited), ''Some of the Trophies: Canadian Baptist Foreign Mission Board Jubilee Volume, Telugu Trophies - The Jubilee story of some of the principal Telugu converts in the Canadian Baptist Foreign Mission in India from 1874 to 1924'', American Baptist Publication Society, Toronto

/ref> died January 1, 1875)'' was the founder of the

Canadian Baptist Mission The Canadian Baptist Mission (CBM) is an international Baptist Christian missionary society. It is a constituent board affiliated with the Canadian Baptist Ministries. History It was established in 1850 by the Canadian Baptist Ministries. The CB ...

in India.

Early life and education

Thomas Gabriel was born in

Machilipatnam Machilipatnam (), also known as Masulipatnam and Bandar (), is a city in Krishna district of the Indian state of Andhra Pradesh. It is a municipal corporation and the administrative headquarters of Krishna district. It is also the Tehsil, mandal ...

and grew up at Narasapur and

Rajahmundry Rajahmundry ( ), officially Rajamahendravaram, is a city in the Indian state of Andhra Pradesh and district headquarters of East Godavari district. It is the fifth most populated city in the state. During British rule, the district of Rajahmu ...

where he studied at the

Lutheran Lutheranism is a major branch of Protestantism that emerged under the work of Martin Luther, the 16th-century German friar and Protestant Reformers, reformer whose efforts to reform the theology and practices of the Catholic Church launched ...

School. After securing employment with the Telegraphs Department in 1857, he worked at

and at

Kakinada Kakinada (; formerly known as Cocanada) is a Port, port city and municipal corporation in the Indian state of Andhra Pradesh. Situated along the Bay of Bengal, it serves as the headquarters of Kakinada district and is a prominent economic and c ...

. Gabriel was influenced by the

missionaries of

and became a Christian through the

Andhra Evangelical Lutheran Church Andhra Evangelical Lutheran Church (AELC) was constituted in the year 1927 in Andhra Pradesh, India. It is the Indian successor to the United Lutheran Church in America which was started as a self-supporting, self-governing, and self-propagating ...

.Brenton Hamline Badley, ''Indian Missionary Directory and Memorial'', p.223.

/ref> In addition to Thomas Gabriel's employment, he was active in his new-found Christian faith. Gabriel was later transferred to

Mumbai Mumbai ( ; ), also known as Bombay ( ; its official name until 1995), is the capital city of the Indian state of Maharashtra. Mumbai is the financial capital and the most populous city proper of India with an estimated population of 12 ...

but his sickness made him to go to

Chennai Chennai, also known as Madras (List of renamed places in India#Tamil Nadu, its official name until 1996), is the capital city, capital and List of cities in Tamil Nadu by population, largest city of Tamil Nadu, the southernmost states and ...

in 1867 and in the Hospital, he came across Pastors of the

American Baptist Mission International Ministries is an international Baptist Christian missionary society. It is a constituent board affiliated with the American Baptist Churches USA. The headquarters is in King of Prussia, Pennsylvania, United States. History The soc ...

Samavesam of Telugu Baptist Churches Samavesam of Telugu Baptist Churches (STBC) is a Baptist Christian denomination in the three states of Andhra Pradesh, Telangana and Tamil Nadu in India. The churches are part of the Telugu Christian community of Southern India. Its language i ...

and got baptized.

Ministry

Gabriel gave up his job at the Telegraphs Department in 1869 to take up an ecclesiastical assignment with the Godavari Delta Mission but it was short-lived as he quit it in 1870 and got into business in

to support himself after having exhausted all his money for the sake of the gospel. A chance stopover in

Ramayapatnam Ramayapatnam is a small village in Ulavapadu mandal of Nellore district of Andhra Pradesh, India on the bank of the Bay of Bengal. It is located East of Tettu on NH-16. Its population is 2,236 as on 2011. Ramayapatnam port Ramayapatnam Por ...

at the

Baptist Theoogical Seminary made Gabriel to appeal to the

Canadian Baptists of Ontario and Quebec Canadian Baptists of Ontario and Quebec (CBOQ) is a Baptist Christian denomination in central Canada. The organization's headquarters is based in Etobicoke, Toronto, Ontario, Canada. CBOQ is a partner of Canadian Baptist Ministries. History In 1 ...

through John McLaurin to take up the Mission in northern coastal regions and thus led to the founding of the

in 1874 at

with the arrival of John McLaurinEdwin Munsell Bliss, ''The Encyclopedia of Missions'', 1891, p.131
/ref> who came from

by sea. Gabriel died on 1 January 1875''Teloogoo Mission Scrap Book'', Expositor Book and Job Office, 1888, p.8

/ref> uttering his last words, ''Jesus is precious.''

References

;Notes ;Further reading * * {{DEFAULTSORT:Thomas Gabriel, Talluru 19th-century Canadian Christian clergy Indian Baptist ministers 1837 births 1875 deaths Convention of Baptist Churches of Northern Circars Christian clergy from Andhra Pradesh Canadian Baptist Ministries 19th-century Baptists Indian Christians