ABOUT OUR CHURCH

History Of CSI Ascension Church

The spiritual journey of the CSI Ascension Church started in the year 1959, which was called as Ascension Prayer Hall during its formative years. We recognize and remember the efforts of the then Bishop Late Rt. Rev. N.C. Sargent in getting the site purchased for the construction of Ascension Church at Palace Orchard, Sadashivanagar, Bangalore. But for his initiative, this would not have been possible. The Church building was constructed under the able leadership of Late Rt. Rev. W.V. Karl, Bishop and the City Mission Director of Mysore Diocese. At that time, the Basel Mission Society contributed generously for this noble cause and the Church building was constructed.

The first worship service started at Ascension Prayer Hall in the year 1960 and the members of Christian families living in the surrounding started to worship in the Ascension Prayer Hall. At that time, the altar was at the Centre of the Prayer Hall, facing the east. The Church started to grow day by day since then with the tireless efforts of Late Rev. S. Samuel and the other Presbyters who served in the Church. As years passed the Church congregation started to grow spiritually as well as in number. It was during this time the congregation members felt the need to extend the church building. This need came to be materialized under the guidance and leadership of the late Rev. G. Somasundara in the year 1989.

In the year 1993, Rev. John Wesley Ambler took initiative to change the name from Ascension Prayer Hall to Ascension Church. This proposal was sent by the Pastorate Committee to the Diocesan Executive Committee during which time Rev. Dr. K.C Abraham was the Moderator’s Commissary. The proposal of the Pastorate Committee to change the name as Ascension Church was approved by the Executive Committee and since 1993, the Church has been re-named as “CSI Ascension Church”. At this time, we would like to remember and thank Rev. Dr. K.C Abraham for approving the proposal of our Church.

During the 30th church anniversary the church released a souvenir to raise funds. As the Church was growing, the Pastorate Committee decided to change the front elevation of the Church building and sent a proposal of the Property Committee of K.C.D. After the approval of the Executive Committee the work was taken up and the renovation completed in the year 2010, under the able leadership and guidance of Rev. Dr. Manohar Chandra Prasad and members of the Pastorate Committee and all the members of the congregations, who had donated generously. The renovated Church was dedicated by the then Most Rev. S Vasantha Kumar, Moderator, CSI and Bishop K.C.D.

In 2015 the Church celebrated its 50th Anniversary. During this time of Golden Jubilee Celebration, we also remembered the untiring services rendered by all the Presbyters, Pastorate Committee members and Congregation for their prayerful support and generous contribution to make this Golden Jubilee Celebration a successful one. The celebration was presided by Rt. Rev. Dr. Prasanna Kumar Samuel, Bishop, K.C.D for his consent to bless the Golden Jubilee Celebration.

May Almighty God continue to use this Church even more in years to come and bless many others and this church be a blessing to many who enter this church to praise and worship God. Let the name of the Lord Jesus be glorified through Ascension Church. May we all use this wonderful Church to Rejoice in the Lord, reaffirm our faith and mission and renew our strength, talents, abilities and gifts to serve the Lord in all faithfulness and sincerity.

Presbyters Served in CSI Ascension Church, Bengaluru.

SL. No.	Name	Period of Service
1.	Late Rt. Rev. W.V. Karl	1965-1970
2.	Late Rev. S. Samuel	1971-1976
3.	Late Rev. Simon John P.K.	1977-1980
4.	Late Rev. F.S. Macwana	1980-1981
5.	Rev. John Milton	1982-1983
6.	Late Rev. G. Gurushantha	1983-1984
7.	Most Rev. S. Vasantha Kumar	1984-1987
8.	Late Rev. G. Somasundara	1987-1988
9.	Rev. Dr. Chandrasekhar Soans	1988 (3 Months)
10.	Rev. M.M. George	1988-1989
11.	Rev. Arunkumar Wesley	1989-1992
12.	Rev. Dr. John Wesley Ambler	1993-1997
13.	Late Rev. Rajarathnam	1998-1999
14.	Rev. D. Jayapaul	1999-2004
15.	Late Rev. D. Pushparaj	2005
16.	Rev. William Jones	2005-2006
17.	Rev. M.B. Kotian (In-Charge)	2006-2008
18.	Rev. Mrs. Shylashree	2006-2008
19.	Rev. Dr. Manohar Chandra Prasad	2008-2013
20.	Rev. Dr. John Wesley Ambler	2013-2018
21.	Rev. S. Raju	2018- Present

About Pastor

Rev. S. Raju born in Bidar, North Karnataka and brought up in Tumkur. After his graduation in Tumkur, he was selected for ordained ministry in KCD, and pursued his BD, Bachelor of Divinity studies in KTC Mangalore and obtained his M.A., from Mysore University. He was ordained as a Deacon in 1995 and Presbyter in the year 1997. He served as a pastor in the following churches. CSI Bethany Church (Channapatanna), CSI Kannada Church (Tiptur), CSI Hudson Memorial Church (Bangalore), CSI Kannada Church (Dasarahalli Bangalore), CSI Bethel Church (Bethalur Tumkur), CSI Yesukrupalaya Church (Bangalore), CSI Covenant Church (Koramangala, Bangalore), CSI Shantha Oliver Memorial Church and CSI Sawday Memorial Church (Bangalore).

He has served both in urban and rural congregations of KCD. At present he is the pastor of CSI Ascension Church, Sadashivanagar, Bangalore. He is a dedicated and affable pastor.

In the ministry of the Diocese he has served as Director (UCE), Urban Church Extension, Director (FMA) Fellowship of Ministerial Assistants, apart from being, a member of standing committees and departments of ministry in the diocese.

He is married to Mrs. Sucharitha who is a home maker and they have been blessed with a son Melvin Isaac, who is studying.

May his services expand further for the glory of God.

From the desk of the pastor

The CSI Ascension Church is a blessing to nearly 90 families living in and around Bangalore city. These families love to encounter God and their fellow believers in the vicinity of the church. Gradually the church has been growing in numbers and the activities of the church are expanding. As a church we endeavour to strengthen our fellowship and extend our ministry to new areas of services. We are guided by the historic statement made by the erstwhile Archbishop of Canterbury. Most Rev. Dr. William Temple:

"The church is the only Co-operative society on earth that lives not for its members but for its non-members"