Diocese of Vellore

Christianity in North Arcot (Vellore and Thiruvannamalai) traces its origins to the early 17th century, shaped by global movements like the Renaissance, geographical explorations, and the arrival of European missionaries. The Jesuit presence began in 1604 when King Venkatapathy Deva Rayalu welcomed them to his court in Vellore, laying the foundation for the first Christian communities despite periods of persecution and upheaval. Missionaries such as Fr. Antonious Rubunus, St. John de Britto, Fr. Francis Laynis and later the French Jesuits of the Carnatic Mission established early churches and mission centres across the region. The Paris Foreign Mission Fathers continued the work from the late 18th century, nurturing scattered Catholic communities and founding parishes like Koratampet and Chethupattu. In the 19th century, the area came under the Vicariates of Pondicherry and Madras, with missionaries like Fr. Francis Darras playing a decisive role in evangelisation and institution building. The Salesians of Don Bosco arrived in 1928 and further strengthened pastoral care, eventually contributing to the formation of the Diocese of Vellore in 1952. Supported by favourable rulers, cultural openness and the resilience of early converts, Christianity took deep root in North Arcot, growing through centuries of mission, service and enduring faith.