Discover the ancient heritage, living faith, and welcoming community of St. Mark Newcastle.
Our Heritage
In 52 AD, St. Thomas the Apostle — one of the twelve disciples of Jesus Christ — is believed to have sailed to the Malabar coast of Kerala, India, bringing the Christian Gospel to the subcontinent. The community he founded, known as the Nasrani or Syrian Christians, has maintained an unbroken apostolic succession for nearly two millennia.
The Mar Thoma Church emerged from a reformation movement in the 19th century, led by Bishop Abraham Malpan, whose reforms aligned the ancient church with Protestant biblical scholarship while retaining its rich Syriac liturgical heritage — including the Holy Qurbana, the ancient Syrian Christian Eucharistic liturgy.
Today the Mar Thoma Church serves as a unique bridge: maintaining the ancient Syriac liturgical forms while holding fully evangelical doctrine — a church both ancient and reformed, traditional and living.
With headquarters in Thiruvalla, Kerala, India, the Mar Thoma Church has approximately 1.6 million members across 1,246 parishes and congregations worldwide. It has been in full communion with the Anglican Church since 1974 and is a founding member of the World Council of Churches. The church is led by His Grace The Most Rev. Dr. Theodosius Mar Thoma Metropolitan (consecrated 14 November 2020). St. Mark Newcastle falls under the Diocese of Malaysia–Singapore–Australia–New Zealand, led by Rt. Rev. Dr. Gregorios Mar Stephanos Episcopa (took charge October 2022).
A Journey Through Time
52 AD
The Apostle Thomas brings the Christian faith to the Malabar coast of India, establishing the first Christian communities on the subcontinent.
1836
Bishop Abraham Malpan initiates reforms — removing non-scriptural elements from the liturgy and affirming justification by faith alone, while retaining ancient Syriac worship forms.
1889
The Mar Thoma Syrian Church of Malabar is formally established as an independent reformed church with its own episcopal succession.
2018
First Holy Communion service held on 4 November 2018 at Fletcher Community Hall, conducted by Rev. Nixon Daniel with 20 members attending.
2023
St. Mark NMTC was registered as a charity with the Australian Charities and Not-for-profits Commission, enabling tax-deductible donations to the church building fund.
2025
A historic milestone on 8 March 2025 — St. Mark Newcastle was formally elevated from a congregation to a church, with Rt. Rev. Dr. Gregorios Mar Stephanos as the chief Celebrant.
What We Stand For
Celebrating the Holy Qurbana and the sacraments in the Syrian Christian tradition, maintaining a liturgy that connects us to the earliest Christian communities.
Nurturing the Indian Christian diaspora with a welcoming fellowship — a home away from home for families in Newcastle and the Hunter Valley region.
Reaching out to the wider Newcastle community, embodying the love of Christ through acts of service, pastoral care, and ecumenical partnership.
Our Story in Newcastle
St. Mark Newcastle Mar Thoma Church held its first Holy Communion service on 4 November 2018 at the Fletcher Community Hall, Fletcher. The service was conducted by Rev. Nixon Daniel with 20 members in attendance — Mar Thoma families who had settled in Newcastle, drawn by opportunities in healthcare, academia, engineering, and the mining industry that define the Hunter Valley economy.
From those 20 founding members, the congregation grew steadily. Under the leadership of Rev. Eapen Mathew — who suggested the name "St. Mark" — the church was incorporated under the Associations Incorporation Act 2009 (NSW) and registered as a charity with the ACNC in March 2023, enabling tax-deductible donations to the church building fund.
In March 2024 the congregation moved its worship services to St. Thomas Anglican Church, Cardiff. A landmark milestone came on 8 March 2025, when St. Mark Newcastle was formally elevated from a congregation to a church, with Rt. Rev. Dr. Gregorios Mar Stephanos as chief Celebrant. Today the church serves approximately 100 members across 28 families.
Our current Vicar, Rev. Lijo Chacko, arrived on 1 May 2025. We are part of the Diocese of Malaysia–Singapore–Australia–New Zealand, under Rt. Rev. Dr. Gregorios Mar Stephanos Episcopa. We worship in both Malayalam and English, welcoming all who wish to join us.
Parish Leadership
Rev. Lijo Chacko
Vicar & President
Dr. Abe Mathew
Vice President
Mrs. Somol Mathew
Secretary
Dr. Sunil Thomas
Trustee Finance
Mr. Ginu T George
Accountant Trustee
Mr. Bivin Thomas Thankachan
Lay Minister
Mr. Jibu Mathew
Lay Minister
Mrs. Shiny Joy
Sevika Sangham Representative
Mrs. Preemol Jacob Puthenpurackal
Edavaka Mission Representative
Mr. Vinoj Abraham
Youth Representative
Dr. Vivin Mathew
Choir Representative
Mr. Vipul Mirajker
Sunday School Headmaster