Off: Diocesan Office, Cathedral Road , Nandyal (RS)-518 502, A.P., S.India. Ph: 08514-222477 Res: Bishop's House, Bommalasatram, Nandyal (RS)-518 502, A.P., S.India. Ph: 08514-242255 Moble: +91-9849923225; E-mail: <lawrencejoba@yahoo.com> Profile of the Diocese OF NANDYAL Our boast is the name of the Lord our God. Ps:20 7 A BRIEF HISTORY OF NANDYAL: The etymological meaning for the Sanskrit word ‘Nandi' means a Bull, and ‘Alaya(m)' means Temple . Traditionally it is a belief that ‘Nava Nandis' ruled this area under Sir Krishna Devaraya dynasty who constructed 9 bull temples and the name Nandyal is derived from these Nandi Alaya [Nandyal(a)]. Hindu religion in this area is very predominant. Nandyal is major center for education, agriculture, wildlife, pilgrimage and has some of the most fertile land in Rayalaseema , as it is surrounded by water on four sides. The Diocese of Nandyal lies in the Deccan Plateau in Andhra Pradesh, a state created in 1956 with Hyderabad as its capital and formerly it was in Madras State . The people are Telugu speaking Dravidians, prevalence of Hinduism exist. Anglicans specially the S P G Missionaries preached the Gospel among ‘Malas' a scheduled caste whose traditional occupation was weaving. The Diocese geographically lies mostly in Kurnool District, also extended in Cuddapah, Prakasham, Mahaboobnagar and Anantapur Districts. Nandyal lies in the western part of Andhra Pradesh. This region is bounded by thick Nallamala forests. Due to meager rainfall the drought conditions frequently occur and may be followed by famines. Because of the configuration of the land, its climate and its remoteness, the area is economically poor. Nandyal Constituency gave the nation a President Sri. Neelam Sanjeeva Reddy and a Prime Minister Sir. P V Narasimha Rao, yet the conditions are still very poor. Ecclesiastically, Diocese of Nandyal gave a Moderator, The Most Rev B Ryder Devapriyam to Church of South India .   BRIEF HISTORY OF DIOCESE OF NANDYAL: The desert will bloom.. The good news of Jesus was brought to India in 52 A.D. by the Disciple of Jesus, St. Thomas and the Church was born. In 1701 a Society, the SPG (Society for the Propagation of Gospel) was formed in England and their Missionaries brought the Good News. Early in the 19 th Century William Howell did Evangelical work in Cuddapah and Kurnool districts. L.M.S. took over the mission work in Nandyal area in 1822. The Anglican Diocese of Madras accepted the Nandyal area in 1842. Gospel spread to Rudravaram (1852), Muthyalapad, Badvel, Kalasapadu, Jammalamadugu and Nandyal. The Holy Cross Church at Nandyal was built and dedicated on 8 th February 1905 by Inman. The first Indian Bishop the Rt. Rev. V.S. Azariah was consecrated in 1912. Bishop Whitehead of Madras Diocese (CIBC) transferred Nandyal Anglican area to Bishop of Dornakal, Rt. Rev. V. S. Azaraiah in 1922. The Indian Church Act of Parliament in England gave the Church in India Independence in 1927, i.e. Indian Church was no longer under the Church of England. India became an Independent country on 15th August 1947 . In response to the Lord Jesus' prayer, “That they all may be one”, all churches formed as Church of South India on 27 th September 1947. Nandyal SPG area was taken over by C.I.P.B.C. with Rev .E. Sambayya as Metropolitan Commissary. The Rev. W. A. Partridge was Metropolitan Commissary for some time. Later he was consecrated as Bishop of Nandyal, but Nandyal was not given the status of a diocese. Nandyal SPG area was in the Diocese of Calcutta of C.I.P.B.C, from 1947 to 1963. Nandyal Anglican area was formed as a Diocese on 29th April 1963 during the Episcopacy of the Rt. Rev. C. W. Venkatramaiah in C.I.P.B.C. Holy Cross Church became Holy Cross Cathedral. In 1970 Churches in the North India were united to form Church of North India (C.N.I). Nandyal Diocese joined in C.N.I.when the Rt. Rev. Ernest John was the Bishop in Nandyal on 29th November 1970 . Finally during the time of C.N.I. Moderator's Commissary, the Rt. Rev. R. S. Bhandare, Nandyal Diocese joined in the Church of South India on 6th July 1975 . The Rt. Rev. P. John was the first C.S.I. Nandyal Diocesan Bishop in 1977. In 1988 under the Bishoprics of the Rt Rev. Dr B. R .Devapriyam of Nandyal Diocese and the Rt. Rev. L. V. Azaraiah of Rayalaseema Diocese with the guidelines of Boundary Commission of C.S.I., Synod, the Diocese was Bifurcated and reorganized. In Nov. 1999 the Marthoma Church, C.S.I. & C.N.I. United and formed as Council of Churches in India (C.C.I.), and presently known as Communion of Churches in India . The Church is still on the move Names of the Bishops worked in the Diocese. Rt. Rev. C. W. Venkataramaiah 1963 - 1967 Rt. Rev. Ernest John 1967 - 1974 Rt. Rev. R. S. Bandare 1974 - 1975 (Commissary) Rt. Rev. P. Salomon 1975 - 1976 (Commissary) Rt. Rev. Henry Lazarus 1976 - 1977 (Commissary) Rt. Rev. P. John 09:10:1977 - 24:08:1985 Most Rev. Dr. B. R. Devapriam 25:08:1985 - 04:09:1992 Rt. Rev. Jason Dharma Raj 05:09:1992 (Acting Moderator) Most Rev. V. P. Dandin 1993 (Moderator) Rt. Rev. S. J. Theodore 1994 - 27:12:1994(Commissary) Rt. Rev. G. T. Abraham 28:12:1994 to 25-9-2005 Rt.Rev.Dr.P.J.Lawrence 29-5-2006 to
	Diocese of Nandyal Emblem:-	The Diocese of Nandyal hails from the Episcopal background and the roots are from the S P G Mission. The emblem depicts the episcopacy, due to the Anglican legacy paved way in early 19 th Century which gave its impression on the emblem. The Diocese of Nandyal is rooted in the Cross which is the centre of the emblem. The Staff reflects the authority of the Chief Shepherd Jesus and believes in the Gospel of St John 10:11 as “I am the good shepherd”. The Bible at the centre represent that the theology is based on the Word of God. On top the Mitre and waved lines, the cope, replicates the vestments of the Episcopal authority. The Bread and the Cup (Chalice) on both wings of the cross provides the importance of the Holy Eucharist which is the source of inspiration and importance of the worship.
	Reach Nandyal: Railways: Nandyal is a major railway station (Code: NDL) on the Vijayawada - Guntakal railway line and is administered by the Guntur division of South Central Railway . Currently 3 pairs of Express trains and quite a few passenger trains pass through the station. It is thus well connected to Howrah , Vishakhapatnam , Bengaluru , Bhubaneswar , Hubbali and Hyderabad via the railway. New Lines to Yerraguntla and Jadcherla are in survey. Roadways: Nandyal is connected by road from almost all the parts of the state. There are frequent buses from Nandyal to Tirupati , Hyderabad , Kurnool , Vijayawada , Chittor , Anantapur and Kadapa . Also there are buses plying to parts of Karnataka and Tamil Nadu such as Bellary and Chennai . Airways: The nearest airport is the Rajiv Gandhi International Airport in Hyderabad (Shamshabad) and is a 4-5 hour drive. Local Transport: Within the city, auto rickshaws are a common means of transportation .

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