Founding Fathers

Bishop M.M. John

Bishop M.M. John was the seventh Bishop of the Madhya Kerala Diocese who shepherded the diocese for 16 long years from 1958 to 1974. He was born on the 14th of November 1908 at Olesha near Kottayam. Bishop M.M. John was the founder Manager of the Bishop Moore College. He held the post till his retirement from the diocese in 1974. It was he who decided to name the infant institution Bishop Moore College in order to perpetuate the memory of the saintly Bishop, the Rt. Rev. E.A.L. Moore, the fourth Anglican Bishop of the diocese.

Bishop M.M. John showed great care and love for the backward and downtrodden people of the diocese. He was the first Bishop to appoint dalit clergy in Syrian parishes. He pioneered to start a number of hostels for the poor boys with the help of the KNH and World Vision. Besides the Bishop Moore College, he was also the architect of the Peet Memorial Training College, CMS Industrial School, Tholassery Weaving School, and also a number of hospitals.

He was devout servant of Jesus Christ, a strong preacher, sound scholar, tender-hearted pastor, and a wise Episcopal administrator. He was a man of compassion, generous, thoughtful, and ready to show appreciation and possessed a delightful sense of humour, with a good stock of anecdotes.

Rev. Prof. K.C. Mathew

In 1964, the Rt Rev. Dr MM John, Bishop of the Madhya Kerala Diocese of the Church of South India graciously appointed the Rev KC Mathew, MSc, MRE as the Principal of Bishop Moore College, Mavelikara, started that year. This institution of higher learning was named after the fourth Anglican Bishop of the CSI, in Central Travancore, the Rt Rev Edward Alfred Livingstone Moore, who made a mark as one who was ‘selfless in the extreme’. Prof KC Mathew led the institution for 25 years as its Principal.                

This Principal, with great visionary zeal, was bent on fulfilling the mission of building up a centre of excellence in this part of the world. Out of nothing, he could create such an institution braving many odds, including financial difficulties. With firm determination, relying entirely on the blessings of the Lord, he worked hard in co-operation with the young and energetic teaching and non- teaching staff, students and the general public.  Rev Mathew’s invaluable contribution, both academic and spiritual, had definite positive effect on the upliftment of the society as a whole.                

He left no area untouched. As the Principal of Bishop Moore College, a member of the Syndicate of the University of Kerala and as the Manager of the Union Christian College, Aluva, he could work wonders in the educational field for 25 long years. As the Manager of the Mandiram Complex in Kottayam and as  an active member of many organisations concentrating on humanitarian services, especially in the case of the downtrodden, Rev Mathew could scale great heights for 25 years even  after his retirement.