ALAPPUZHA: There is a new hustle and bustle around the Norton Bungalow, the official residence of the Church of South India’s(CSI) first missionary -- Thomas Norton.
The CSI managed to wrench its cherished landmark free from a decade-long legal wrangle at the beginning of its bicentenary year. Since then, its vision has been taking shape by the day.
Representatives of the Netherlands Embassy visited the bungalow at the invitation of Finance Minister Thomas Isaac last month. Along with the church authorities, the state government is doing all it can to make the 200-year-old structure a heritage monument.
Thomas Isaac says, “The government plans to protect the heritage buildings of Alappuzha and has given priority to the Norton Bungalow.”
The Regent of the erstwhile state of Travancore Rani Gowri Parvati Bai donated it to the CMS in the first quarter of the 19th Century.
The CSI authorities have been planning to undertake renovation and maintenance work on the two-storied mansion but were unable to do so as the NCC that had taken the building on lease refused to vacate it. In November 2016, the High Court of Kerala judged in favour of the CSI.
Fr Sumod Cheriyan, a CSI vicar, says, “The Norton Bungalow was allotted to NCC 40 years ago on lease and they were using it as their district office. About 10 years ago, when the church demanded the NCC vacate the premises, they did not agree to do so. This led to a long legal battle.” The NCC left the building last December.
“The Church has been planning to preserve the building as a monument. The Netherlands government has extended its support for the preservation of the bungalow,” the vicar says.