Malayali Christian Community in Birmingham

Where they come from

Kerala has one of the oldest Christian communities in the world. The Saint Thomas Christians trace their faith to the Apostle Thomas, who tradition says arrived in Kerala in 52 AD. Malayali Christians belong to many churches, including the Syro-Malabar, Syro-Malankara, Orthodox, Marthoma and Latin Catholic traditions.

The community in numbers

At the 2021 Census, out of a city population of 1,144,919, 1,156 residents gave Malayalam as their main language. Main language figures leave out the many bilingual residents who use English day to day, so the number who speak the language at home is higher still. The census does not publish a Birmingham breakdown of Malayalam speakers by religion, and the community includes Christian, Hindu and Muslim families.

Working for Birmingham

Malayali Christian nurses, midwives, carers and doctors are a vital part of Birmingham's hospitals and care homes, and many families work in pharmacy, IT and engineering. Churches support new arrivals with housing advice, friendship and a sense of home.

Birmingham grew rich as the city of a thousand trades, and that spirit of making and doing is still strong. Today the trades sit alongside healthcare, education, finance, law, logistics and technology. The Malayali Christian community brings energy to that mix, from people starting small businesses to those caring for patients, teaching in classrooms and keeping homes and workplaces in good repair.

Culture and community life

Christmas, Easter and the feasts of patron saints are celebrated with services in Malayalam, and Onam, Kerala's harvest festival, is enjoyed by the whole community. Church choirs, youth groups and Malayalam classes keep the culture alive, and appam and stew are served at family gatherings.

The story of the Malayali Christian community in Birmingham is still being written, by students, workers, parents and pensioners who call the city home. It is a story of hard work, friendship and quiet pride, and Birmingham is richer for it.