Since those early days a domiciled part of the congregation had slowly but steadily declined in numbers, partly at least through inter-marriage with the predominant Roman population, but herein still a small but keen group of Christians, Europeans, Anglo-Indians and English-speaking Indians, who were devoted to their little old Church. For them, the year 1941-42 has been a difficult one financially owing to the evacuation, since December 1941, of a considerable part of the congregation, but nevertheless, the Diocesan quota was paid in full by the end of the year, although not without difficulty. The situation, however, has worsened by the departure, from the City, of the School for the deaf with its pupils, Staff and families our- great stand-by and also by the removal of the Offices located at San Thome. In view of such wholesale evacuation, it has been thought advisable to defer the proper celebration of the Centenary of the Church’s consecration to a more favourable date in the coming year.

In the meantime, let us carry on in the spirit of certain words used by predecessor of mine, the Rev. D. Wilson Kidd, in the year 1872. Finally, my brethren, as we have been bought with so precious a price, let us do all we can in token of our appreciation thereof; let us offer ourselves, all we are, all we have, all we do, as a reasonable, holy, and acceptable sacrifice to God, through His well-beloved Son.’