In 1822, when Elijah Hoole, on behalf of the Methodist Mission, arrived on the scene, he concentrated chiefly on itinerating European work and relinquished charge of the Tamil congregation after two years.
The year 1824 is a landmark year in the history of the Church at San Thome as it marks the arrival of Robert Carver, an earnest and experienced Methodist Missionary from Ceylon who, after a meritorious service of nine years, had sustained a grievous bereavement. Carver succeeded in securing the goodwill of Sir Thomas Munro, the Governor of Fort St. George, and took charge both of the work of the old Vepery Mission and of that at Poonamallee, St. Thomas Mount and Pallavaram. His services were greatly valued by all non-Roman residents in the district, whether British, ‘Eurasians,’ or ‘native’, and he was much liked personally. He used in his ministrations the Book of Common Prayer of the Church of England.
In 1830, Bishop Turner of Calcutta visited San Thome and he felt that in view of the many European residents in San Thome – then a popular health resort, especially for sick officers and their families – there should be a proper Church and an episcopally ordained minister. To this end, he himself contributed a sum of money, and a site and the buildings on it, then known as ‘Bowyer’s Tannery’ was purchased, but nothing further was done. The ground lay waste until 1836 when Bishop Daniel Corrie of Madras wrote to the Home Society and obtained a grant of 200 pounds. By means of subscriptions chiefly raised by the exertions of the Bishop’s daughter, and some of her female friends, a catechist was engaged, whose business it was to seek out and collect together the Christians scattered around this place, and read the scriptures amongst them. However, the sudden death of Bishop Corrie in 1837, while presiding over a meeting of the S.P.G. in Madras, further delayed the construction of a Church.