As the nation moved towards independence, the churches in India felt the need to form one united church to bear witness effectively in this land. When the Church of South India, which wanted to call itself on the basis of its location, was formed, it was able to bring both the Episcopal and the non-Episcopal churches together. It had united the Anglicans, the Methodists, the Presbyterians and the Congregationalists and was inaugurated on the 27th of September 1947. Thus, St. Thomas English Church at Santhome, being part of the Anglican community, was brought under CSI Diocese of Madras, but was allowed to continue its own tradition. Great men of God like Rev. Honest Chinniah, Rev. F.B. Christian, Rev. R.L. Manson, Rev. Peace B. David, Rev. Ebenezer Immanuel etc., have since served as Pastors in this Parish.
Also remarkable during this period was the yeoman service rendered by Mr. David Samuel (former Principal of Christ Church Anglo-Indian Higher Secondary School, Mount Road), one of the Lay Preachers at St. Thomas English Church for over four decades since 1945. Due to the shortage of clergy in those days, the Bishop Rt. Rev. Hollis gave him a license to preach throughout the Diocese. He conducted the Matins on every second Sunday in the month, and his sermons were known for their brevity, wit and richness of thought.
As an English congregation among the Tamils, St. Thomas English Church has been steadily growing ever since, not just in numbers, but also in its many outreach activities, thereby bringing glory to God.