Nazareth, Tamil Nadu

Though it was founded in 1870 by Dr J.M. Strachan, the monumental growth was under the able stewardship of Canon A. Margoschis. As he had the knowledge of medicine, he could do marvellous medical service, helping thousands of sick flocking even from 20 to 30 miles away. This service was rendered freely to all irrespective of caste and creed. There was a dire need to provide more facilities to the swelling number of sick in the hospital with wards, compounding room etc., To meet the requirements, the main building of the hospital was built by him in 1892 and the hospital was Christened "St. Luke’s Hospital" by him on the day of St. Luke's (18 October) in 1892.

Canon Arthur Margoschis built a small hut hundred yards away from his bungalow for the orphans in 1877. As the number of orphans increased, he took efforts to put up a building for them and the same was built in 1878 in the place where the Art Industrial School is now. He was made aware of his responsibilities and obligations towards the less-privileged and was very anxious to introduce teaching for them on industrial courses. Hence he founded the Art Industrial School in the orphanage itself on 14-11-1878. Carpentry, Black-smithy and sewing courses were started and then weaving section was introduced. In 1884, the first sewing machine was bought and the art of tailoring was introduced. The lower Secondary Training was provided and in 1900, Upper Secondary Training was transferred from Tuticorin to Nazareth. He was the manager of the school until his death. In those days the Art Industrial School, the brain-child of Canon Margoschis, was praised as the only one of its kind in the district and the oldest in the Presidency of Madras.

Canon Arthur Margoschis was made superintendent of the school 1876 itself. He founded Teachers Training School in 1877. He also stressed the need for good education to women and started kindergarten school. In 1886, he made a historic achievement of upgrading the normal school to a high school. The school became a full-fledged high school in 1888 and the first set of women in the Presidency of Madras to pass the Matriculation Examination was from this school. The Standard of the school was very much appreciated by the Director of Public Instruction in 1890. This school is the first high school for women in south India.

Canon Arthur Margoschis founded a middle school for boys in 1882 in the name "Anglo – Vernacular School". In 1885; this school was awarded " The Best School" title in the Presidency of Madras, He made a successful venture of upgrading it as "high school" in 1889 in spite of the stiff opposition from the then Bishop Rt. Rev. Caldwell. This infuriated the Bishop, who closed down the high school section in 1892.

Canon Arthur Margoschis adopted Nazareth as his "Child", and with the help of the orphans and hired labourers, he laid the metal road from Nazareth to Valaiyadi and planted trees on both sides. Telegraphic office was opened on 25-12-1894, as a result of the initiative taken by him. He showed interest in town planning also and the 5th street was formed by him. As a result of his efforts, the original plan to lay the railway line from Tirunelveli to Tiruchendur via. Thenthiruperai was changed and it was decided to lay it via Nazareth. This work, was put into operation a few years after his death.

The people of Nazareth celebrated the 100th death centenary of Canon Arthur Margoschis at Nazareth from 23 April to 27 April 2008.

Image of Nazareth Bus stand

There is a bus stand named "Perunthalaivar Kamarajar Bus Stand" in the middle of this town. Frequent bus services are available to Tiruchendur, Tirunelveli, Thoothukkudi, Sathankulam and Udangudi from here. Also, buses to Uvari, Thisaiyanvilai, Madurai, Tiruchirappalli, Chennai, Coimbatore, Athur and Marthandam are available from here.[3]

There is a Railway station in this town. The Nazareth Railway Station ( Station Code : NZT ) lies in Tirunelveli - Tiruchendur Broad Gauge Line.The station has two platforms.[4]

• Domestic Airport

1. Tuticorin Airport (IATA: TCR, ICAO: VOTK) .

• International Airport

1. Madurai Airport (IATA: IXM, ICAO: VOMD) .
2. Thiruvananthapuram International Airport (IATA: TRV, ICAO: VOTV) .

Tamil Medium

• TNDTA Kaspa Primary School, Nazareth.
• St. Johns model School, Nazareth.
• TNDTA Dr Maduram Middle School, Nazareth.
• TNDTA Primary School, Thiruvalluvar Colony, Nazareth.
• St. Joseph R.C. Primary School, Kandasamypuram, Nazareth.
• TNDTA Primary School, Valaiyadi, Nazareth.
• TNDTA Primary School, Agappaikkulam, Nazareth.
• Hindu Primary School, Agappaikkulam, Nazareth.

English Medium

• Margoschis Matriculation School
• Seventh-day Adventist School
• Solomon Matriculation School
• Nightingale Nursery and Primary School

Margoschis Higher Secondary School

[5] The first evangelist Aerion started a Primary school in 1839 with the aim of imparting education to the local children. Soon another school was started for girls. In 1880 the Boys’ Primary School became a Higher Grade Middle School. When Canon Arthur Margoschis was the Missionary at Nazareth, the Higher Grade Middle School became an "Anglo-vernacular School". In 1885, this school was selected for the Award of the "Best School of the Madras Presidency" and in the very same year, it was upgraded into a High school. But in 1890, the high school classes were taken away from this high school and attached to the Caldwell High School, Thoothukudi. So the school at Nazareth was reverted into a Higher Grade Middle School. From 1890 to 1912, it served as a model school for the Higher Grade Teacher Trainees. In 1909, it became a recognized Middle school and in that capacity, it continued to function till 1932. The school attained the status of a high school again on 23 October 1932. New buildings were added to the school at various periods to meet the need for additional classrooms, laboratories etc. When the new educational pattern of 10 +2 was introduced, the school was upgraded into a Higher Secondary School in 1978.

St John's Girls Higher Secondary School

St. John's Girl's Hr. Sec. School is the first school in south India and a third one in India,[6] which was started for girls. It was started by Rev. Hough in 1820. It was upgraded into St. John's Girls High School in 1886; many English missionaries Rev. Camerar, Green, Swingler and Evans showed much interest in the development of the school and worked for it. St. Michael, St. Gabriel and Guardian Angel's hostels were built. The chapel was built by the efforts of Rev. G.T. Selwyn in 1939. It was upgraded into Hr. Sec. School in 1978. Homes run by KNII and world vision are also here.

Arts and Science College

• Nazareth Margoschis College is located at Pillaiyannmanai[7]

Polytechnic College

• Jayaraj Annapackiam CSI Polytechnic College[8]

Engineering College

• Jayaraj Annapackiam CSI Engineering College operates in Margoschis Nagar in Nazareth.[9]

Nursing college

• C.S.I St Luke's College of Nursing. It was started in 2011. This is located on the campus of Thirumaraiyur, Nazareth. Here they are offering B.Sc. Nursing 4 years Course

[10]

• St. Lukes Community College - present inside the Luke's Hospital Campus, Nazareth

Training schools

• The Art Industrial School (I.T.I) in Nazareth is a relatively well known for technical training school in that part of the district since 14.11.1878.[11]
• St. John's Teacher Training Institute (DT.Ed)[12]
• AIS. Advanced Training Centre (Technical Training 2 years Course)