Following the historical 'koonan kurizu' pledge held in the year 1564, the Christian community split into two distinct groups known as 'puthen koor' and 'pazhaya koor'. In spite of this division, during the following 125 years or so,both the groups continued to worship in harmony in the same church building. Today however there are two separate churches here.The smaller church building built by the 'pazhaya koor' faction in 1775 has been replaced by a beautiful church modelled along Persian architectural style.
The Vadakara Jacobie Syrian church([1]), established by a group of believers from Vadakara in Malabar, is historically famous. There is a seventy year old High School, a Lower Primary School and a Teachers' Training School currently functioning under this church. There was a time when, as a famous centre of learning, the Vadakara High School used to attract students from far and near.The former President of India K. R. Narayan, International Law Board member A.T. Markose, former Revenue Minister K. T. Jacob, Minister T. M. Jacob, Joshy Paul of Naval Dockyard and a number of famous personalities are former students of this school.
Besides the Vadakara Church, there are about a dozen Christian churches in and around Koothattukulam. The Holy Family church at Koothattukulam, the St. Peter and Paul Jacobite church at Karamala, the St. John's Jacobite church at Palakkuzha are some of the more prominent among them.
