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Today Date : Saturday, February 08, 2025

German missionary Rev. Lechler's memorial inaugurated in Salem

German missionary Rev. Lechler's memorial inaugurated in Salem

The renovated tomb and a newly built memorial of Late Rev.J.M Lechler,  the German missionary and father of vocational education in India was inaugurated in Salem on Friday.
The opening ceremony was presided over by the Archbishop of Coimbatore, Rev.Timothy Ravinder, through a virtual mode.Rev. Lechler  built the London Mission Church in Shevaipet in Salem which is now a church under the Church of South India (CSI) and is named as Lechler Memorial Church. Rev. Lechler also founded an industrial training school in Salem in 1840. 

It was a  first of its kind industrial training centre to be established in whole of India. the German Missionary pioneered an alternate educational stream focused on job oriented skill training. Masonary, carpentry, iron work, brick and tile making were some of the trades introduced by Lechler.
Lechler died in Salem 160 years back and was buried in the compound of the church he founded. Rev. Ezhil Robert Kevin, Parish Priest, Lechler Memorial Church, Rev. Jawahar Wilson, Parish Priest, CSI Christ Church, Salem, Mr. Ravikumar, Secretary,  Mr. Vasantha Kumar,Treasurer, members of the faculty, members of the diocese, Mr.J.M Barnabas, General Secretary of the Women's United Association and Salem Historical Society, Rector and Headmasters of the school on the campus graced the occasion.