Bishop Kathiroli Manickam
First Woman Bishop of Tamil Nadu | First Vice President, Evangelical Church of India
Life and Education
Bishop Kathiroli Manickam was born in Chennai into a devout Christian family as the
daughter of Bishop Ezra Sargunam and the late Mrs. Mangalam Ezra. Raised with
strong biblical values, she developed a deep passion for Scripture and prayer from an
early age.
She pursued her education at:
- Bains School (Schooling)
- Stella Maris College – B.A. in English Literature
- Annamalai University – B.Ed.
- Madras University – M.A. in Christian Studies
- Hindustan Bible Institute – M.A. in Biblical Studies
- Received an Honorary Doctorate of Divinity (D.D.) from Hindustan Bible Institute in August 2023
Bishop Kathiroli is married to Mr. Manickam, a Christian businessman, and they are blessed with two daughters, Swati and Sruti.
Ministry and Leadership
Bishop Kathiroli Manickam began her career as an English Lecturer at Madras Theological Seminary and College (MTSC) in 2002, later serving as the Director of External Studies at MTSC.
In 2010, she was ordained by the Evangelical Church of India (ECI). In 2021, she was consecrated as the Bishop of ECI Chennai Diocese, becoming the first woman bishop in Tamil Nadu. She also serves as the First Vice President of ECI and has been the Chairperson of Lydia Women’s Fellowship since 2009.
Vision and Achievements
Under Bishop Kathiroli’s dynamic leadership, ECI Chennai Diocese has seen significant growth and impact:
- Women’s Empowerment & Welfare – Established various initiatives to uplift women in society.
- Founder of Annai Mangalam Tailoring Schools – Providing vocational training for women’s economic independence.
- Founder of Young Lydias – A movement to mentor and equip young women for ministry and leadership.
- Church Growth & Evangelism – Strengthened and expanded church planting ministries.
- ECI Chennai Diocese Vision 2025 – Strategized and implemented a roadmap for holistic church and community development.
- ECI’s Centenary Vision – Actively working toward the mission of planting one lakh churches across India.
A trailblazer in ministry, Bishop Kathiroli Manickam continues to inspire and lead with unwavering faith, empowering the next generation to serve God and society with passion and commitment.
