The history of Maruthimood St. George Parish begins in 1938. At that time, it was under the Kollam Diocese. Although it started as a sub-station of the Punalur Mission under the Kollam Diocese, it later became a sub-station of the St. Anne's Mission in Pathanapuram when that mission was established. When the diocese was divided in 1985, it became part of the Punalur Diocese. On 07/05/2001, the diocesan bishop, Rt. Rev. Dr. Mathias Kappil, declared the Elamannoor Parish as an independent mission station.

In 1938, when Rev. Fr. Gratian Fernandes was the vicar of the Punalur Mission Station, a few faithful, led by Mr. Kollayikkodu Timotheos and Mr. Kuttiyil Mathai from Ilamannoor, approached him with the desire to establish a Catholic community in their area. Fr. Gratian advised them to prepare a temporary place where Holy Mass could be celebrated. Accordingly, a shed made of thatched grass was built on the property of Mr. Timotheos, where Holy Mass was offered on alternate Sundays. At that time, only a few families were part of the parish. Worship continued in this shed for about three years. Meanwhile, land was purchased for a church in a place called Pankoor, a few kilometers east of Ilamannoor. However, no church was built there because many new families had joined the parish from Maruthimoodu and Angadikkal, and hence it was decided to establish the church in Maruthimoodu itself. During the tenure of Rev. Fr. V. Francis as vicar, a new plot was purchased just west of Maruthimoodu Junction on the northern side of the K.P. Road. A temporary shed was built farther inside the land, where worship services continued. The construction of the new church was completed quickly, and on August 3, 1941, Rt. Rev. Aloysius Maria Benziger, the diocesan bishop at the time, blessed and consecrated the church. Later, during the tenure of Fr. Charles Augustine, in 1968–69, the land on which the church stood was acquired by the government for the Kallada Irrigation Project. Since the remaining church land was far inside and inconvenient for access, a more suitable plot was sought. Using the compensation received for the old church, land was purchased near the junction, where the present church stands. The construction of the current church began after Rev. Fr. Charles Fernandes O.P. took charge in 1974. Due to a scarcity of cement and other materials, the work took about three years to complete. During this period, Holy Mass was conducted in a small hall of the nearby S.I.P. Estate bungalow, and later in a small shed built near the under-construction church. The new church was completed in 1977, and on May 8 of that year — the feast month of the Blessed Virgin Mary — Most Rev. Dr. Jerome M. Fernandez, then Bishop of Kollam, blessed and consecrated the present St. George Catholic Church, Maruthimoodu. That day marked the beginning of a new era of growth and progress for the parish. At the time of consecration, the church was not in its current expanded form. It had only the main worship hall, narrow verandas outside, and a small private room behind the altar. Later, large wings were added on both sides to accommodate more people. These extensions were completed in two phases, in 1994 and 2000, during the time of Fr. Anty Padamadan. Until recent times, the parish consisted of 102 families. However, after 49 families became part of the sub-station parish at Angadikkal (Kottuman), the current number of families stands at 53. The regular Sunday Holy Mass is held at 10:00 AM. Two MSFS priests, Fr. Thomas Kappukattu and Fr. Paul Arinjaniyil, served here. During their tenure, Sr. Fatima took the initiative to conduct a lottery and raise funds. With the help of parishioners, the northern boundary wall of the church was built. In 1983, the current entrance gate near the church and the adjoining walls were constructed close to the cross. In 1986, a wayside cross chapel named after St. George was built at Panur Muruppil, Angadikkal, on land donated by Mr. Isaac. All these developments were guided by the MSFS priests.  All the priests who have served this parish throughout its history have fulfilled their duties with deep dedication. However, some deserve special mention for their pioneering efforts. Chief among them is Rev. Fr. Gratian Fernandes, who laid the foundation for this parish.

One of the most significant contributions made by Fr. Anty Padamadan during his service was the installation of a holy relic of a saint, brought from Rome. This momentous event took place on January 26, 1995, which is India's Republic Day. At that time, Fr. Francis Padamadan, the younger brother of Fr. Anty, was pursuing a Doctorate in Canon Law in Rome. Moved by the miracles occurring through the intercession of St. Jude and the possibility of acquiring a relic, Fr. Anty wrote to his brother about it. Fr. Francis promptly got in touch with the authorities in Rome and made the necessary arrangements for the relic to be sent to India. Thus, on January 26, 1995, the relic was brought and ceremoniously installed at Maruthimoodu Church in the presence of a large crowd of faithful. Such a gathering was unprecedented in the history of Ilamannoor. Even today, on the first Thursday of every month, devotees who come to the church have the opportunity to venerate the relic.

Through the offerings made with gratitude by those who have received blessings at this church, the vicar has been able to carry out many developments for the parish. Originally, there was no facility for vehicles to access the church compound. This issue was resolved by purchasing 10 cents of land slightly east of the junction. Not only did this solve the access problem, but the rooms in the building on that land are now being used as offices for various church organizations. Additionally, by exchanging a portion of the church’s rubber plantation, the parish acquired 25 cents of land just east of the church, which allowed for the construction of the parish hall and kitchen. Furthermore, around half a kilometer west of the junction, along the K.P. Road, 1.5 acres of land were purchased, filled, and leveled. This plot is now ready for the construction of any future establishments the parish may require.

A shining example of Fr. Anty Padamadan's foresight is the parish hall (Pallimeda) that he constructed. The foundation stone for this beautiful two-storey building was laid on May 15, 1998, and it was completed within a year. The building was blessed on May 1, 1999, by Rt. Rev. Mathias Kappil, the Bishop of the Diocese. Following its completion, for nearly two years, Sisters belonging to the Augustinian Congregation (an Italian congregation) resided there. After Maruthimoodu Church, which was previously a sub-station, was elevated to a full mission station, Fr. Anty Padamadan began residing there and continued his pastoral duties from May 9, 2001.

Religious Articles - Stall Items such as rosaries, crosses, rings, candles, holy pictures, books, and other devotional materials needed by the faithful are made available right here at the church—especially on Thursdays and other special days. In the beginning, a temporary stall was set up for this purpose. The materials had to be carried in and out each time, which made the process quite cumbersome. Recognizing the challenges involved, four rooms were constructed at the front side of the church, without obstructing the altar view. One of these rooms is now used as a permanent stall for distributing these items. This setup has made things more convenient for both the volunteers managing the stall and the devotees. Another room among these four is now being used as a storage room.

Parish Kitchen :- For many years, it has been a tradition to distribute offerings such as payasam (sweet pudding) and kanji (rice porridge) during feast days and other special occasions. These days, such offerings are prepared and distributed at least five times a month. Initially, cooking was done under tarpaulin shelters, exposed to rain and sun, which caused many difficulties. To address this, a well-built kitchen was constructed near the parish hall (Pallimeda). Since it is a secure, enclosed structure, all cooking-related items and supplies can now be safely stored and managed there.

Cemetery and Chapel :- The cemetery of the Maruthimoodu Church is located slightly inward to the north of the old church site. The area was originally a small hill filled with boulders, but it was leveled by removing the stones, and around 50 burial plots were constructed. Though it may sound humorous, it must be said—the cemetery today is so beautiful and serene that it feels like a place even the living would long to rest in.

St. Xavier’s Church, Angadikkal :- This is a sub-station of Maruthimoodu Church. Nearly half of the families of the Ilamannoor parish reside about 8 kilometers away in the Kodumon–Angadikkal area. Despite the difficult terrain of hills and slopes, the faithful would attend services at the main church without fail. Recognizing their hardship, the parish priest purchased land close to where they lived and built a beautiful new church. The church, built in the name of St. Francis Xavier, was consecrated on December 6, 1998, by the Bishop of the Diocese, Rt. Rev. Mathias Kappil, fulfilling a long-cherished dream of the local community. Today, there are 49 families in the Angadikkal parish, and Sunday Mass is held at 8:00 AM. Every year, during the first week of December, the feast of St. Francis Xavier is celebrated here with devotion.

Nercha Kanji :- Though offerings like porridge and payasam were distributed on special occasions earlier, a regular system for “Nercha Kanji” (offering porridge) officially began in January 2003. This practice is an expression of gratitude by those who received blessings through the church. It was decided to distribute porridge every Friday and on the second Saturday of each month. The response was overwhelming—bookings for the entire year were filled immediately, and new reservations had to be temporarily suspended. However, as many people continued to come forward with offerings, the practice resumed and now porridge is distributed every Friday and Saturday. This act of thanksgiving has become a source of blessing for many others. For example, a woman who was suffering from a severe speech disorder testified that after drinking the porridge with faith, the knots on her tongue vanished even before she reached home. There are many other such testimonies, too numerous to mention here. This humble practice of offering is truly a divine plan, where blessings received by one person are passed on to others. It brings joy to both the givers and the receivers alike.

Wider Impacts :- The growth of Maruthimoodu Church has led to numerous significant side effects that cannot be ignored. Earlier, travel between the village and Pathanapuram was difficult due to a lack of reliable bus services. Many had to cancel or postpone trips after waiting hours for a bus. Observing the large Thursday crowds to the church, several buses began offering special trips, which were later made permanent routes. Over the past 10 years, transport access has steadily improved. Today, Maruthimoodu is better known due to the presence of this church, and all buses on this route now display 'Maruthimoodu' on their signboards. Even the wax that melts from candles lit in the church and at the cross is being collected and reused. The "St. Jude Candles" made by the local Janadeepam DWCRA women’s unit use this wax. This small-scale industry, run by ten women, owes much of its growth and existence to the inspiration and support provided by the church.

Bethany Sisters and Community Support :- The Bethany Sisters began serving this parish after establishing a convent in Pathanapuram in 1975, coinciding with the construction of the current church. The first sister to serve here was Sr. Gracy Ignatius. In the early days, the parish did not have a full-time catechist, but later Mr. Barnabas was appointed as the first parish catechist. Over the years, many individuals have offered their talents and service, both within and outside the church. Although they are not all named here, their contributions are deeply appreciated.

A Sacred Testament to God's Grace :- Maruthimoodu Church and its associated institutions are a living testament to the selfless sacrifices of priests and religious, the dedicated labor of parishioners, and, above all, the grace and providence of God. The blessings experienced here transcend religious boundaries. Many non-Christians regularly participate in the liturgies and receive blessings. When the original church was lost due to canal construction, it caused much sorrow. But today, looking back, it’s clear that this was all part of God’s divine plan. The current church is the altar that God Himself prepared for a greater purpose. This is a place of refuge for the troubled and abandoned, where tears are wiped away by Christ, and burdens are lifted. The cries of the oppressed, the marginalized, and even the sinners find solace and healing here. Many have found not only meaning in their lives but also freedom from addictions like alcoholism, and healing from serious illnesses like cancer. The hundreds of letters received by the parish priest—testimonies of spiritual and physical healings—are clear proof of the miraculous interventions happening here. In short, every person who climbs the steps of this church in sorrow returns filled with peace and grace. In a time when divinity is questioned and places of worship are neglected, this church stands as undeniable evidence that God's power and presence are still at work. Let us continue with hope and prayer, striving forward for even greater and more wondrous things the Lord has prepared for this sacred place—where the weak are lifted up and the invisible hand of God transforms lives.