Christian Mission Hospital is a old infirmary entrenched to provide the health service to the people in and around Madurai.  

In the year 1833, Lord Hastings was the Governor General of India, the American Board of Commissioners for Foreign Missions(ABCFM) began to send some American Missionaries to south India. It founded their first missionary station at Madurai in 1834 and named as “The American Madurai Mission(AMM)”. The missionaries faced many challenges.

At that time the Sanitary condition of Madurai District, the prevalence of many diseases, the attitude of the people and their method of treatment prompted the American Missionaries to begin immediate measures of Medical work. The AMM had no physician of its own since its inception in 1834. The first American Mission Physician arrived at Madurai in 1837 was Dr. John Steele. He was instructed to take care of their missionaries and those connected with AMM. But the doctors found it very difficult to confine their services to their missionaries as they were moved with compassion towards the sick local people who were suffering from many disease without any medical assistance.

Dr. Steele had a tough time when Cholera spread rapidly and there was high death rate. He rushed to such people who were attacked by Cholera and rendered treatment. Besides he attended to the sick people outside Madurai in their dire needs. Dr. Steele was very kind, attentive and considerate to all his patients and served for a very short period for the American mission and died in 1842.

For five years the AMM has to depend on the English Doctors Dr. Colbrooke and Dr. Wilson. In the year 1847, Dr. John Scudder was appointed as physician and performed number of surgical’s which attracted many people from the surrounding villages of Madurai. His services were widely known and great number of patients were healed of their sickness.

Dr. Charles Smith Shelton was appointed by the Board to commence the medical work in Madurai by opening the first mission dispensary among non Christians in 1849. to all his patients assembled daily he first gave Spiritual instruction and the attended to their treatment. This practice of religious instruction and prayer before medication is continued till date. Dr. Shelton started the practice of maintaining a register for the Patients who come for Treatment. He trained some of the willing local people to help and assist him in his work and these trained men were called as “Dressers”. later these dressers assisted doctors very effectively in the treatment and later in the absence of doctors they began to administer medicines for several disease without doctor’s guidance.

Later many people came for the treatment under mission doctors. So in 1852 Dr. Shelton constructed a bigger, new and convenient Hospital for the better accommodation of the sick patients. One room functioned as Hospital was expanded into Three Large rooms of which One for Men, One for Women & one for Surgery. In 1855, Dr. Shelton left for USA. Till 1862 AMM was without no physician.

During this period Mr. Henry S. Cheesman, the native dresser trained under Dr. Shelton took care of the Medical work. He not only attended the patients in the hospital but also attended the sick disabled patients at their residence. Dr. Colebrook & Dr. Wilson, the Surgeons at Madurai Govt. Hospital, readily offered their services when in need of surgeon or physician.

In 1859, Rev Edward Chester came as a missionary to Madurai. Though a missionary, he prompted his study in medical field for the various disease peculiar to Madurai Region. He introduced many modern methods in his medical practice. The faster-cure with doctors methodology attracted many peoples to the mission hospital.

In 1867, Dr. Chester took care of Dindugal Hospital. So he had a weekly Schedule. He allotted two days for Dindugal Hospital and one day and two nights a week at the Mission Hospital and Dispensary at Madurai. Since Dr. Chester's concentration was at Dindugal, the Madurai Mission Hospital needed a Doctor.

In 1863, Dr. Nathan L. Lord was sent to Madurai as resident Medical officer at Madurai Mission Hospital. He served form 1863 to 1867, he had one dresser and one Asst. Dresser to help him. Due to his ill health, Dr. Lord left to America in 1867. once again Madurai Mission Hospital was left without a Doctor. Mr. Henry Cheesman took care and Dr. Chester became the visiting doctor form Dindugal.

In 1869, Dr. H.K Palmer took charge as Mission Physician. The Hospital register showed that he had not less than 900 patient per month. For the first time Dr. Palmer started collecting the cost of medicine from all patients. Dr. Palmer started received funds and Mr. H.W. Bliss, Collector of Madurai gave a sum of Rs. 1000 from famine relief fund. With these funds collected Dr. Palmer constructed a new building in 1870 having three rooms fronting on the street. There was provision for 20 beds and it was the first Inpatient block of Mission Hospital

The flow of donation and the increase in the number of patients every month was a proof of the public faith instilled on the Mission Hospital more than on the Govt. Hospital.

In 1874 five Branch Dispensaries were opened viz. Pasumalai under Rev. S. Mathuranayagam, Thirumangalam, Periyakulam and Batalagundu were under the trained students of Dr. Palmer and Thirupuvanam under Rev. Tracy. Dr. Chester in Dindugal was overall In-charge of Madurai Mission Hospital.

After a gap of 17 years, in 1888 Dr. Frank Van Allen took charge of Mission Hospital as Physician, the number of patients flow increased in arithmetical ratio. In 1890 patients treated were 13500 and in 1891 it was increased to 37000. as patients from hundreds of villages had come to Hospital, a new 10 bed strength ward was built in 1892 and in 1893 a separate modern hospital for woman and children was build.

In 1893 he planned to built a new hospital for men and was built in 3 stages. By the native Indian Contribution the new ALBERT VICTOR HOSPITAL was declared opened on 29.10.1897 by Sir Arthur Haveluk, Governor of Madras. At present the ground floor is rented out to Madurai district Co-Operative Pandian Super Market and first floor is occupied by office of Madurai Ramnad Diocese.

The founder of Christian Mission Hospital was Dr. Edward wheeler wilder. Due to the increase in demand for providing more space for inpatients, Dr. Wilder altered the second floor of the hospital as a spacious General ward for 40 additional beds.

In 1925, Dr. Cochrane, visited the hospital and started a clinic for the treatment of Leprosy. In 1928, electric lights were provided.

On 15th Dec’ 1937, a new Hospital was established and named as “The CHRISTIAN MISSION HOSPITAL” from Willis F. Pierce Memorial Hospital. Dr. Wilder served there for another decade and in 1946, he was appointed as the General Secretary of the Christian Medical Association of India.

Dr. E.S Chellappa, who joined as junior doctor under Dr. Wilder in 1938 was appointed as the first Indian Medical Superintendent of C.M Hospital. He served as a efficient surgeon in the Hospital for 3 decades (1938-1967). in 1962, he opened Edward Wilder Outpatient Department.

In 1967, after the resignation of Dr. Chellappa, Dr. S.C Pickens who was a surgeon at St. Martins Hospital Ramnad took care of CMH. In April 1968, Dr. J.J Barnes took charge as Medical Superintendent till 1974. after his retirement, Dr. Bettie Chennai Succeeded as the Medical superintendent, the first lady to head the one and half century old Hospital and retired on 1982.

Later Dr. Indira Raja working from 1962, elevated the post of Medical Superintendent. In 1982, she was a eminent doctor. She established various departments at the hospitals viz., Physiotherapy, Rehabilitation center etc., and retired on 28.5.1990     

In 1990, Dr. Rajeev Chelladurai, took charge as Medical Superintendent immediately after Dr. Indira Raja and bought many development.

On 10.2.1995, Dr. A.K Fenn, took charge as Medical Superintendent.

The CMH stands as a movement of the American Missionaries who came to Madurai to propagate the Gospel were able to establish a remarkable medical history. The Medical Mission will be a Continuing process of progress for the Christian Mission Hospital, Madurai