Indian Christians find comfort and joy in church communities across Britain

Anup Cherian and his wife Suriya Varghese with children (from left) Arush, Anika and Abner. Photograph: Joel Goodman/The Observer

Father Happy Jacob has a reason to be cheerful. When he started St Thomas’s Indian Orthodox Church in Liverpool in 2002, his congregation numbered about 60 families, and stayed at that level for almost two decades.

Then, a few years ago, things began to change. “We have seen a massive increase in families coming to the church,” says Jacob, 48. At his last count, there were 110 families, with worshippers including NHS workers, international students and about 100 school-age children.