Home Church
Rev.J.Joshua was born on the 7th of June 1837 in a small village near NAGERCOIL,  known as Ananthanadarkudi.  His mother Mrs.Mary Joseph was a good Christian, a woman of considerable abilities and great intelligence.  His father Mr.M. Joseph, a trained Catechist, was a Superintending Evangelist when Churches were in infancy and education had only first begun its civilizing influence. Rev.Joshua had his early education at a school started by Rev. Whitehouse at Ananthanadarkudi and was soon in a position to be admitted into the Seminary at NAGERCOIL as a boarder.
  This assignment lasted only for a short time and ceased when Mr. Russell returned to Australia.  Mr. Joshua’s next experience was under Mr. Baylis at Neyyoor where he was sent as a teacher when the boarding institution for girls at Santhapuram was amalgamated with the one at Neyyoor.  On the return of Mr. Lewis from the hills, the combined school was once more bifurcated and Mr. Joshua returned to Santhapuram.  It was then that, at the proposal of Mrs. Lewis, Mr. Joshua was married to Paripuranam on the 10th of December 1857, by the Rev.Mr.Lewis.  Paripuranam belonged to the Annaviar of Koilvilai family and was a great favourite with Mrs. Lewis.  A few days after this happy event, Mr. Joshua had the misfortune to lose his father.  But the Grace of God sustained Mr. Joshua and his brother Mr. Nathaniel (later Rev. Nathaniel) in this bitter affliction and helped them on to become in time useful ministers of the Gospel.

There was something very striking in the commencement and close of Rev. Joshua’s career as a Pastor.  His first sermon on assuming charge of the Home Church and his last sermon on the 1st July 1900, were on identical subject.  After delivering his last sermon and when the last hymn  was being sung, he felt a pain in the region of the heart, but he finished the service unheeding the pain.  Getting down from the pulpit, he laid himself on one of the church seats, perspiring profusely.  In a moment he was in a faint.  Regaining consciousness for a while, he said in a subdued but cheerful tone, “I am ready to go , may the Lord bless the Church”.  He was sinking rapidly and was removed home in an unconscious state.  Recovering consciousness again he was just able to say “O God bless the people who have been so kind to me, bless Thy Church and Thy servants.  Give me a place in Thy Kingdom. Despite the best medical aid, by 10 O’clock on the 1st July 1900, all that was once the pride and glory of the NAGERCOIL Home Church was no more.  gone to be for ever with the Lord.