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Christians
 Christianity
is said to have found its way, to Kerala by the visit of St.Thomas in
the first century AD. The first place where Christians landed was Muzuris
which was the most flourishing centre of trade and commerce during that
time. Christian missionary activities in the Malabar coast started from
the early days of the first century AD and the relation of the present
Christians to the soil is as deep rooted as that of any other community.
The Syrian Christian church is the oldest church in the whole of
India. There are several denominations of Christians based on doctrinal
disputes. All the different sects like Jacobite Syrians, Orthodox Syrians,
Marthoma Syrians, Latin Catholic, Syrian Catholics differ on many minor
points of their faith and practice, but hold their allegiance to Jesus
Christ with utmost enthusiasm and devotion.
Muslims
Mohammedans form a flourishing community. They came to the ports
of Kerala from Arabia and gained influence mainly in Calicut in the beginning.
They grew strong in population and mingled with other communities not only in
matters of trade but also in the local customs and usages. They now wield very
high political power in spite of their position as a minority and this status quo
is maintained in at least a dozen political constituencies enjoying the privileges
of a minority. The community is making rapid social and cultural progress.
Jews
 The contact of the Jews with Kerala coast has a long history
beginning as early as the time of Moses, the great Jewish-law giver. Their
maritime and commercial contacts steadily continued and developed. Jewish
settlements came up in many coastal centres, one in Baypur. They paid tribute to
the local rajas, who conferred on them certain privileges and ranks. Their
earliest settlement was at Cranganore. Later they came to Cochin where they
built the famous Jew town and the Synagogue in 1567. Though they form only a
negligible minority their contact with the land is long and marked.
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