Andhra Christian College, located in Guntur, India, traces its earliest roots to the Anglo- Vernacular School started by the Rev. C.F. (John Christian Frederick) Heyer in 1842. In 1857 it received recognition from the government. Due to financial difficulties, it was closed in 1863 and was not re-opened until 1874. In 1885 it became affiliated with the University of Madras as a Second Grade College. In 1926 it was upgraded to a First Grade College and affiliated with the newly established Andhra University.
In its earliest days the college was named American Evangelical Lutheran Mission College (General Synod). Later it became the United Lutheran Church Mission College (ULCA), with administration falling to the ULCA Council of the India Mission. In 1928, with the added cooperation of the Church Missionary Society and the American Baptist Mission, it became known as the Andhra Christian College, although the ULCA still maintained much of the property and provided most of the funding. Ultimately the direction of the college was undertaken by the Andhra Evangelical Lutheran Church, with the property held by the Council of the India Mission. Sometime in the early 1960s the property was transferred to the church as well.
Luthergiri Theological Seminary began as a Bible Training School of the General Council in Rajahmundry in 1885, moving to Luthergiri in 1908. Similarly, the General Synod opened a Bible Training School in Guntur in 1883. The two schools merged in 1921 at Luthergiri under the ULCA. In 1939 the Theological Department of Andhra Christian College was transferred to Luthergiri, changing its name from Luthergiri Theological College to Luthergiri Theological Seminary (although the terms college and seminary seem to have been used interchangeably), and adding the Bachelor of Divinity degree. In addition to the ULCA and Andhra Evangelical Lutheran Church, the seminary was also supported by the American Lutheran Church and the Andhra Lutheran Church South. In 1964 Luthergiri became a part of the newly established Andhra Christian Theological College (see LCA 28/6/3/2/2).
From the description of Program Files 1922-1974; 1940-1962. (Evangelical Lutheran Church in America Library). WorldCat record id: 48018799
