Astamudy church is under the care of the Vicar of Aipuzha. It was in 1945 that efforts to set up a separate church for the faithful of Ashtamudi-Manalikara area were initiated. It was elevated to the status of a parish in 1956. From 1962 onwards Sunday mass got regularized. Bishop Jerome, a strong advocate of Indianisation took the bold step of christening the church by coining a new title for Blessed Virgin Mary � Ashtajala Rani � Queen of Ashtamudy Lake. The image of B.V.Mary in Indian attire set on Ashtamudy waters was installed in a shrine near the lake. A church was built in 1967 by Rev. Fr. Francis David. Bishop Joseph G. Fernandez blessed the present church in 2001. (For contact, ref. Aipuzha )