Srampickal Ittan Mappilai
Srampickal Ittan Mappilai (died 30 November 1702) a key person in the history of Palai and St. Thomas Cathedral, Pala was born in Srampickal family of Pala, a branch of ancient Palackal family of Pallipuram. He was a prominent leader and landlord of Palai in the 17th century and  a chief trader and agriculturist of the land who had trade relationship with Tamilnadu and when a mukalappada (Muslim army) from Tamil Nadu set fire to the church during the last decade of the 17th century. Since the land where the church was situated which was owned by  Sri Ittan Mappilai, he built the church with his own money and ran out of money when the church was completed, which also left him in debt. Later his brothers of Thayyil family completed the inside works of the Church According to his last wish he died lying on the veranda of the church on 30 November 1702, and was buried in the church cemetery. In 1953 Srampickal Mukkalil Thoman, one of his descedents handed over the legal right of the church land to Palai Diocese.