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.  His progress in the Seminary was steady and rapid.  His teachers were pleased with his excellent behaviour and exemplary character.  On the satisfactory completion of the usual course of eight years, he was given the responsible position of writer to the Rev. Mr.Lewis at Santhapuram.  It was while under this earnest Missionary that he made a special progress in that simple and charming style of language which in later years kept any audience spell-bound.

            When Mr.Lewis fell ill and went to the Nilgiris for a change, Rev.Mr. Russell employed Mr. Joshua as a teacher in the Anglo-Vernacular School at James Town.  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.

            Two years later, when Mr. Lewis returned to England, Mr. Joshua was sent as a Catechist to the place of his birth where, for a short period, he served also as Munshi to Rev.Mr. Wilkinson.  In 1861 a Theological class was opened for the first time at NAGERCOIL and Mr. Joshua was appointed  First Assistant in place of Mr. A.Vethacan who resigned and left for Ceylon.  In 1866 he was appointed Headmaster when Rev.C.Yesudian was posted as Missionary in charge of Thittuvilai District.  As in other spheres of labour, Mr. Joshua’s valuable services here also were soon appreciated and in February 1867 he was ordained in the NAGERCOIL Home Church.

            Nine years later, on the 16th September 1876, his dearly beloved wife died leaving behind her, two sons and four daughters, the care of bringing them up falling on his shoulders.  He bore the burden, however, cheerily on and had the great pleasure to see them all settled in life during his own life time.

           On the death of Rev. N.Devadason in 1878 Mr. Joshua was selected unanimously by the Deacons of the Home Church to be his successor as Pastor of the flourishing NAGERCOIL Home Church.  For 22 years he laboured in this position with unwearied zeal and enthusiasm, strengthening and developing the varied activities of the Church. Mault Society, Dorcas Society, a special Sunday School among Oilmongers, Young Peoples’ Endeavour Society etc., were some of the Church Organisations in which Rev. Joshua had shown great interest and zeal.  He was the First President of the NAGERCOIL young Men’s Christian Association and of the NAGERCOIL Branch of the Young People’s Christian Endeavour Society.  He represented South Travancore in the Missionary Conference at Bangalore and Madras and the Christian Endeavour Convention at Ranipetta.  He was also the editor of ‘The Temperance Magazine’ and ‘The Watchman’.

            In the responsibilities of the Church Rev. Joshua was greatly helped by the Deacons, the chosen representatives of the people and men of sound practical common-sense and earnestness.  Special mention may be made of two of them, M/s P.D.Devasahayam and P.P.Joseph whose munificent contributions left always a surplus in Church funds.  It was chiefly through their aid that the NAGERCOIL Church, reputed to be the largest of its kind in South India was roofed with galvanised iron sheets.  With the funds so liberally contributed an extensive portion of land known as ‘Ammachivilai’ was bought for the Church, a prison-house at Vadaserry was purchased and converted into a Reading Room and a large building with a fine tower was erected to serve as a town hall and a school for girls.  The Church choir had its origin during Rev. Joshua’s days.

            As a preacher, Rev. Joshua was an enthusiastic student of Moody and Spurgeon.  Popularly he was known as “The Tamil Spurgeon”.  With one accord the whole of Travancore had given him the first place as a sweet eloquent preacher.  His home life was in every way a continuation of his public life.  With him there was no discord between preaching and practice.  The poor had in him a sympathetic friend.  Little children too were immensely fond of him  The members of the congregation, be they rich or poor, men or women, boys or girls, always regarded him with sincere affection and held him in great reverence and high esteem.  ‘Everything to God in Prayer’ was his motto in life.

            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.  I commit myself into Thy hands”.  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.