Canon Dr Paul Gurubatham Thangaraj Samuel was born in Megnanapuram, Tirunelveli, India in 1923. His primary and lower secondary education was in St. Paul’s Institution, Seremban. His School Certificate was done at Baines School (next to St. George’s) Penang. He studied Hebrew from Rev Haines (the headmaster) and continued this study in Ipoh.
He excelled in theological studies. He obtained a diploma in theology from Bishop’s College in Calcutta in 1951 and secured his BD in 1953, his Licentiate from the College of Preceptors, London in 1958, and Ph.D from the University of Halifax, Canada, in 1960.
He was ordained as deacon at Calcutta Cathedral in the Diocese of Calcutta, St. Paul's Cathedral in 1948.
In mid-1948, the Bishop of Singapore and Malaya, Rt. Rev Henry Wolfe Baines needed a priest at St. Mary's Church. He wrote to Rev Samuel offering a curateship at St. Mary's, Kuala Lumpur. Rev Samuel accepted the curateship under Rev Bernard J. Gurney Fox, vicar of St. Mary's.
He was ordained priest in the Anglican Diocese of West Malaysia in 1951 and after serving his curacy at St. Mary's Church from 1949-1951, he was posted to St. Martin's, Kota Bharu as the vicar of the east coast parish of Kelantan and Terengganu in Peninsular Malaysia.
There he was tasked with forming a Parochial Church Council and Building Committee. Through hard work and the kindness of numerous individuals, a church building was erected within a short period. It was consecrated in 1953 as St. Martin's Church, the first Anglican church in the east coast, by Archdeacon Venerable Robin W. Woods of Singapore.
While in Kota Bharu, he studied for his Bachelor of Divinity and obtained his degree from Serampore University, Bishop's College, Calcutta in 1953. He was then tasked to build a Vicarage and a Hall (St. Martin's Kindergarten) which were both dedicated by Bishop Baines in 1955.
He took charge of the St. Martin's Kindergarten and taught together with other teachers, one of whom was his wife, Jemima Samuel, whom he married in 1952. The kindergarten was well attended by children of all races and religions, including the royalty. He was appointed to the Canonry in St. Andrew's Cathedral on June 25, 1963.
Rev Samuel also started a worship centre at Kuala Krai and elsewhere in Kelantan and Terengganu. Later, services were also held at the British Residency and the grammar school of Dato P. C. Isaacs.
From 1964-1966, Rev Samuel served in Butterworth where he built an extension for use as St. Mark's Private School. He also conducted services at St. Paul's Bukit Tengah, St. Thomas' Kulai and St. Mark's Prai.
From 1967 to 1978, Rev Samuel was based in Kuala Lumpur as vicar of St. Mary's Church and served at both the English and Tamil congregations. Initially, he was appointed as priest-in-charge of St. Mary's Tamil Parish but he also served as chairman of the Kepong Area Missionary District. He passed away in Kuala Lumpur. His wife, Jemima, served for many years as an organist at St. Mary’s Cathedral.
He and Jemima had three children—Mary, a medical doctor, Christina a lawyer and Martin, a social worker who are actively involved in the Anglican Church in Kuala Lumpur.