December 22, 2021
2 mins read

Christman Returns To Kashmir

Once again on Christmas eve bells will start tolling from this St Luke’s church beckoning worshippers for prayers. Re-opening of the church would be a good omen to usher in peace and prosperity for Kashmir in 2022….reports Asian Lite News

No better time for a closed church to re-open for mass than Christmas, no better place for a church to be situated other than a height overlooking the Dal Lake in Srinagar city.

St Luke’s church was built by Neve brothers, Dr Earnest Neve and Dr Arthur Neve in 1896 in the Dalgate area of Srinagar city close to the chest diseases hospital in the locality.

These two Britishers were the pioneers of modern allopathic medicine in Kashmir. It was because of the huge goodwill the two had in Srinagar that locals are known to have lent a helping hand in building the church. Typical of the buildings of colonial India, the church is a stone and brick masonry structure.

The church was dedicated by the bishop of Lahore on December 12, 1896. The foundation stone engraved by Dr Earnest and Dr Arthur Neve is inside the church wall.

It reads, “To The Glory of God. As A Witness To Kashmir dedicated by The Bishop of Lahore”.

Travel memoirs say there were great celebrations in missionary circles when Bishop Matthew of Lahore came to consecrate the three Anglican churches that had been built in Kashmir, two in Srinagar and a small one in Gulmarg for visitors.

The Kashmir Mission Hospital, which started in 1874, was the valley first modern medical facility opened by the Church Missionary Society of England. The Neve brothers were also the first doctors behind introducing vaccination against epidemics in Kashmir.

The church remained open till 1986-87 and every morning prayers would be held in the church. Till 1986 a British priest was also available for the visiting worshippers at the church.

The church was closed in the beginning of 1990s when armed violence began in Kashmir.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=0H_ERhu1cEo

In 2016, the local Christian community and priests approached the J&K administration seeking renovation of the church so that it could be re-opened while maintaining its old design.

The church renovation was brought under the Smart City mission and funds were made available to the tourism department which subsequently started the renovation last year in coordination with the members of the Christian community.

Once again on Christmas eve bells will start tolling from this church beckoning worshippers for prayers. Re-opening of the church would be a good omen to usher in peace and prosperity for Kashmir in 2022.

The other two churches in Srinagar city, the holy Catholic family church on the Maulana Azad Road and the one in the high security church lane, however, remained functional despite militancy.

There are two more famous churches in Kashmir, one in the ski resort of Gulmarg and the other in Baramulla town close to St Joseph Christian missionary school in the town.

ALSO READ: Health centres disowned without treating a single patient in Kashmir

Previous Story

Freight Train to Link Iran, Turkey & Pakistan

Next Story

Nivin’s ‘Thuramukham’ to hit screens on Jan 20

Latest from -Top News

Trump tariffs send world markets into panic

US benchmark crude oil shed $2.70 to $64.25 a barrel after major oil producers announced they plan to increase production. Brent crude, the international standard, was down $2.63 at $67.51 a barrel

EU prepares retaliation for Trump’s tariffs

The European Commission is assembling a fresh round of counter-tariffs aimed at US goods, adding to two existing lists of potential targets—one of which includes products that were hit by suspended tariffs

US, EU slam China’s war games near Taiwan

US President Donald Trump underscored the need to maintain peace in the Taiwan Strait, advocating for a diplomatic approach to cross-strait tensions while warning against the use of force The United States

£13.9 billion of R&D fund to boost innovation, jobs

Funding outlined to support transformational R&D in areas like life sciences, green energy, engineering and beyond More UK innovators like those developing treatment-transforming dementia tests or building world-leading testing facilities to power

OPEC+ accelerates oil output hikes

Despite the production boost, the group emphasised that future adjustments remain flexible and could be paused or reversed depending on market conditions. Eight OPEC+ nations have unexpectedly decided to accelerate their oil
Go toTop

Don't Miss

Trudeau Fails to Torpedo India-U.S. Ties and The Quad

Trudeau was an unwitting dupe of those seeking to use

Indo-China ties: Past shadows the present?

She brings a practitioner’s keen eye to the labyrinth of