Two centuries ago St John's Church was founded to serve a British military garrison in Meerut. Believed to be the oldest church in North India built by the East India company it is here its first-ever Hindi prayer service was conducted on the 11th of May, 2026, a significant shift from its longstanding English-only liturgical tradition. The timing was apparently, deliberate: the inaugural service was held on Sunday, a day after the anniversary of the 1857 uprising that began in this very city, and which forever changed the course of British rule in India leading to the removal of oppressive company rule and taking over the administration of the subcontinent by the British Crown. Until May 9, 2026, the Anglican church had conducted prayers only in English without any break
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| St John;sChurch,Meerut,UP tripadviser.in |
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| St John;sChurch,Meerut studiodharma.in |
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| St Martin-in-the-Fields .britainexpress.com |
Above image: St Martin-in-the-Fields, London. 18th-century Baroque church; Architect James Gibbs carefully blended English Baroque and Palladian design. His style served as a template for churches and civic buildings in many colonial colonies. This church served as a model for St.John's baptist church, Meerut................
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| Plaque St.John's church, Meerut |
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| St.Joh's First ever Prayer in Hindi indiatimes.com |
St. John’s Church of Meerut,UP: Established in 1819 by the East India Company, it has close link with the major uprising by Indian soldiers that began in May,1857. The Anglican church is built in classical Palladian - Gothic style common in those days with high ceilings (to reduce summer radiation from the roof), arched windows, for free air circulation inside and intricate wooden pews. The church still holds a special place in the hearts of locals...............
Completed in 1822 it was consecrated two years later by Bishop of Calcutta (Kolkata) Reginald Heber who travelled from Kolkata to Meerut over three arduous months, part of it on elephant back and part of it on horse back. Indeed, a tedious and difficult journey passing through different terrains,including jungles.
In the early part of this month, the that same building, with its high ceilings, marble baptistery and old grand pipe organ, witnessed a different kind of scenario. Reverend Rinvi Noel, the church’s presbyter in charge. “It opens the doors of this historic space to Hindi-speaking Christians while continuing our English services as usual.
https://navrangindia.blogspot.com/2023/06/st-johns-church-meerut-city-up-bells.html
https://www.meerutonline.in/guide/st-john-s-church-in-meerut
K. N. Jayaraman (Author: navrangindia.blogspot.com)
