Bharatprspecialist: added basic bio more to come!

2026-02-06T07:49:45Z

added basic bio more to come!

New page

{{Infobox church
| name = St. John's Church, Gorakhpur
| image = St johns church building gorakhpur.jpg
| caption = St. John's Church, Gorakhpur
| location = Basharatpur, Gorakhpur, [[Uttar Pradesh]], India
| coordinates = {{coord|26.78535|N|83.38434|E|display=inline,title}}
| country = India
| denomination = [[Church of North India]]
| churchmanship = [[Protestantism|Protestant]]
| website = {{URL|https://stjohnschurchgkp.org}}
| founder = Rev. Michael Wilkinson (1797–1848), Church Missionary Society
| status = Church
| functional_status = Active
| capacity = 1000
| parish = Gorakhpur
| deanery = Gorakhpur Deanery
| diocese = [[Diocese of Lucknow (CNI)|Lucknow]]
| province = Church of North India
| bishop = Rt. Rev. Moris Edgar Dan
| vicar = Rev. Roshan Lal
| architecture_type = Church
| style = Originally Gothic; later altered through renovation
}}

'''St. John's Church, Gorakhpur''' is a [[Protestantism|Protestant]] church located in the Basharatpur region of [[Gorakhpur district]], [[Uttar Pradesh]], [[India]]. It is affiliated with the [[Church of North India]] and falls under the [[Diocese of Lucknow (CNI)|Diocese of Lucknow]]. The church has a seating capacity of approximately 1,000 people.<ref>{{Cite web |title=Christian community of Gorakhpur looking forward to Easter celebrations |url=https://m.economictimes.com/news/politics-and-nation/christian-community-of-gorakhpur-looking-forward-to-easter-celebrations/articleshow/57831182.cms |website=The Economic Times |date=25 March 2017 |access-date=31 May 2025}}</ref><ref>{{cite news |title=Easter celebrations in Gorakhpur: Processions and prayers unite Christian community |newspaper=Live Hindustan |date=25 March 2017 |url=https://www.livehindustan.com/uttar-pradesh/gorakhpur/story-easter-celebrations-in-gorakhpur-processions-and-prayers-unite-christian-community-201745191949285.html |access-date=2025-05-31 |language=hi}}</ref>

== History ==
Historical sources indicate that Christian mission activity began in Gorakhpur in the early 19th century. [[Robert Merttins Bird]], who served as the Collector of Gorakhpur under the British administration<ref>{{cite journal |last=Rizvi |first=Syed Najmul |title=Some Little Known or Unknown Freedom Fighters of the War of Independence, 1857–58 |journal=Proceedings of the Indian History Congress |volume=69 |year=2008 |pages=493–497 |jstor=44147212 |url=https://www.jstor.org/stable/44147212 |access-date=2025-06-05}}</ref> and is known for his role in the [[Mahalwari]] land revenue system, is recorded to have requested the [[Church Missionary Society]] to send a missionary to the region, after which Rev. Michael Wilkinson was appointed to the station.<ref>{{cite book |title=Church Missionary Tracts, Volume 19 |publisher=Seeleys |year=1852 |page=5 |url=https://books.google.com/books?id=-04_e84vMO4C |access-date=2025-05-31}}</ref><ref>{{Cite web |title=Colonial Systems of Land Revenue: Mahalwari, Ryotwari |url=https://indianculture.gov.in/digital-district-repository/district-repository/colonial-systems-land-revenue-mahalwari-ryotwari |website=Indian Culture |publisher=Ministry of Culture, Government of India |access-date=9 June 2025}}</ref> Wilkinson is recorded as having begun his work in Gorakhpur by 1824.<ref name="Wilkinson1859">{{cite book
| last = Wilkinson
| first = Michael
| title = Memorials of an Indian Missionary
| publisher = Wertheim, Macintosh & Hunt
| year = 1859
| url = https://books.google.com/books?id=AyJBAAAAcAAJ
| pages = 27, 157
| access-date = 2025-05-31
}}</ref><ref>{{cite book
| title = Further Recollections of an Indian Missionary
| last = Leupolt
| first = Carl Benjamin
| publisher = J. Nisbet
| year = 1884
| page = 313
| url = https://books.google.com/books?id=vcsHAAAAQAAJ
| access-date = 2025-06-01
}}</ref><ref>{{cite book
| last = Barney
| first = A. M.
| title = The Star in the East: An Account of the Church Missionary Society's Work in North India
| publisher = John F. Shaw and Co.
| year = 1860
| page = 106
| url = https://books.google.com/books?id=9ewCAAAAQAAJ
| access-date = 2025-06-01
}}</ref> In 1828, Bishop [[Daniel Corrie]] noted in his journal that a new church was being built in Gorakhpur according to plans by Bishop [[Reginald Heber]], although he did not specify its name. He also referenced the assistance of Mr. Wilkinson and Mr. Robert Merttins Bird, both known to have been active in the area at the time.<ref>{{cite book |last=Corrie |first=Daniel |title=Memoirs of the Right Rev. Daniel Corrie, LL.D., First Bishop of Madras |publisher=Seeley, Burnside, and Seeley |location=London |year=1847 |page=441 |url=https://www.gutenberg.org/ebooks/73309 |access-date=2025-06-05}}</ref>

The church observes the Feast of the [[Nativity of John the Baptist]], traditionally held on 24 June, as its foundation day.

Rev. Michael Wilkinson oversaw the construction of the church, initially named the "Church in the Wilderness," which was completed in 1832.<ref name="Wilkinson1859" /> The church was part of a mission settlement in Basharatpur, to establish an agricultural community.<ref name="Wilkinson1859" /> These converts cultivated land granted by [[Lord William Bentinck]] to support the mission.<ref name="Wilkinson1859" /> By 1846, the mission supported a congregation of 217 native Christians and schools educating over 300 children.<ref name="Wilkinson1859" />

The original structure, constructed in the Gothic style, experienced damage during the [[Indian Rebellion of 1857]]. On 13 August 1857, the mission, including the church, was evacuated due to rebel threats, and the 162 native Christians were placed under the protection of a Hindu king named Raja Krishna Kishore Chand of Gopalpur.<ref name="Wilkinson1859" /><ref name="Atkinson1881">Alexander, E. B.; Conybeare, H. C.; Wright, F. N. (1881). ''Statistical, Descriptive and Historical Account of the North-Western Provinces of India, Vol. VI: Cawnpore, Gorakhpur, Basti''. Edited by Edwin T. Atkinson. Allahabad: North-Western Provinces and Oudh Government Press. p. 456. [https://books.google.co.in/books?id=YUZDm98WSbsC Available at Google Books]</ref><ref>{{cite journal |last=Rizvi |first=Syed Najmul |title=Some Little Known or Unknown Freedom Fighters of the War of Independence, 1857–58 |journal=Proceedings of the Indian History Congress |year=2008 |volume=69 |pages=493–497 |jstor=44147212 |url=https://www.jstor.org/stable/44147212 |access-date=2025-06-05}}</ref> After the Rajah's deposition by Muslim rebels, the Christians fled Basharatpur on 20 October 1857, with 141 reaching Aligunje, near Chupra.<ref name="Wilkinson1859" /> The church and mission properties were damaged but restored after British forces reoccupied Gorakhpur, with the community returning under Rev. H. Stern.<ref name="Wilkinson1859" /><ref>{{cite book |title=The Church Missionary Intelligencer and Record, Vol. V (New Series) |year=1880 |publisher=Church Missionary House |location=London |page=243 |url=https://archive.org/details/churchmissionar05unkngoog/page/n253/mode/2up |access-date=2025-06-05}}</ref> The church was subsequently repaired.<ref>{{cite web |title=St. John's Church Gorakhpur celebrates 200 years |url=https://www.hindustantimes.com/cities/lucknow-news/st-john-s-church-gorakhpur-celebrates-200-years-101687123456789.html |date=24 June 2023 |newspaper=Hindustan Times |access-date=2025-05-31}}</ref> In 2000, renovation efforts led to changes in the church's architectural appearance, incorporating contemporary elements while retaining some traditional features.<ref>{{cite web |title=गोरखपुर के सेंट जॉन चर्च की 197 साल पुरानी ऐतिहासिक धरोहर |url=https://www.amarujala.com/photo-gallery/gorakhpur/special-story-of-st-john-s-church-gorakhpur-church-history-197-years-old |website=Amar Ujala |access-date=2025-05-31 |language=hi}}</ref>

Additional documentation about the church's early activities in Basharatpur appears in 19th-century missionary publications, including *Missionary Sketches in North India* by F. Weitbrecht.<ref>{{cite book |last=Weitbrecht |first=Mrs. J.J. |title=Missionary Sketches in North India |year=1858 |publisher=Nisbet & Co. |page=347 |url=https://archive.org/details/in.ernet.dli.2015.195822/page/n371/mode/2up |access-date=2025-06-03}}</ref>

== Administration and Services ==
The Church is part of the [[Church of North India]] (CNI) and comes under the jurisdiction of the [[Diocese of Lucknow (Church of North India)|Diocese of Lucknow]]. The church falls within the Gorakhpur Deanery.<ref>{{cite web |title=Gorakhpur: St. John's Church Celebrates Two Hundred Years of Journey |date=23 June 2023 |url=https://gogorakhpur.com/gorakhpur-st-johns-church-celebrates-two-hundred-years-of-journey/ |access-date=2025-06-03}}</ref>

The Church of North India, established in 1970 through a union of several Protestant denominations, functions as a united church across northern and central India. It emphasizes mission, education, and community outreach across its dioceses.<ref>{{cite web |title=Church of North India |url=https://cnisynod.org/about-cni/ |access-date=2025-06-03}}</ref>

The church conducts worship services in both Hindi and English. It hosts regular liturgical celebrations and community outreach activities, particularly during major Christian observances such as Easter and Christmas.<ref name="LiveHindustan">{{cite news |title=ईस्टर पर गोरखपुर के सेंट जॉन चर्च में हुआ भव्य आयोजन |url=https://www.livehindustan.com/uttar-pradesh/gorakhpur/story-easter-celebrations-in-gorakhpur-processions-and-prayers-unite-christian-community-201745191949285.html |newspaper=Live Hindustan |date=25 March 2017 |access-date=2025-05-31 |language=hi}}</ref>
The bicentenary of the church was marked in June 2023 through a series of religious and community programs.<ref>{{cite news |title=Historic St. John's Church commemorates 200th anniversary |url=https://timesofindia.indiatimes.com/city/gorakhpur/historic-st-johns-church-commemorates-200th-anniversary/articleshow/101230123.cms |date=25 June 2023 |newspaper=The Times of India |access-date=2025-05-31}}</ref><ref name="News18Hindi">{{cite web |title=गोरखपुर का सेंट जॉन चर्च मना रहा 200वीं वर्षगांठ |url=https://hindi.news18.com/news/uttar-pradesh/gorakhpur-saint-john-church-is-celebrating-its-200th-anniversary-6561071.html |website=News18 Hindi |date=24 June 2023 |access-date=2025-06-01 |language=hi}}</ref><ref>{{cite web
|url=https://hindi.news18.com/news/uttar-pradesh/gorakhpur-gorakhpurs-oldest-church-is-celebrating-200-years-of-celebration-it-was-established-in-1823-6641399.html
|title=गोरखपुर का सबसे पुराना चर्च 200 वर्ष पूरा कर मना रहा जयंती, इसकी स्थापना 1823 में हुई थी
|publisher=News18 हिंदी (उत्तर प्रदेश)
|language=hi
|date=2025-06-06
|access-date=2025-06-06
}}</ref>

== See also ==
*[[Mary Bird (author)]]
*[[Isabella Bird]]
*[[William Wilberforce Bird (governor)|William Wilberforce Bird]]

== References ==
<references/>

== External links ==
* [https://stjohnschurchgkp.org Official website]
* [https://lucknowdiocese.org Diocese of Lucknow, Church of North India]
* [https://cnisynod.org Church of North India Synod]

{{Portal|Christianity|Uttar Pradesh}}

{{DEFAULTSORT:John's Church, Gorakhpur}}

[[Category:Churches in Uttar Pradesh]]
[[Category:Gorakhpur]]
[[Category:Christianity in Uttar Pradesh]]
[[Category:19th-century churches in India]]
[[Category:Churches in India]]

St. John's Church, Gorakhpur - Revision history

Bharatprspecialist: added basic bio more to come!