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{{EngvarB|date=March 2014}}
{{Use dmy dates|date=March 2014}}
{{Infobox church
|name = St. Thomas' Church
|fullname = St. Thomas' Methodist Church
|image = St. Thomas Church, Hisar.jpg
|imagesize =
|imagelink =
|imagealt =

|caption = Entrance of the church

|pushpin map = India Haryana
|pushpin label position =
|pushpin map alt =
|pushpin mapsize =
|map caption = Location in [[Hisar (city)|Hisar]], Haryana
|coordinates = {{Coord|29|08|55|N|75|43|25|E|type:landmark|display=inline,title}}
|osgraw = 
|osgridref = 
|location = [[Hisar (city)|Hisar]], [[Haryana]]
|country = [[India]]

|denomination = [[Methodism|Methodist]]
|previous denomination =
|churchmanship = [[Anglican church|Anglican]]
|membership =
|attendance =
|website = http://dioceseofdelhi.org/

|former name =
|bull date = 3 December 1860
|founded date = {{start date|df=yes|1860|12|03}}
|founder = [[George Edward Lynch Cotton]]
|dedication = [[Thomas the Apostle]]
|dedicated date = May 1864
|consecrated date = 31 December 1865
|cult = [[Thomas the Apostle]]
|relics =
|events =
|past bishop =
|people =

|status = [[Church (building)|Church]]
|functional status = Active
|heritage designation = Historical Monument by [[INTACH]]
|designated date =
|architect =
|architectural type =
|style = [[Victorian architecture|Victorian]]
|groundbreaking = 3 December 1860
|completed date = May 1864
|construction cost = INR 4500
|closed date =
|demolished date =
|capacity = 40
|length = {{convert|53|ft|m|abbr=on}}
|width = {{convert|25|ft|m|abbr=on}}
|width nave =
|height =
|diameter =
|other dimensions =
|floor count = 1
|floor area =
|dome quantity =
|dome height outer =
|dome height inner =
|dome dia outer =
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|spire quantity =
|spire height =
|materials = Wood, tiles
|bells = 1
|bells hung =
|bell weight =
|parish =
|deanery =
|archdeaconry =
|episcopalarea = Delhi Episcopal Area of The Methodist Church in India
|archdiocese =
|metropolis =
|diocese =
|province =
|presbytery =
|synod =
|circuit =
|district = [[Hisar (district)|Hisar]]
|division =
|subdivision =

|archbishop =
|bishop = Bishop Subodh C Mondal
|dean =
|provost =
|provost-rector =
|viceprovost =
|subdean =
|precentor =
|chancellor =
|canonchancellor =
|canon =
|canonmissioner =
|canonpastor =
|canontreasurer =
|succentor =
|archdeacon =
|prebendary =
|rector =
|vicar = Rev Isaac P. Mann District Superintendent
|curate =
|priestincharge = Rev Isaac P. Mann
|priest =
|asstpriest =
|minister =
|assistant =
|honpriest =
|deacon = Mrs. Rajni S. Mann & Ms Hephzibah Desai
|seniorpastor =
|pastor =
|abbot =
|chaplain =

|reader =
|student intern =
|organistdom =
|director =
|organist =
|organscholar =
|chapterclerk =
|laychapter =
|warden =
|verger =
|businessmgr =
|liturgycoord =
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|flowerguild =
|musicgroup =
|parishadmin =
|serversguild =

|logo = Logo of the United Methodist Church.svg
|logosize =
|logolink =
|logoalt = Logo of [[Methodist Church in India]]
}}

St. Thomas' Church is located in [[Hisar (city)|Hisar]] city of [[Haryana]], [[India]]. It is located in central part of Hisar near [[Hisar Junction railway station|railway station]]. It has been declared as a historical monument by [[Indian National Trust for Art and Cultural Heritage]]. The Church is dedicated to [[Thomas the Apostle|St. Thomas]], one of the 12 main disciples of [[Jesus Christ]].<ref name="hisar jano">{{cite web|url=http://www.hisarjano.com/sylabs.pdf|title=Hisar Jano|publisher=Jambh Shakti Trust|access-date=23 May 2012|url-status=usurped|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20240509034906/http://www.hisarjano.com/sylabs.pdf|archive-date=9 May 2024|df=dmy-all}}</ref>

== History ==
{{Main|Saint Thomas Christians|Christianity in India|Methodism}}
[[File:Tomb of St. Thomas in India.JPG|thumb|150px|The tomb of St. Thomas the Apostle in [[Mylapore]], [[India]].]]
[[File:St. Thomas Church Plaque.jpg|right|thumb|150px|Plaque at St. Thomas Church, Hisar]]
Thomas is traditionally believed to have sailed to India in AD 52 to spread the Christian faith, and is believed to have landed at the port of [[Muziris]], [[Tamilakam]] (modern-day [[North Paravur]] and [[Kodungalloor]] in modern-day [[Kerala]] state) where there was a [[Cochin Jews|Jewish community]] at the time.<ref name="Erwin Fahlbusch">[https://books.google.com/books?id=lZUBZlth2qgC&q=Muziris ''The Encyclopedia of Christianity, Volume 5''] by Erwin Fahlbusch. Wm. B. Eerdmans Publishing - 2008. p. 285. {{ISBN|978-0-8028-2417-2}}.</ref><ref>{{cite encyclopedia|url=http://www.britannica.com/EBchecked/topic/592851/Saint-Thomas|title=Saint Thomas|encyclopedia=Encyclopædia Britannica|access-date=10 May 2015}}</ref><ref name="Orpa Slapak">[https://books.google.com/books?id=qhKGPprbQaYC&q=St.+Thomas ''The Jews of India: A Story of Three Communities''] by Orpa Slapak. The Israel Museum, Jerusalem. 2003. p. 27. {{ISBN|965-278-179-7}}.</ref> The port was destroyed in 1341 due to a massive flood that realigned the coasts. He is believed by the [[St Thomas Christian]] tradition to have established ''Ezharappallikal'' or ''[[Seven and Half Churches]]'' in Kerala. These churches are at Kodungallur, [[St. Thomas Syro-Malabar Catholic Church, Palayoor|Palayoor]], [[Kottakkavu Mar Thoma Syro-Malabar Pilgrim Church, North Paravur|Kottakkavu]] (Paravur), [[Kokkamangalam]], [[Niranam Church|Niranam]], Nilackal (Chayal), [[Kollam]] and [[Thiruvithamcode Arappally|Thiruvithamcode]] (half church).<ref name=ppn>[http://www.payyappilly.org/history History] {{webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20150704231759/http://www.payyappilly.org/history/ |date=4 July 2015 }}, Payyappilly Palakkappilly Nasrani family</ref>

[[Methodism]] is a group of historically related [[Christian denomination|denominations]] of [[Protestantism|Protestant]] [[Christianity]] which derive their inspiration from the life and teachings of [[John Wesley]] (1703-1791). It originated as a [[Christian revival]] within the 18th-century [[Church of England]] and became a separate [[Christian Church]] after Wesley's death in 1791. Because of vigorous missionary activity, the movement spread throughout the [[British Empire]] including the [[british Raj]], the [[United States]], and beyond, today claiming approximately 80 million adherents worldwide.<ref>{{cite web |title=Member Churches |url=http://worldmethodistcouncil.org/about/member-churches/ |publisher=World Methodist Council |access-date=17 June 2013}}</ref>

In 1856, the Methodist Episcopal Church From America started mission in India. The [[Methodist Church in India]] began its work in 1856, when William Butler came from America. He selected Oudh and Rohilkhand as the field of effort, and being unable to secure a residence at Lucknow, began work at Bareilly. The first War of Independence broke up the work at Bareilly, but in 1858 Lucknow was occupied and Bareilly re-occupied and the work of the Mission started anew. and It was only in 1870, with the arrival of William Taylor, the famous evangelist, who led revival meetings in India that, Methodism became a national factor.<ref name=MC1>[http://dwfmembers.org/asia-pacific/india-methodist-deaconess-ministry-india/ Methodist Church in India - history]</ref>

The proposal for building the Methodist church in Hisar was put up in 1860. Construction started on 3 December 1860 and was completed in May, 1864 at a cost of 4500 rupees. The church was [[Consecration|consecrated]] by [[George Edward Lynch Cotton]], [[Anglican Diocese of Calcutta|Bishop of Calcutta]] on 31 December 1865.<ref name="hisar jano">{{cite web|url=http://www.hisarjano.com/sylabs.pdf|title=Hisar Jano|publisher=Jambh Shakti Trust|access-date=23 May 2012|url-status=usurped|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20240509034906/http://www.hisarjano.com/sylabs.pdf|archive-date=9 May 2024|df=dmy-all}}</ref> Till 1899, the worship in the church was restricted to [[Christians]] only. The Church and accompanying graveyard were handed over to the Methodist Church in Southern Asia in 1950 by the [[Central Public Works Department, India]]. The centenary service was conducted by R. Rev. F. R. Willis, Bishop of [[Delhi]] on 8 January 1966.

== Architecture ==
The church is built in [[Victorian architecture|Victorian]] style of architecture. The ceiling is covered with wooden panel. The main structure consists of an [[altar]], a [[baptistry]], a [[pulpit]] and two [[vestry|vestries]]. The pulpit of the church is adorned with velvet curtains.<ref name="hisar jano">{{cite web|url=http://www.hisarjano.com/sylabs.pdf|title=Hisar Jano|publisher=Jambh Shakti Trust|access-date=23 May 2012|url-status=usurped|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20240509034906/http://www.hisarjano.com/sylabs.pdf|archive-date=9 May 2024|df=dmy-all}}</ref> The floor of the church is made up of geometrical tiles. A graveyard is also located near the entrance of the church.

== Structures ==
The main hall cover an area of 1325 square feet and can accommodate around 40 people. The walls of the hall are 2 feet thick. The bell is another feature of the church. It was made at [[Roorkee]] in 1874. The graveyard is located near the entrance to the church. It contains graves of the John Wedderburn, collector of [[Hisar (city)|Hisar]] and his family who were killed by the rebels during [[Indian Rebellion of 1857]].

== Krantiman Park ==
It is the oldest park in the city of Hisar and is a part of St. Thomas' Church Complex. It was built by [[East India Company]] and was then known as ''Company Bagh''. A memorial was built here in 1857 in the memory of John Wedderburn and other people killed during the [[Indian Rebellion of 1857]]. In all 23 Europeans and Christians were murdered, 12 at Hissar and 11 at Hansi. There is a pillar with the names of the people killed on all sides. Due to the presence of pillar, the park was from then onwards known as ''Laat Bagh'' as ''Laat'' was the local word used for a pillar. The renovation of the park was done by Yudhvir Malik, [[Deputy Commissioner]]of Hisar in 1983. A bust of [[Chandra Shekhar Azad]] was erected in the park in 1984 and it was renamed as ''Krantiman Park''. The park was inaugurated by [[Bhajan Lal Bishnoi|Bhajan Lal]], [[Chief Minister of Haryana]] on 11 July 1984.<ref name="hisar jano">{{cite web|url=http://www.hisarjano.com/sylabs.pdf|title=Hisar Jano|publisher=Jambh Shakti Trust|access-date=23 May 2012|url-status=usurped|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20240509034906/http://www.hisarjano.com/sylabs.pdf|archive-date=9 May 2024|df=dmy-all}}</ref>

== Administration ==
The church was officially handed over by the Govt. of India to the Methodist Church in Southern Asia in 1950 but the [[archdiocese]] of [[Malankara Orthodox Syrian Church]] and [[Anglican Church of India#Dioceses|Anglican Diocese of Delhi]] (now under ''Haryana Dioceses'' after its creation) also hold worship services in the Church. The Methodist District Superintendent & Pastor-in-charge is The Rev. Isaac P. Mann. It is a part of the denomination [[Methodist Church in India]]. The Resident & Presiding Bishop of the Methodist Church for Delhi Area is Bishop Subodh C. Mondal.<ref>Appointments as announced at the 32nd Regular Session of The Delhi Regional Conference and with effect from June !st, 2015.</ref> The [[archbishop]] of the [[archdiocese]] of [[Malankara Orthodox Syrian Church]]is Metropolitan Job Mar Philoxenos and the CNI [[bishop]] is the Rt. Rev. Dr. Paul Swarup.

==Nearby Attractions==
[[File:Blackbuck_male_female.jpg|thumb|right|Blackbuck female deer]]
[[File:Asparagus racemosus.JPG|thumb|right|Shatavar Endangered Ayurvedic Herb]]
{{div col}}
* [[Asigarh Fort]] at [[hansi]]
* [[Kanwari#Primary Mounds: Kanwari-1 .26 Kanwari-2|Kanwari Indus Valley Mound]] at [[Kanwari]]
* [[Tosham rock inscription]] at [[Tosham]]
* [[Blue Bird Lake]] Hisar on [[National Highway 9 (India)|National Highway 9]] (NH9)
* [[Deer Park, Hisar]] (Hindi: ''हिरण उद्यान, हिसार, हरयाणा'') on Dhansu Road
* [[Shatavar Vatika Herbal Park, Hisar]] - it is next to ''Deer Park, Hisar''on Dhansu Road
* [[Guru Jambheshwar University of Science and Technology]] on [[National Highway 9 (India)|National Highway 9]] (NH9)
* [[Firoz Shah Palace Complex|Feroze Shah's Palace And Fort]] with [[Gujri Mahal|Gujari Mahal]], [[Firoz Shah Palace Complex#Lat ki Masjid|Lat Ki Masjid & Ashokan Pillar]]
* [[Krantiman Park]] with monument of British people who were killed during [[Indian Rebellion of 1857]]
* [[Hisar Airport]]
{{div col end}}

== See also ==
{{div col}}
* [[St. Thomas' Church (disambiguation)]]
* [[Methodist Church in India]]
* [[Church of North India]]
* [[Christianity in India]]
* [[Haryana Tourism]]
* [[List of National Parks & Wildlife Sanctuaries of Haryana, India]]
* [[List of Monuments of National Importance in Haryana]]
* [[List of State Protected Monuments in Haryana]]
* [[List of Indus Valley Civilization sites]] in [[Haryana]]
* [[List of national parks of India]]
* [[Wildlife sanctuaries of India]]
{{div col end}}

==Further reading==
* Juneja, M.M. ''Hisar City: Places & Personalities'' 2004, Haryana: Modern Publishers, 744 pp.

== References ==
{{Reflist}}

== External links ==
* [http://dioceseofdelhi.org/ Official website of Diocese of Delhi]

{{ Hisar, India topics }}

[[Category:Churches in Haryana]]
[[Category:Tourist attractions in Hisar (city)]]
[[Category:Buildings and structures in Hisar (city)]]

St. Thomas Church, Hisar - Revision history

KatherinSteger: made entry