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{{Short description|Christianity in Bihar, India}}
{{Infobox ethnic group
{{Infobox ethnic group
| group            = Christianity in Bihar
| group            = Christianity in Bihar
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'''[[Christianity]]''' in '''[[Bihar]]''', a state of [[India]], is a minority religion, being practised by less than 0.5% of the population.<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.censusindia.gov.in/Census_Data_2001/Census_data_finder/C_Series/Population_by_religious_communities.htm |title=Population by Religion in Bihar|publisher=Censusindia.gov.in |date= |accessdate=2013-12-15}}</ref> Most people, about 83%, in [[Bihar]] are Hindus. [[Padri Ki Haveli]] is a Roman Catholic church in Bihar, which exists for centuries. The [[Diocese of Patna (Church of North India)|Diocese of Patna]] of the [[Church of North India]] and [[Emmanuel Christian Fellowship Centre]] (ECFC) are present in Bihar and the [[Pentecostal Holiness Church]] are present in Bihar as well as the [[Roman Catholic Archdiocese of Patna]]. The archdiocese has [[suffragan diocese]]s:the [[Roman Catholic Diocese of Bettiah]], the [[Roman Catholic Diocese of Bhagalpur]], the [[Roman Catholic Diocese of Buxar]], the [[Roman Catholic Diocese of Muzaffarpur]] and the [[Roman Catholic Diocese of Purnea]], all of whom have their seat in Bihar. Bihar has numerous [[house church]]es<ref>{{cite web |url=http://www.baptistsonmission.org/News/Update-from-Bihar,-India |title=Update from Bihar Indian Pentecostal church of God Northern Region (IPCNR) is the leading and oldest Pentecostal church in Bihar. Oldest Pentecostal Fellowship started in Rajendra Nagar, Patna. |publisher=Baptistsonmission.org |date= |accessdate=2013-12-15 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20120316001728/http://www.baptistsonmission.org/News/Update-from-Bihar,-India |archive-date=2012-03-16 |url-status=dead }}</ref> and a [[Christ Church Diocesan School]] exists in Patna.<ref>{{cite web |url=http://www.bihartalk.com/Christ-Church-Diocesan-School-Patna-132.html |title=Christ Church Diocesan School, Patna, Bihar |publisher=Bihartalk.com |date=2010-06-22 |accessdate=2013-12-15 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20130714060514/http://www.bihartalk.com/Christ-Church-Diocesan-School-Patna-132.html |archive-date=2013-07-14 |url-status=dead }}</ref>
'''[[Christianity]]''' in '''[[Bihar]]''', a state in eastern [[India]], is a minority religion, being practised by less than 0.5% of the population.<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.censusindia.gov.in/Census_Data_2001/Census_data_finder/C_Series/Population_by_religious_communities.htm |title=Population by Religion in Bihar|publisher=Censusindia.gov.in |date= |accessdate=2013-12-15}}</ref> The majority of Biharis are [[Hindus]], forming 83% of the state's population. [[Padri Ki Haveli]] is a Roman Catholic church in Bihar, which has existed for centuries. Several Christian establishments such as the [[Diocese of Patna (Church of North India)|Diocese of Patna]] of the [[Church of North India]], [[Emmanuel Christian Fellowship Centre]] (ECFC), [[Pentecostal Holiness Church]] and the [[Roman Catholic Archdiocese of Patna]] are present in Bihar.
Indian Pentecostal church of God Northern Region is the leading and oldest Pentecostal church in Bihar. Oldest Pentecostal Fellowship started in Rajendra Nagar, Patna. And Bihar has Christian Revival Church.  
 
The archdiocese has many [[suffragan diocese]]s<nowiki/>including the [[Roman Catholic Diocese of Bettiah]], the [[Roman Catholic Diocese of Bhagalpur]], the [[Roman Catholic Diocese of Buxar]], the [[Roman Catholic Diocese of Muzaffarpur]] and the [[Roman Catholic Diocese of Purnea]]. Bihar has numerous [[house church]]es<ref>{{cite web |url=http://www.baptistsonmission.org/News/Update-from-Bihar,-India |title=Update from Bihar Indian Pentecostal church of God Northern Region (IPCNR) is the leading and oldest Pentecostal church in Bihar. Oldest Pentecostal Fellowship started in Rajendra Nagar, Patna. |publisher=Baptistsonmission.org |date= |accessdate=2013-12-15 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20120316001728/http://www.baptistsonmission.org/News/Update-from-Bihar,-India |archive-date=2012-03-16 |url-status=dead }}</ref><ref>{{cite web |url=http://www.bihartalk.com/Christ-Church-Diocesan-School-Patna-132.html |title=Christ Church Diocesan School, Patna, Bihar |publisher=Bihartalk.com |date=2010-06-22 |accessdate=2013-12-15 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20130714060514/http://www.bihartalk.com/Christ-Church-Diocesan-School-Patna-132.html |archive-date=2013-07-14 |url-status=dead }}</ref> The Indian Pentecostal Church of God is the leading and oldest Pentecostal church in Bihar. The earliest Pentecostal fellowship in the state was opened in Rajendra Nagar, Patna. Rev. Pramod K. Sebastian is the Pastor. Bihar also has a Christian Revival Church.


== History ==
== History ==
During the [[Bettiah Raj]] of Bihar, the ethnoreligious community of [[Bettiah Christians]] was established in India in the 17th century by Christian missionaries belonging to the [[Order of Friars Minor Capuchin]], a Roman Catholic religious order.<ref name="John2000">{{cite book |last1=John |first1=Jose Kalapura |title=Proceedings of the Indian History Congress, Vol. 61 |date=2000 |publisher=Indian History Congress |page=1011-1022 |language=English}}</ref> It is one of the northern Indian subcontinent's oldest Christian communities that was founded after Raja Dhurup Singh requested Joseph Mary Bernini to heal his ill wife and was successful in doing so.<ref name="John2000"/><ref name="UCA1995">{{cite web |title=Bihar Christians have fostered faith harmony 250 years |url=https://www.ucanews.com/story-archive/?post_name=/1995/11/07/bihar-christians-have-fostered-faith-harmony-250-years&post_id=48221# |publisher=[[Union of Catholic Asian News]] |accessdate=14 November 2020 |language=English |date=6 November 1995 |quote=Cherubim John, a writer and historian, said the Bettiah community began after Italian Capuchin Father Joseph Mary Bernini cured the local queen of an "incurable" illness. The king donated 16 hectares of land later known as the "Christian Quarters" to the Capuchins. The king allowed Father Bernini, who was on his way to Tibet, to preach, and helped build a church next to his palace.}}</ref> The Bettiah Christian Mission flourished under the patronage of the royal court of the Bettiah Rajas, growing in number.<ref name="John2000"/>
During the [[Bettiah Raj]] of Bihar, the ethnoreligious community of [[Bettiah Christians]] was created in India in the 17th century by Christian missionaries belonging to the [[Order of Friars Minor Capuchin]], a Roman Catholic religious order.<ref name="John2000">{{cite book |last1=John |first1=Jose Kalapura |title=Proceedings of the Indian History Congress, Vol. 61 |date=2000 |publisher=Indian History Congress |page=1011-1022 |language=English}}</ref>  
 
They are among the subcontinent's oldest Christian communities, being established after Raja Dhurup Singh requested Joseph Mary Bernini to heal his ill wife and was successful in doing so.<ref name="John2000" /><ref name="UCA1995">{{cite web |title=Bihar Christians have fostered faith harmony 250 years |url=https://www.ucanews.com/story-archive/?post_name=/1995/11/07/bihar-christians-have-fostered-faith-harmony-250-years&post_id=48221# |publisher=[[Union of Catholic Asian News]] |accessdate=14 November 2020 |language=English |date=6 November 1995 |quote=Cherubim John, a writer and historian, said the Bettiah community began after Italian Capuchin Father Joseph Mary Bernini cured the local queen of an "incurable" illness. The king donated 16 hectares of land later known as the "Christian Quarters" to the Capuchins. The king allowed Father Bernini, who was on his way to Tibet, to preach, and helped build a church next to his palace.}}</ref> The Bettiah Christian Mission flourished under the patronage of the royal court of the Bettiah Rajas, steadily growing in number.<ref name="John2000" />


From the 17th century onwards, Catholic Christian missionaries of the [[Jesuit]] and [[Order of Friars Minor Capuchin|Capuchin]] religious orders "established hospices at Kathmandu, Patan and Bhatgoan, the capitals of the three Malla Kings of Nepal who had permitted them to preach Christianity."<ref name="John2000"/> An indigenous Newar Christian community thus became established.<ref name="John2000"/> When the [[Malla (Kathmandu Valley)|Mallas]] were overthrown by the Gurkhas, the Newar Christians took refuge in [[India]], settling first in the city of [[Bettiah]] and then later moving eleven kilometres north to Chuhari, where they reside to this day.<ref name="John2000"/>
From the 17th century onwards, Catholic Christian missionaries of the [[Jesuit]] and [[Order of Friars Minor Capuchin|Capuchin]] religious orders "established hospices at Kathmandu, Patan and Bhatgoan, the capitals of the three Malla Kings of Nepal who had permitted them to preach Christianity."<ref name="John2000" /> An indigenous Newar Christian community was thus founded in Bihar.<ref name="John2000" /> When the [[Malla (Kathmandu Valley)|Mallas]] were overthrown by the Gurkhas, the Newar Christians took refuge in [[India]], settling first in the city of [[Bettiah]] and then later moving eleven kilometres north to Chuhari, where they reside to this day.<ref name="John2000" />


==List of denominations==
==List of denominations==
*[[Bihar Mennonite Mandli]]<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.gameo.org/encyclopedia/contents/I53.html |title=India |publisher=GAMEO |date= |accessdate=2013-12-15}}</ref>
*[[Bihar Mennonite Mandli]]<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.gameo.org/encyclopedia/contents/I53.html |title=India |publisher=GAMEO |date= |accessdate=2013-12-15}}</ref>
*[[Emmanuel Christian Fellowship Centre]]<ref>{{cite web |url=http://ecfcministries.blogspot.in/ |title=ECFC |publisher=blogspot |accessdate=2015-02-22 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20150222074846/http://ecfcministries.blogspot.in/ |archive-date=2015-02-22 |url-status=dead }}</ref>
*[[Emmanuel Christian Fellowship Centre]]<ref>{{cite web |url=http://ecfcministries.blogspot.in/ |title=ECFC |publisher=blogspot |accessdate=2015-02-22 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20150222074846/http://ecfcministries.blogspot.in/ |archive-date=2015-02-22 |url-status=dead }}</ref>
*[[Bethel Pentecostal Church]]<ref>[http://www.bethelchurchassociation.net/program.htm]  {{webarchive |url=https://web.archive.org/web/20101107011612/http://www.bethelchurchassociation.net/program.htm |date=November 7, 2010 }}</ref>
*[[Bethel Pentecostal Church]]<ref>[http://www.bethelchurchassociation.net/program.htm]  {{webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20101107011612/http://www.bethelchurchassociation.net/program.htm|date=November 7, 2010}}</ref>
*[[Gospel Echoing Missionary Society]]<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.gemsbihar.org/ |title=Gospel Echoing Missionary Society(GEMS) – Welcome to the Frontpage! |publisher=Gemsbihar.org |date=2013-06-21 |accessdate=2013-12-15}}</ref>
*[[Gospel Echoing Missionary Society]]<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.gemsbihar.org/ |title=Gospel Echoing Missionary Society(GEMS) – Welcome to the Frontpage! |publisher=Gemsbihar.org |date=2013-06-21 |accessdate=2013-12-15}}</ref>
*Indian Pentecostal church of God Northern Region IPCNR leading and oldest Pentecostal church in Bihar.
*Indian Pentecostal church of God  
*[[Christian Revival Church]]
*[[Christian Revival Church]]


== Demography ==
== Demography ==
[[Christianity]] is 3rd largest religion of [[Bihar]], being practiced by 0.12% of the [[Demographics of Bihar|total state population]]. The [[Jainism in Bihar|Jain population in Bihar]] is 53,137 as of 2011 census report.<ref name="religion1">{{cite web|title=Total population by religious communities|url=http://www.censusindia.gov.in/Census_Data_2001/Census_data_finder/C_Series/Population_by_religious_communities.htm|url-status=live|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20080119031333/http://www.censusindia.gov.in/Census_Data_2001/Census_data_finder/C_Series/Population_by_religious_communities.htm|archive-date=19 January 2008|access-date=20 November 2014|publisher=Censusindia.gov.in|df=dmy-all}}</ref> As per 2001 census, only 53,137 [[Christianity|Christian]]  were living in [[Bihar]].  
{{See also|Religion in Bihar#Religious demographics}}
[[Christianity]] is 3rd largest religion of [[Bihar]], being practiced by 0.12% of the [[Demographics of Bihar|total state population]].  


==References==
==References==

Latest revision as of 23:38, 3 January 2026


Christianity in Bihar
Total population
'129,247' (0.12%) (2011)
Languages
Bihari • Hindi •
Religion
Christianity

Christianity in Bihar, a state in eastern India, is a minority religion, being practised by less than 0.5% of the population.[1] The majority of Biharis are Hindus, forming 83% of the state's population. Padri Ki Haveli is a Roman Catholic church in Bihar, which has existed for centuries. Several Christian establishments such as the Diocese of Patna of the Church of North India, Emmanuel Christian Fellowship Centre (ECFC), Pentecostal Holiness Church and the Roman Catholic Archdiocese of Patna are present in Bihar.

The archdiocese has many suffragan diocesesincluding the Roman Catholic Diocese of Bettiah, the Roman Catholic Diocese of Bhagalpur, the Roman Catholic Diocese of Buxar, the Roman Catholic Diocese of Muzaffarpur and the Roman Catholic Diocese of Purnea. Bihar has numerous house churches[2][3] The Indian Pentecostal Church of God is the leading and oldest Pentecostal church in Bihar. The earliest Pentecostal fellowship in the state was opened in Rajendra Nagar, Patna. Rev. Pramod K. Sebastian is the Pastor. Bihar also has a Christian Revival Church.

History[edit | edit source]

During the Bettiah Raj of Bihar, the ethnoreligious community of Bettiah Christians was created in India in the 17th century by Christian missionaries belonging to the Order of Friars Minor Capuchin, a Roman Catholic religious order.[4]

They are among the subcontinent's oldest Christian communities, being established after Raja Dhurup Singh requested Joseph Mary Bernini to heal his ill wife and was successful in doing so.[4][5] The Bettiah Christian Mission flourished under the patronage of the royal court of the Bettiah Rajas, steadily growing in number.[4]

From the 17th century onwards, Catholic Christian missionaries of the Jesuit and Capuchin religious orders "established hospices at Kathmandu, Patan and Bhatgoan, the capitals of the three Malla Kings of Nepal who had permitted them to preach Christianity."[4] An indigenous Newar Christian community was thus founded in Bihar.[4] When the Mallas were overthrown by the Gurkhas, the Newar Christians took refuge in India, settling first in the city of Bettiah and then later moving eleven kilometres north to Chuhari, where they reside to this day.[4]

List of denominations[edit | edit source]

Demography[edit | edit source]

Christianity is 3rd largest religion of Bihar, being practiced by 0.12% of the total state population.

References[edit | edit source]

  1. "Population by Religion in Bihar". Censusindia.gov.in. Retrieved 2013-12-15.
  2. "Update from Bihar Indian Pentecostal church of God Northern Region (IPCNR) is the leading and oldest Pentecostal church in Bihar. Oldest Pentecostal Fellowship started in Rajendra Nagar, Patna". Baptistsonmission.org. Archived from the original on 2012-03-16. Retrieved 2013-12-15.
  3. "Christ Church Diocesan School, Patna, Bihar". Bihartalk.com. 2010-06-22. Archived from the original on 2013-07-14. Retrieved 2013-12-15.
  4. 4.0 4.1 4.2 4.3 4.4 4.5 John, Jose Kalapura (2000). Proceedings of the Indian History Congress, Vol. 61. Indian History Congress. p. 1011-1022.
  5. "Bihar Christians have fostered faith harmony 250 years". Union of Catholic Asian News. 6 November 1995. Retrieved 14 November 2020. Cherubim John, a writer and historian, said the Bettiah community began after Italian Capuchin Father Joseph Mary Bernini cured the local queen of an "incurable" illness. The king donated 16 hectares of land later known as the "Christian Quarters" to the Capuchins. The king allowed Father Bernini, who was on his way to Tibet, to preach, and helped build a church next to his palace.
  6. "India". GAMEO. Retrieved 2013-12-15.
  7. "ECFC". blogspot. Archived from the original on 2015-02-22. Retrieved 2015-02-22.
  8. [1] Archived November 7, 2010, at the Wayback Machine
  9. "Gospel Echoing Missionary Society(GEMS) – Welcome to the Frontpage!". Gemsbihar.org. 2013-06-21. Retrieved 2013-12-15.

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