Central Baptist Church Delhi
Central Baptist Church is situated on the Chandni Chowk Road, just before reaching the Fountain Chowk, also known as the Bhai Mati Das Chowk, located in Delhi, and opposite to the Sisganj Gurudwara. It is perhaps the Christian mission, which has been the oldest in the region of North India. The Church was established by the Baptist Missionary Society, London, towards the end of 18th century, after it bought a land near the Red Fort, setting up the Central Baptist Church in 1814.
History
In the whole of North India, the oldest among the churches is the Central Baptist Church, and also the ancient Christian Missionary Church. This was built in the 18th century AD and was done by acquiring a piece of land by London Baptist Missionary Society, from the Government, so as to set up and Baptist Mission Society and constructing a Baptist Church in the region.
In 1814, the Church came into being with architectural designs, in European fashion, along with architectural style of the mughals, where there has been built an entrance towards the south, representing a porch which is huge and deep, with columns in circular shapes supported it.
Architecture
Central Baptist Church is among the oldest in churches in Delhi and is also an example of fine church architectures of European styles from that era. Towards the southern side, there is a porch, which is colonnaded and deep, with supports from heavy columns, which are quite heavy. Towards the other sides, there are verandahs, with double heights, with openings which are arched and semi circular. Due to good maintenance, the motifs which were built originally along with the carvings are still intact. But the church’s roof has been laid in later years with the help of iron beams and stones. On the Church’s wall, there are plenty of tablets, which have been put there in remembrance of the people who served the churches for their whole life. There is also a primary school under the church.
Celebrations
Almost every Sunday, there are people in the Central Baptist Church and it is filled up, with hymns of the church being sung sweetly and musically by the devotees and the members of the Choir, with offerings of prayers. People decorate the church with elaborate arrangements of bright and colorful décor and also with lights, mostly during festivities and annual events, which is thought to be grand events in the lives of people who have membership of Baptist Church Society and Community. various social events and cultural activities are having celebrations by the church, with plenty of pride and pomp, where Choir hymns are played and people rejoice. Such activities are seen to be organized quite frequently, information on which can be obtained from the authorities of the local church or from the Pandit Pant Marg office of the Church of the North India, along with their schedules.
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