St. Stephen’s Church Bareilly Cantt.

A Brief History 
 

• St Stephen’s Church is located in Bareilly, UP India. The city is a medium sized town, in north India along the Indo Gangetic plain; it was founded in 1537 AD.
• The British first arrived in this city in the early 19th century. Amongst the early Christian evangelists William Butler was the pioneer of the Methodist mission in N India. In fact the mission traces its origins in Bareilly to 1856.
• Most of the city’s ancient monuments have long vanished but what remains, as its most striking feature is a landscape dotted with old churches, which remind us of a glorious past. St. Stephen’s Church in Bareilly Cantonment is one of the oldest churches in North India. Capt, Hume an executive engineer, laid the foundation stone of the church on 7th January 1861 and the army chaplain, Rev. WG Cowie, conducted the first service on 25th December 1862. The first marriage in the church was also solemnized on the same day.
• The towering and imposing structure in red brick presents a beautiful sight and has never failed to draw attention. Inside, one finds intricately carved panels in ebony wood and stained glass windows. It is thought that carpenters, artistes and artisans from England were employed to make them. The imposing 20 feet high pipe organ is also from England. Brass and marble plaques, in memory of those who served in various British Regiments, can be seen studding the walls inside the church. Both the pulpit and the baptism font are made of marble and are state of the art structures. The church has a capacity of accommodating nearly a thousand persons at one time. The Church Bible dates back to MDCCCLXIII. The Church is under the Agra Diocese of the Church of North India headed by the Diocesan Bishop The Rt. Rev,Dr. Prem Prakash Habil.

We wish to apprise readers of this appeal about the present state of St. Stephen’s Church Bareilly Cantt. This beautiful church is a landmark of Bareilly City, a legacy of the British. Time has taken its toll. Weather, termites etc have left this beautiful edifice in a dilapidated condition needing urgent repair. The tiny congregation of this church does not have the finances to undertake such an enormous task. The church needs to be preserved and restored. Your concern and support will act as succor to keep the Church alive. Remember it in you prayers and be generous to meet its needs.

Any church is the body of Christ. If we can be instrumental in bringing back this Church to its past glory, we will be blessed. May the Almighty help us achieve our mission that looks to be difficult, but not impossible.