Nepal’s First Churches
With Christmas just around the corner, we wanted to explore Nepal's first churches and the growth of Christianity in Nepal.
Let's play a word game. I say a word and then you say the first thing that comes to mind. Here we go – CHRISTMAS! What did you think of first? Santa Clause, presents, lights, trees, stockings? Believe it or not, the true meaning of Christmas lies far from mere "Christmas culture" and doesn't even come close to the much endeared term, "family-time". The 25th of December is an auspicious and holy day in the Christian calendar because the day marks the birth of Jesus Christ, the incarnation of God, through the Virgin Mary in the town of Bethlehem, Judea. Christians regard the occasion as a time to remember the entrance of Christ, their Lord into a broken world in order to save those who believe in him and grant them the gift of hope and eternal life.
Although Nepal is the only Hindu kingdom of the world, it has always been known for its cultural diversity. 2 % of the total population (over 500,000) follow Christianity, accordin
g to NCFN (National Churches Fellowship of Nepal).
According to Father Sharma Anthony Francis, Prefect Apostolic of the Church of Assumption(right on the Picture) , the history of the Catholic community in Nepal goes as far back as 1715 when the Capuchin Fathers entered the Kathmandu Valley at the invitation of the Malla Kings. "The priests were given full authority to preach Christianity and even build a church, called Our Lady's Assumption, somewhere in Lalitpur District," he says. According to Dr. Simon Pandey in his book Christianity in Nepal, the church was dedicated in 1760 and another church, called Annunciation of Our Lady, was also built at Bhaktapur. However, after the unification of Nepal by Prithvi Narayan Shah into a Hindu kingdom, the Fathers were asked to leave the country due to suspicion that they could be British spies. Thus, in 1769, the Fathers along with Nepali Christians migrated to India and settled in Chuhari, Northern Bihar where Newari Catholics remain till today. "One Catholic priest did decide to remain in Nepal, but after his death in 1810, there was no Christian presence in Nepal until 1950," Father Sharma says. When democracy was introduced in 1951, the door of Nepal was reopened for foreign missions. The entrance of Jesuits during the reign of late King Mahendra re-established the Catholic community in Nepal. "The Jesuits of Jawalakhel came to Nepal not to preach, but to serve the nation by acting as an educational institution. Thus, St. Xaviers School was established in 1951," says Father Sharma. The Church of the Assumption was only officially recognized in 1992. The construction of the building started in 1993 at Dhobighat and was completed in 1996. The name of the church denotes historical connection with the 18th century Catholic Church, Our Lady's Assumption.
First Protestant Church: Ramghat Church
According to Dr. Rajendra Rongong, the first church of Nepal (Protestant) was the Ramghat Church of Pokhara, established in 1952. It all started with a small mission group called Nepal Evangelistic Band. The mission founded by Dr. Lily O'Hanlon and Miss Steele in 1940 was doing work at the Indian border of Nautanwa. After the establishment of democracy in Nepal, the mission was able to come to Nepal through the British Ambassador in Kathmandu. The tiny group of Nepali Christians of India along with the missionaries trekked into Nepal and became the pioneers of the church. The new government gave permission to the Band church. The new govto open a hospital in Pokhara, which came to be known as the Shining Hospital. The church at the time – a small fellowship of believers – held their services in the Mission compound below the hospital. The first Pastor of the Church was David Mukhiya from Darjeeling who was also a member of the Nepal Evangelistic Band. The church continues to exist and has grown tremendously. The mission is now known as International Nepal Fellowship (INF).
Bethshalom Putalisadak Church, established in 1953 in Kathmandu and Gyaneshwor Church started in 1957 are regarded as the second and third churches in Nepal.
by SRIJANA CHHETRI
FROM:www.wavemag.com.np
ISSUE # 108 (December 2004) IN THIS ISSUE
REFER TO FRIEND PRINT THIS ARTICLE
Let's play a word game. I say a word and then you say the first thing that comes to mind. Here we go – CHRISTMAS! What did you think of first? Santa Clause, presents, lights, trees, stockings? Believe it or not, the true meaning of Christmas lies far from mere "Christmas culture" and doesn't even come close to the much endeared term, "family-time". The 25th of December is an auspicious and holy day in the Christian calendar because the day marks the birth of Jesus Christ, the incarnation of God, through the Virgin Mary in the town of Bethlehem, Judea. Christians regard the occasion as a time to remember the entrance of Christ, their Lord into a broken world in order to save those who believe in him and grant them the gift of hope and eternal life.
Although Nepal is the only Hindu kingdom of the world, it has always been known for its cultural diversity. 2 % of the total population (over 500,000) follow Christianity, accordin
g to NCFN (National Churches Fellowship of Nepal).According to Father Sharma Anthony Francis, Prefect Apostolic of the Church of Assumption(right on the Picture) , the history of the Catholic community in Nepal goes as far back as 1715 when the Capuchin Fathers entered the Kathmandu Valley at the invitation of the Malla Kings. "The priests were given full authority to preach Christianity and even build a church, called Our Lady's Assumption, somewhere in Lalitpur District," he says. According to Dr. Simon Pandey in his book Christianity in Nepal, the church was dedicated in 1760 and another church, called Annunciation of Our Lady, was also built at Bhaktapur. However, after the unification of Nepal by Prithvi Narayan Shah into a Hindu kingdom, the Fathers were asked to leave the country due to suspicion that they could be British spies. Thus, in 1769, the Fathers along with Nepali Christians migrated to India and settled in Chuhari, Northern Bihar where Newari Catholics remain till today. "One Catholic priest did decide to remain in Nepal, but after his death in 1810, there was no Christian presence in Nepal until 1950," Father Sharma says. When democracy was introduced in 1951, the door of Nepal was reopened for foreign missions. The entrance of Jesuits during the reign of late King Mahendra re-established the Catholic community in Nepal. "The Jesuits of Jawalakhel came to Nepal not to preach, but to serve the nation by acting as an educational institution. Thus, St. Xaviers School was established in 1951," says Father Sharma. The Church of the Assumption was only officially recognized in 1992. The construction of the building started in 1993 at Dhobighat and was completed in 1996. The name of the church denotes historical connection with the 18th century Catholic Church, Our Lady's Assumption.
First Protestant Church: Ramghat Church
According to Dr. Rajendra Rongong, the first church of Nepal (Protestant) was the Ramghat Church of Pokhara, established in 1952. It all started with a small mission group called Nepal Evangelistic Band. The mission founded by Dr. Lily O'Hanlon and Miss Steele in 1940 was doing work at the Indian border of Nautanwa. After the establishment of democracy in Nepal, the mission was able to come to Nepal through the British Ambassador in Kathmandu. The tiny group of Nepali Christians of India along with the missionaries trekked into Nepal and became the pioneers of the church. The new government gave permission to the Band church. The new govto open a hospital in Pokhara, which came to be known as the Shining Hospital. The church at the time – a small fellowship of believers – held their services in the Mission compound below the hospital. The first Pastor of the Church was David Mukhiya from Darjeeling who was also a member of the Nepal Evangelistic Band. The church continues to exist and has grown tremendously. The mission is now known as International Nepal Fellowship (INF).
Bethshalom Putalisadak Church, established in 1953 in Kathmandu and Gyaneshwor Church started in 1957 are regarded as the second and third churches in Nepal.
by SRIJANA CHHETRI
FROM:www.wavemag.com.np
ISSUE # 108 (December 2004) IN THIS ISSUE
REFER TO FRIEND PRINT THIS ARTICLE
