St. John's Church, Meerut
| St. John's Church | |
|---|---|
| Saint John the Baptist Church | |
St. John's Church, Meerut in 2009
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| 29°00′45″N 77°42′32″E / 29.012625°N 77.708895°ECoordinates: 29°00′45″N 77°42′32″E / 29.012625°N 77.708895°E | |
| Location | Meerut |
| Country | India |
| Denomination | Church of North India |
| Membership | 100 |
| Weekly attendance | 50 |
| Website | http://www.stjohnschurchmeerut.org |
| History | |
| Former name(s) | Saint John the Baptist Garrison Church |
| Founded | 1819 |
| Founder(s) | Rev. Henry Fischer |
| Dedication | Rt. Rev. Reginald Heber (Bishop) |
| Consecrated | 1821 |
| Architecture | |
| Status | Functional |
| Functional status | Sunday morning service |
| Heritage designation | Historical building |
| Architect(s) | Captain George Hutchinson |
| Completed | 1819 |
| Specifications | |
| Capacity | 3000 |
| Administration | |
| Diocese | Diocese of Agra |
| Clergy | |
| Bishop(s) | Rt. Rev. S. R. Cutting |
| Priest(s) | Rev. Peter Baldev |
| Laity | |
| Reader(s) | Mr. Rajiv Titus |
The Saint John the Baptist, or John's Church, is a parish church in the diocese of Agra of Church of North India, and is located Meerut, India. The church building was built from 1819 to 1821 and is the oldest Church in North India. Near to this church lies St. John's Church cemetery. The grounds contain trees and greenery.
The parish motto Unity, Witness and Service found at the entrance serves to remind parishioners and guests alike of the purpose of this church.
The parish was founded in 1819 to serve the military garrison stationed locally. Its founder was British Army chaplain, the Rev. Henry Fischer, a Church of England clergyman, posted to Meerut, India.
The parish church of St John the Baptist is the oldest church edifice in the northern half of India. It still houses a huge but non-functioning pipe organ, which employed manually operated bellows to supply the organ with air. The wooden pews and kneelers, brass eagle lectern, marble baptistry, and stained glass windows all date back nearly two centuries.
St John's church building conforms to a style of English parish church architecture popular before the Gothic Revival, and is modelled on the Palladian or classical style, which was well suited to local conditions with a large open interior space for worship in which air could circulate freely in sometimes stifling temperatures. It includes an upper seating area (balcony), no longer in use. Dating back almost 200 years, renovations have changed little to the church fabric, making it a fine example of an Anglican parish church of the early 1800s.
English Sunday Service is held in the morning, and usually includes Holy Communion if a priest is available. Holy Communion is offered to baptized Christians of all major denominations and if you are visiting please inquire with the clergy or one of the lay ministers beforehand. St John's Church follows the Anglican rite and Book of Common Prayer liturgy.
Normal Sunday services times are 8:30 a.m. (summer), and 9:30 a.m. (winter), with services at 10:00 a.m. on the major Christian feast days of Easter and Christmas as well as to mark the New Year. Visitors are always welcomed.
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