Srinagar, Dec 24: It seems like the abrogation of Article 370 has made Kashmir more secular as Kashmir's oldest church built in 1896 has been reopened for Christmas. The renovation of the church was undertaken by the Jammu and Kashmir tourism department under the ‘Smart City project.

 

The Jammu and Kashmir Tourism Department took an effort to renovate the church and restore its former glory. With this, the church will become a landmark. The church at Dalgate in Srinagar is located at the end of the western slope of the Shankaracharya hill and on its east lies the old Chest Disease Hospital, which is an architectural marvel itself built by the British missionaries more than a century ago.

According to the reports, Rs 80 lakh were spent on the church renovation, which started in May. The doors of the church were buried under muck and the exterior of the building had dirty splash of rain water, the roof was leaking, windows rusted and glass panes broken. The local residents said that the church was abandoned for over five decades after the J&K government took over the Kashmir Mission Hospital from the missionaries. It was later named as Chest Disease Hospital.

Addressing the gathering virtually, Manoj Sinha said the “lost glory of the oldest church in Srinagar had been restored. Reopening of St Luke's Church in Srinagar after restoration is a historic occasion to celebrate and imbibe Christ's message of sacrifice, service, redemption, love and compassion."

 

Sinha added that the church, which was built in 1896 on the southwest slope of Shri Shankaracharya Hill, is a “unique symbol” of Jammu and Kashmir’s "composite culture". "India has been home to diverse religions and cultures for centuries. But despite much diversity, we are living in unity without any discrimination," the LG said.

 

 

 

He urged the people of Jammu and Kashmir to inculcate the spirit of social harmony and strengthen values of brotherhood, peace and selfless service. The Lieutenant Governor congratulated the citizens of the union territory, especially the Christian community, the artisans involved in the renovation effort and the officials associated with the Smart City programme.

 

Special prayers were recited and a documentary on the history and restoration of the church was showcased on the occasion. The Christian community of Srinagar expressed happiness at the government’s initiative to renovate and reopen the church ahead of Christmas.

 

St Luke's Church is a single-storey building constructed on a cruciform plan. The church follows the Gothic style of architecture. Attached to the porch, there is a bell tower which is three stories high.