200 years after inception, north India’s oldest church breaks from English-only past with first Hindi service

MEERUT: Two centuries after it was founded to serve a British military garrison, St John’s Church in Meerut — believed to be the oldest church in North India built by the British — conducted its first-ever Hindi prayer service this week, a quiet but potent shift from its longstanding English-only liturgical tradition. The timing was deliberate: the inaugural service was held on Sunday, a day after the anniversary of the 1857 uprising that began in this very city, and which forever changed the trajectory of British rule in India.Set behind a curtain of tall trees and colonial-era facades, St John’s Church is not just a religious structure but a repository of layered histories. Its weathered plaques commemorate lives lost during the mutiny; its pews and gothic style windows speak to a design language imported from across the sea but rooted in the heat and dust of the Gangetic plains. Completed in 1822 and consecrated two years later by Bishop Reginald Heber — who travelled from Kolkata (then Calcutta) to Meerut over three arduous months, part of it on elephant back — the church was conceived as a spiritual outpost of the empire, designed in the classical Palladian style.Today, that same building, with its high ceilings, marble baptistery, and once-grand pipe organ, witnessed a different kind of milestone.“What better occasion than the anniversary of the 1857 rebellion — which began here in Meerut on May 10—to introduce a service in the language of the people?” said Reverend Rinvi Noel, the church’s presbyter in charge. “It opens the doors of this historic space to Hindi-speaking Christians while continuing our English services as usual.”The decision, however, did not come without deliberation. Long-standing church members, particularly from the old families or hailing from non-Hindi speaking states, were hesitant about altering the church’s English-only tradition. “This church is steeped in history and its English service is part of that heritage,” said a member on condition of anonymity. “Introducing a bilingual service felt like a compromise.So, we opted instead for a separate Hindi service.”Another member remarked, "Many army officers stationed here come from states where Hindi isn't commonly spoken, so offering services in English is more suitable for them."For locals like Anuradha Masih, the announcement of service in Hindi came as a relief. “I always wanted to be part of the worship here,” she said, “but language was a barrier. It’s wonderful that a Hindi service is now being offered — we’re looking forward to participating.”Yet for others, the shift marks a long-overdue recognition of the community the church now serves—no longer a garrison town, but a mixed, evolving urban population. Reverend Noel noted that several Christian families stationed temporarily in the Meerut cantonment had already expressed interest in attending the new service. “Now, they are joining,” she said.The symbolism of the moment is inescapable. On the very anniversary of the revolt that challenged colonial dominance, the church that once stood as a monument to that Empire made space for India’s majority language. As Dr K K Sharma, head of the history department at Chaudhary Charan Singh University, put it, “This church has always stood witness to major historical events. Today, it adds another chapter to that legacy.The introduction of Hindi worship marks a symbolic culmination of Indian ownership.”Indeed, the walls of St John’s have held stories far older than this week’s development. The church, built for Rs 56,000, was once attended by the likes of the Marquis of Hastings, then Governor-General of India. Its cemetery holds the remains of British officers and civilians, including Colonel John Finnis — believed to be the first British officer killed in the 1857 uprising. The inscription above the arched entrance reads: “The first house of worship erected by the British in the then Upper Provinces of India.”