One of Mussoorie’s earliest Churches, the Union Church is all set to celebrate 150 years of its congregation. Formally established on 16th September 1868, the group earlier held services at various places in the hill-station before setting permanent roots in 1872.
Located at the foot of what was then called Club Hill, the Church’s foundation stone was laid in 1872, and the first service was held on 1st October 1874.
Even today the building continues as a Christian house of worship, with close to fifty members and some three hundred followers on their Facebook page from all over the globe connecting them to the town’s oldest church.
“Thirty years ago, in 1988, the Church started the Hebron Elementary School to reach out to the lesser fortunate community. Today there are some two hundred and eighty hundred local students from LKG and going up to class 8th,” says Lazarus Cornelius, Pastor of the Church.
As part of the festivities; a lot has been lined up over the next few months, and rightly so!
“Because is it 150 year we thought to do different things over a continuous celebration. The wider community of Mussoorie will be welcome to participate. In March, over a long weekend we will put together a befitting finale to the celebrations. At that time, we shall put on display artefacts; interesting calligraphic Bibles; and a brief history of the Church, along with much fanfare.” says Dana Crider.
Dates to mark on your calendar:
7th October – Annual Thanksgiving Service:
18th & 19th October – couples evening:
11th November – Annual Christmas Program and Noon Meal:
7th December – Annual Family Carol Service
22nd to 24th March – FINALE: An interesting line up of festivities which includes an exhibition, a food festival, a fair, a choir festival, special speaker(s) and a Sunday Love-Feast to top it all.
