CHURCH HISTORY OF CHURCH OF THE ASCENSION, ALIGARH

A Quick history of Church Of Ascension by Adv. Osmond Charles

Christianity or Christians are about 200 years old in Aligarh. Before the establishments of churches in Aligarh there were few pockets of Christians in Aligarh.

Church of the Ascension Ghanta Ghar is a unit of Diocese of Agra, Church of North India. In 1868 Rev. R. W. Shackell purchased 55,000 sq yard of land about 500 meters from the Railway station in an auction by the Collector of the day Henry Lawrence for Rs. 6,200 only, details recorded in Register No 6 Registry no 436 page 1.

This land was purchased for the benefit of local worshipers. The foundation of the church was laid in 1869 in which many authorities of the Church participated. It took about two years to complete. In the beginning, it was different, a long hall without any wall. The Church was completed in 1904-5. Again renovated in 2002 when I was a member of the committee and I suggested to have the balcony to accommodate a congregation of 1000. It was done during the period of Bishop Andrews.

The property originally belonged to Engineer TAURAN DOD.

Incidentally, Rev. C. T. HORNLE a German missionary and father - in Law Rev. H. W. Shackell laid the foundation stone of St. Thomas Church, Bachcha Park,Meerut in 1868 which is also the foundation year of Church of Ascension Aligarh. The team of the father in law and son in law have contributed a lot to the growth of Churches in North India for evangelical work.

Before the Church of the Ascension was constructed the Christians used to worship in a chapel inside the compound in front of Pastor's house. The pastor's house was demolished in 70's as it was in bad shape. Since then the Pastor reside in Parsonage in the compound on SAMAD ROAD side.

The compound had Hostel for students of AMU. ZANANA COMPOUND AND TRAINING CENTER. There was also a school for the students from a lower category

There are about a hundred families in the compound. Many nurses of AMU resides in the compound. Mrs D. Charles ( my mother ) who was in charge of Abdulahh school breathed her last in the compound. In 1990 Mrs Baseer wife of Prof Baseer MLA and Dept of Zoology wanted to settle in the compound for peaceful living

In the compound adjacent to the main gate there is a park in remembrance of Rev. H. W. Shackell.

As per the records available, the first baptism in the Church of the Ascension took place in the year 1916 on Christmas day. Her name was SHANTA and the Pastor was Rev. T. Law a British Pastor.