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Being a secular country, India has temples, mosques and churches in every city and town and the capital of the country, Delhi, is no different. There are temples like Bahai Lotus Temple, the Akshardham Temple and the Dargah of Hazrat Nizammuddin. And there are quite a few churches in the city where weddings, funerals and the festivals of Christians like Christmas and Easter are celebrated with great pomp. Here are some of the most notable churches in the city which are renowned for their architecture and the message of love and peace they preach. If you are in the city, do make it a point to visit some of them:
This church was built in the year 1836 by Colonel James Skinner, who was also an architect, and even Queen Elizabeth the II had visited the church. Other notable people include the Archbishop of Canterbury. The Viceroy of India was a regular visitor to the church till 1931. The church itself is named after Skinner himself. The church has wonderful architecture and there are many works of art and paintings within its premises, the most notable one of them being an original painting by the famous painter Pompeo Batani. The painting is titled the “Prodigal Son” and many art lovers come here to gaze upon it. The altar is very beautiful and the church is regularly visited by the Christian community of Delhi.
Location: Mori Gate
Nearest Metro Station: Kashmiri Gate
This church is very popular among the Christian community of Delhi and is regularly visited by a huge crowd on festivals. The decorations done during Easter and Christmas attract pilgrims from far and wide and there is a decent crowd during Sunday Mass as well. The church is located in the heart of the city at Connaught Place. It was designed and built by the architect Henry Medd and the huge cathedral has Italian influence. The interiors are likewise stunningly beautiful, with intricately carved pillars and stained glass work, which leave the visitors quite overwhelmed. This Connaught Place church is made from Carrara marble and it is said that it took 13 years to finish the cathedral, from 1922 to 1935.
Location: Ashok Place
Nearest Metro Station: Patel Chowk
This church is dedicated and built in the memory of St. Thomas who was one of the twelve disciples of Jesus Christ. The Catholic church in Delhi was built in the year 1972 and it is said that the funds for its construction came from the city of Cologne in Germany. The church was built with red bricks and it has western architecture, merged with Mughal style. Naturally, the architecture and designing is very unique and is one of the reasons why people come from far and wide to admire it.
Location: R K Puram
Nearest Metro Station: Bhikaji Cama Place
The church is situated in one of the busiest and loudest areas of Central Delhi, Chandni Chowk, and yet, when you enter the church, you are immediately taken in by the peace and tranquility of the place. It happens to be one of the oldest churches in Delhi, before all the hullaballoo around it started. Built in 1862, it was built by a society of Christians for the promotion and teachings of the Gospels. The church is built in the Roman Architectural Style and it is believed to be the first church in the city to be bestowed with a Martyr crown.
Location: Khari Bowli
Nearest metro station: Chandi Chowk
It cannot be said why this church got this name but some believe that a confession here really absolves one of all sins. The church also has a history given that the foundation stone of the Cathedral church Delhi was laid by Governor and Viceroy Irwin and there are some beautiful paintings inside commissioned from famous painters and brought all the way from Europe. The interiors are stunning and they are so aesthetically done that even in the scorching summers of Delhi, the church is very cool and delightful to be in.
Location: North Avenue
Nearest Metro Station: Central Secretariat
This church was built in 1978 in the defense colony area of Delhi and likewise people from every faith can visit here. It is a symbol of the true secular nature of the city and anyone who wants to seek god even in the busy life that the city entails, is always welcome to come here. The church is located in Central Delhi and is hence easily accessible from all parts of the city. It is affiliated directly to the Vatican church and hence the rituals here during Christmas and Easter are done according to true Roman Catholic rites.
Location: Defense Colony
Nearest Metro Station: South Extension
This church is again, one of the oldest in Delhi and was founded in the year 1723. It has seen many wars and takeovers and it was shut down for a period, after which it was again renovated and reopened in 1746. This church is also located in Chandni Chowk and you can simply come here and relax and have a quiet conversation with god even in a busy morning in Delhi.
Location: Khari Baoli
Nearest Metro Station: Lal Quila
This church was officially built in 1956, but from much before that, the bishop J W Robinson held spiritual gatherings and get-togethers for the community in a small cottage in the same spot. It was in 1956 that the government allotted land for the church to be built and it is still a high point of the solidarity of the Christians of the region. True to its motto of serving the community, for which the church was originally built, it still helps with scholarships and financial assistance to deserving students and empowering the women of the community.
Location: Lodi Road
Nearest Metro Station: Jangpura
This church is located in the upscale area of Vasant Kunj and there are a number of interesting carvings and sculptures to be admired here. The engraved art work is stunning and scriptures from the Bible are etched on to the walls which provide motivation to anyone who visits. Another interesting fact about the church is that the Mass here is also recited in the Korean language as a result of which Korean tourists also visit the church.
Location: Vasant Kunj
This church is over thirty years old and is truly a masterpiece as far as the architecture of the church is concerned. The pilgrims come to pray here as well as to admire the artwork and the beauty of the church. It is said that earlier there used to be a smaller church here but as the crowd here started increasing in weeks, the archbishop had decided to build a larger church in its stead so that more members of the Catholic community could be benefitted.
Location: Pushp Vihar
This is a small church in Delhi but nevertheless takes on all its larger counterparts as far as popularity is concerned. The church has wonderful grounds which are often used for community programs. The church also has a great collection of art work and hence is visited by the pilgrims quite frequently.
Location: Aurobindo Marg
This happens to be the third church on the list which is situated in Chandni Chowk. The church has a distinct European style and people visit it also because they visit the Red Ford located nearby. Popularly known as the Mother Church, this happens to be one of the oldest ones in the city, built sometime around 1860. In the chaos of Chandni Chowk around, the church provides a haven of peace and tranquility.
Location: Chandni Chowk
This is a Roman Catholic Church, built around 1953. The architecture is stunning, heavily inspired from major Roman Catholic churches around the world. There is a beautifully landscaped garden, marble staircase and the conical roofing adds a different depth. A number of schools are located in the region like St. Michael’s School and the masses here are held in both Hindi and English. As it is located in the congested Karol Bagh area, the church gets a steady stream of visitors each day, both domestic and foreign.
This church is also an extremely popular church in the city and is within very close distance of the New Delhi Railway station. This church was a built for a long time, with construction starting in 1917 and continuing up to 1949, as the two World Wars in between had stalled the construction. However, it also serves its purpose as a center for community service and now there are two schools and a girl’s orphanage in the premises. The church has a circular structure without any pillars and it is quite striking.
Location: Paharganj
This is a very famous church located in Hauz Khas and was opened to the public in 1979. It is also the only Syrian Orthodox Church in Delhi. It began under the supervision of Father Mathews and in 1952, the Parish Constitution elected KC Thomas for the position of the Vicar, which was under the supervision of the Diocese of Kerala.
Location: Hauz Khas
These churches in Delhi are great places of sightseeing as well as worship and visiting them will really enlighten you about Christianity and the Christian community.
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April 15, 2024 
