Church of North India

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Template:Short description Template:Use dmy dates Template:Use Indian English Template:Infobox Christian denomination

The Church of North India (CNI) is the dominant united Protestant church in northern India. It was established on 29 November 1970 by bringing together most of the Protestant churches working in northern India. It is a province of the worldwide Anglican Communion and a member of the World Methodist Council and the World Communion of Reformed Churches.<ref name="WMC2020">{{#invoke:citation/CS1|citation |CitationClass=web }}</ref><ref name="WCC-CNI">{{#invoke:citation/CS1|citation |CitationClass=web }}</ref> The merger, which had been in discussions since 1929, came eventually between the Church of India, Pakistan, Burma and Ceylon (Anglican), the Methodist Church, Disciples of Christ, and some congregations from the United Church of Northern India (Congregationalist and Presbyterian).<ref name="WMC2020"/>

The CNI's jurisdiction covers all states of India with the exception of the five states in the south (Andhra Pradesh, Telangana, Karnataka, Kerala and Tamil Nadu which are under the jurisdiction of the Church of South India. It has approximately 2,300,000 members (0.1% of India's population) in 3,000 pastorates.<ref name="reformedonline">{{#invoke:citation/CS1|citation |CitationClass=web }}</ref><ref>{{#invoke:citation/CS1|citation |CitationClass=web }}</ref><ref>{{#invoke:citation/CS1|citation |CitationClass=web }}</ref>

History

Template:Christianity in India sidebar

Church of North India in red and Church of South India in blue

Ecumenical discussions with a view to a unified church were initiated by the Australian Churches of Christ Mission, the Methodist Church of Australia, the Wesleyan Methodist Church, the Methodist Episcopal Church and the United Church of Northern India during a religious convention in Lucknow in 1929.

A negotiation committee was set up in 1951 using the plan of Church Union that resulted from the earlier consultations as its basis. The committee was composed of representatives from the Baptist Churches in Northern India; the Church of India, Pakistan, Burma and Ceylon; the Methodist Church (British and Australian conferences); the Methodist Church in Southern Asia; and the United Church of Northern India (UCNI).<ref name="Wilkinson1958">Template:Citation</ref><ref name="indianchristianity.org">{{#invoke:citation/CS1|citation |CitationClass=web }}</ref> The Methodist Episcopal Church, however, did not join the discussions and, in 1981, it became the Methodist Church in India (MCI).<ref name="AbrahamKirby2009">Template:Cite book</ref> In 1957, the Church of the Brethren in India and the Disciples of Christ denominations joined in the negotiations as well.

A new negotiation committee was set up in 1961 with representatives from all the above-mentioned denominations. In 1965, a finalized plan of Church Union, known as the 4th Plan of Union 1965, was made. The union was formalized on 29 November 1970 when all the negotiating churches were united as the Church of North India with the exception of the Methodist Church in Southern Asia, which decided not to join the union.

Beliefs and practices

The CNI is a trinitarian church that draws from the traditions and heritage of its constituent denominations. The basic creeds of the CNI are the Apostles' Creed and the Nicene Creed of 381 AD.

Liturgy

The liturgy of the CNI is of particular interest, as it combines many traditions, including that of the Methodists and such smaller churches as the Church of the Brethren and the Disciples of Christ. Provision is given for diverse liturgical practices and understandings of the divine revelation.

Ordination

Men and women may be ordained deacons, presbyters, and bishops. The CNI approved the ordination of women to the priesthood in 1977.<ref>{{#invoke:citation/CS1|citation |CitationClass=web }}</ref> In 2024, the CNI ordained the first woman to serve as a bishop within the CNI.<ref>{{#invoke:citation/CS1|citation |CitationClass=web }}</ref> In June, 2024, a second woman was ordained a bishop.<ref>{{#invoke:citation/CS1|citation |CitationClass=web }}</ref> In 2025, the CNI ordained a third woman as bishop.<ref>{{#invoke:citation/CS1|citation |CitationClass=web }}</ref>

Governance

Template:Anchor The polity of the CNI brings together the episcopal, the presbyterial and the congregational elements in an effort to reflect the polity of the churches which entered into union. The episcopacy of the CNI is both historical as well as constitutional. There are 26 dioceses, each under the supervision of a bishop. The main administrative and legislative body is the synod, which meets once every three years to elect a presiding bishop, called a moderator, and an executive committee. The moderator acts as the head of the church for a fixed term; another bishop is elected Deputy Moderator.

Social involvement

Social involvement is a major emphasis in the CNI. There are synodal boards in charge of various ministries: Secondary, Higher, Technical and Theological Education, Health Services, Social Services, Rural Development, Literature and Media. There is also a synodal Programme Office which seeks to protect and promote peace, justice, harmony and dignity of life.

The CNI currently operates 65 hospitals, nine nursing schools, 250 educational institutions and three technical schools. Some of the oldest and well-respected educational institutions in India like Scottish Church College in Calcutta, La Martiniere Calcutta, Wilson College in Mumbai, St. James' School, Calcutta, Hislop College in Nagpur, St. John's Diocesan Girls' School, Calcutta, St. Paul's School in Darjeeling, St. John's College, Agra, Bishop Cotton School in Shimla, Christ Church College, Kanpur, Sherwood College in Nainital, Ewing Christian College, Boys' High School & College in Prayagraj are under the administration of the CNI.

Ecumenism

The CNI participates in many ecumenical bodies as a reflection of its commitment towards church unity. Domestically it participates in a joint council with the Church of South India and the Mar Thoma Syrian Church known as the Communion of Churches in India. It is also a member of the National Council of Churches in India. Regionally, the CNI participates in the Christian Conference of Asia and on an international level it is a member of the World Council of Churches, the Council for World Mission, World Alliance of Reformed Churches, World Methodist Council and in full communion with the Anglican Communion. The CNI is also in partnership with many other domestic, regional and international Christian agencies.

Present administrators

  • Moderator: The Most Rev. Dr. Paritosh Canning
  • Deputy Moderator: The Rt. Revd. Manoj Charan, Bishop, Diocese of Amritsar
  • Treasurer: Mr. Subrata Gorai
  • General Secretary: The Revd. Dr. D.J. Ajith Kumar

Moderators

Since its formation in 1970, the Synod of the CNI has elected a Moderator and one Deputy every three years.<ref>[1] Template:Webarchive and [2] Template:Webarchive</ref>

Term Moderator Deputy Moderator
April 1971Template:SndJuly 1974 Template:Sortname,
Bishop in Delhi (and Rajasthan) 		Template:Sortname,
Bishop in Nagpur
July 1974Template:SndOctober 1977
October 1977Template:SndOctober 1980
October 1980Template:SndNovember 1983 Template:Sortname,
Bishop in Nagpur 		Template:Sortname,
Bishop in Calcutta
November 1983Template:SndOctober 1986 Template:Sortname,
Bishop in Calcutta 		Template:Sortname,
Bishop in Lucknow
October 1986Template:SndOctober 1989 Template:Sortname,
Bishop in Lucknow 		Template:Sortname,
Bishop in Darjeeling
October 1989Template:SndOctober 1992 Template:Sortname,
Bishop in Darjeeling 		Template:Sortname,
Bishop in Jabalpur
October 1992Template:SndOctober 1995 Template:Sortname,
Bishop in Amritsar 		Template:Sortname,
Bishop in Cuttack
October 1995Template:SndOctober 1998 Template:Sortname,
Bishop in Cuttack 		Template:Sortname,
Bishop in Nagpur
October 1998Template:SndJanuary 2001 Template:Sortname,
Bishop in Nagpur
(died December 2000) 		Template:Sortname,
Bishop in Chotanagpur
JanuaryTemplate:SndOctober 2001 Template:Sortname,
Bishop in Chotanagpur 		Template:Sortname,
Bishop in Barrackpore
October 2001Template:SndOctober 2004 Template:Sortname,
Bishop in Chotanagpur 		Template:Sortname,
Bishop in Chandigarh
October 2004Template:SndOctober 2005
October 2005Template:SndOctober 2008 Template:Sortname,
Bishop in Chandigarh 		Template:Sortname,
Bishop in North East India
October 2008Template:SndOctober 2011 Template:Sortname,
Bishop in North East India 		Template:Sortname,
Bishop in Patna
October 2011Template:SndOctober 2014 Template:Sortname,
Bishop in Patna 		Template:Sortname,
Bishop in Amritsar
October 2014Template:Snd3 October 2017 Template:Sortname,
Bishop in Amritsar 		Prem Singh,
Bishop in Jabalpur
October 2017Template:Snd23 August 2019 Prem Singh,
Bishop in Jabalpur 		Probal Dutta,
Bishop in Durgapur and Kolkata
23 August 2019Template:Snd14 September 2022 Template:Sortname,
Bishop in Phulbani
9 December 2022 – October 2025 Bijay Kumar Nayak Paul B.P. Duphare

Manoj Charan

23 October 2025 - present Paritosh Canning,

Bishop in Calcutta

Silvans S Christian,

Bishop in Gujarat

Dioceses

Diocese of Calcutta

Template:Further When originally founded in 1813, the fourth overseas diocese of the Church of England covered all the subcontinent, all Australasia and some of Africa. With its 1835 split to create Madras diocese, Calcutta was made metropolitan over all its original area, and has been split many times since. The Bishop of Calcutta remained Metropolitan of India until the CNI's 1970 creation; the current diocese covers parts of Bengal and the bishop is The Most Rev. Paritosh Canning, Moderator CNI.<ref name="dutta-kolkata">[3]Template:Dead link</ref>

Diocese of Mumbai

Template:Further Split from Calcutta diocese in 1837,<ref name="BCC1940">Template:Cite book</ref> the Diocese of Bombay was the last new Indian diocese of the Church of England before all colonial dioceses became independent in 1863. Like Calcutta, Mumbai diocese has been a very large Church of England diocese, a diocese of the independent Indian Anglican church, and now a United Church diocese. The CNI diocese today covers Maharashtra, and the bishop is the Rt. Rev. Prabhu D. Jebamani.<ref name="vibhute">{{#invoke:citation/CS1|citation |CitationClass=web }}</ref>

Diocese of Chotanagpur

Template:Further Founded from Calcutta diocese in 1890,<ref name="BCC1940" /> the current diocese is based in Ranchi, its territory is Jharkhand and the bishop is B. B. Baskey.<ref name="canning-cons" />

Diocese of Lucknow

Template:Further The Diocese of Lucknow is an ecclesiastical jurisdiction of the Church of India (CIPBC), with its headquarters in Prayagraj, Uttar Pradesh. Established in 1893 following its separation from the Diocese of Calcutta, the diocese retained Prayagraj as its administrative center despite being named after the city of Lucknow. It encompasses the eastern region of Uttar Pradesh and includes several deaneries such as Jhansi, Prayagraj, Lakhimpur, Gorakhpur, Varanasi, Mirzapur.<ref>Chatterton, E. (1924). A History of the Church of England in India. Retrieved from https://anglicanhistory.org/india/chatterton1924/22.html</ref>

Diocese of Nagpur

Template:Further The diocese was originally created in 1902/03, from Chotanagpur diocese.<ref>Template:Church Times</ref><ref>Template:Church Times</ref>

Diocese of North East India

Template:Further The CNI Northeast diocese, based in Shillong, North East India is headed by bishop Michael Herenz.<ref>[4]Template:Dead link</ref> It originated as the Diocese of Assam, in the Anglican Church of India, erected from Calcutta in 1915;<ref name="thes_Nort">{{#invoke:citation/CS1|citation |CitationClass=web }}</ref> and became known by the present name before 1986.<ref>Template:Cite book</ref>

Diocese of Nasik

Template:Further In 1929, Nasik diocese was founded from Bombay;<ref>Template:Church Times</ref> her present bishop is the Rt. Rev. Darbara Singh.<ref name="angl_">{{#invoke:citation/CS1|citation |CitationClass=web }}</ref>

List of Dioceses

Name Founded Headquarters Location Bishop Website
Diocese of Delhi citation CitationClass=web

}}</ref>

New Delhi Delhi, Haryana The Rt. Rev. Dr. Paul Swarup https://www.dioceseofdelhi.org/
Diocese of Dooars 2023 in Delhi West Bengal & Assam Santalpur, Mission Compound The Rt. Rev. David Roy
Diocese of Amritsar citation CitationClass=web

}}</ref>

Amritsar Punjab, Himachal Pradesh, Jammu and Kashmir The Rt. Rev. Manoj Charan www.amritsardiocesecni.org
Diocese of Barrackpore 1956, from Calcutta<ref>Template:Church Times & Template:Church Times</ref> Barrackpore West Bengal citation CitationClass=web

}}</ref>

Diocese of Andaman and Nicobar 1966, from Calcutta<ref>Template:Church Times</ref> Port Blair Andaman and Nicobar Islands The Rt. Rev. Thomas
Diocese of Jabalpur citation CitationClass=web

}}</ref>

Jabalpur Madhya Pradesh The Rt. Rev. Ajay Umesh James http://dioceseofjabalpur-cni.org/
Diocese of Patna bef. 70 Bhagalpur Bihar and Jharkhand The Rt. Rev. Francis Hansda
Diocese of Cuttack 1970 Cuttack Cuttack, Odisha The Rt. Rev.Surendra Kumar Nanda http://www.dioceseofcuttackcni.in/
Diocese of Bhopal betw. 70–79, from Jabalpur Indore Madhya Pradesh The Rt. Rev. Neena Charan
Diocese of Rajasthan citation CitationClass=web

}}</ref>

Ajmer Rajasthan The Rt. Rev. Raimson Victor
Diocese of Gujarat betw. 70–96 Ahmedabad Gujarat The Rt. Rev. Silvans Christian, Deputy Moderator CNI
Diocese of Kolhapur betw. 70–96 Kolhapur Maharashtra The Rt. Rev. Manoj Devdan Kate
Diocese of Durgapur betw. 70–96 Durgapur West Bengal The Rt. Rev. Sameer Issac Khimla <ref name="dutta-kolkata" />
Diocese of Chandigarh 1974, from Amritsar Ludhiana Chandigarh, Punjab The Rt. Rev. Darbara Singh
Diocese of Agra citation CitationClass=web

}}</ref>

Agra Uttar Pradesh, Uttarakhand The Rt. Rev. Bijay Kumar Nayak http://cnidioceseofagra.org
Diocese of Lucknow citation CitationClass=web

}}</ref>

Prayagraj Uttar Pradesh citation CitationClass=web

}}</ref>

https://www.dioceseoflucknowcni.org
Diocese of Eastern Himalaya citation CitationClass=web

}}</ref> from Barrackpur

Darjeeling West Bengal, Bhutan, parts of Assam The Rt. Rev. Roshan Thapa
Diocese of Sambalpur bef 96<ref name="conf">Template:Cite book</ref> Bolangir Odisha The Rt. Rev. Immanuel Dani
Diocese of Phulbani citation CitationClass=web

}}</ref> from Cuttack

Kandhmal Odisha The Rt. Rev. Violet Nayak
Diocese of Marathwada citation CitationClass=web

}}</ref>

Aurangabad Maharashtra The Rt. Rev. Prakash D. Patole
Diocese of Pune c. 2000<ref name="oremus" /> Pune Maharashtra The Rt. Rev. Alfred C. Tiwade
Diocese of Chhattisgarh 2010, from Jabalpur Raipur Chhattisgarh The Rt. Rev. Sushma Kumar

See also

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References

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