Christianity in Mathura

Christianity in Mathura

Though Baptist Missionary Society was working in Mathura region even before of 1857 and there were Church Missionary Society agents too that time in Mathura; but there is very few Christian in Mathura.

Official record of 1871-72 shows that there were only 23 Christian in Mathura. (Rev. Thomas Evans was Baptist Missionary in Mathura in 1857, whose house had been burned down and he escaped t Agra fort with his family.)

It was very difficult for missionary to come and work in Mathura, core center of Hindu religion. Thousands of pilgrims used to come to Mathura – Vrindavan.

Rev. Dennis Osborne persuade his seniors to have the Methodist Episcopal Church mission in Mathura in 1886. Dennis Osborne proposed the “Occupation of Mathura” as a mission field during annual conference on February 3 , 1887 and Mathura mission was formed in 1888. Rev. J E Scott had become preacher in-charges on Mathura since January, 1888. They started a school in mission building. It was a rented building and they were looking for land for own building. They have found a good land on main road between Sadar and Mathura main city. A Chaubey (name : unknown) was owner of that big land parcel. Mission has discussed with Chaubey about his land to purchase. Chaubey has agreed to rent this land for lease. [Note: It is still on lease or mission purchased it later is unknown to me]. Mission has stared work upon that land, they finalised ground plan on 14-Feb-1888 and work was commenced on 29-March-1888. This work was completed on 01-Jan-1899. (A memorial stone was placed on wall state it was 28-March-1899.

Now mission has to expand and spread Christianity, but how? There were Brahmotsava in Shri Rangji Temple every year and it was on 1st to 8th March on 1888. Mission has taken “Ganga Mohan Kunj” for rent at Vrindavan. [Note: Smt. Ganga Rani wife of Raja Surajmal has built this palace at Kesi Ghat Vrindavan and she has stayed here for her last days]. 30 missionaries from nearby regions, 100 local Bible readers have utilise this Mahotsava to spread voice of Christianity. They have Baptist first a Rajput widow, than two Bengali widows and so on.

Mission has taken land from chobey for rent to establish Training school and Deaconess house. Mission needed money to construct buildings so they got fund from “W E Blackstone” of Oak Park, Chicago. In memory of his parents (Andrew Blackstone, Sarah), he has given three thousand dollars to mission. Mission needed more land for church building so they contacted the same Choubey again. His minor grandson was owner of adjacent land. Chobey has given that land too to mission on rent on 01-Nov-1888. [Note: It is still on lease or mission purchased it later is unknown to me]. Mission had laid memorial stone on 25-Nov1888. Now mission had Deaconess house, Training school and Church on that land parcel. Mrs. Fannie Sparks was first superintendent of Deaconess Homes. Training school also have few students, five students passed out in 1891. (Note: Blackstone school complex is the same place.)

Mathura, being a Hindu religious center it was very difficult for mission to convert people into Christianity. So they have targeted small nearby towns (e.g. Sadabad, Achnera, Hathras etc.). Whoever accepted Christianity that time were mostly sweeper or chamar. It was rare that any high caste or Brahmin convert into Christian. As mentioned earlier they have baptized few of widows in Mathura - Vrindavan.

Giraja of Quazi Pada 

It was actually “Flora Hall”, headquarter of church mission of Mathura. Mission had clear objective since beginning i.e. “Occupation of Mathura” as a mission field. Higher castes of Mathura and Vrindavan had undefined rule that no Christian, Muslim or low caste person purchase land or stay in their settlements / mohalla. Mission wanted to challenge it and wanted a building in hear of city. They found one building which was next to Shri Dwarikadheesh temple. It was a old building situated in Qazi pada behind Naya bazar. A small sub-way was connecting Qazi-pada and Naya bazar. This building was on both side of this subway. There was a mosque adjoining this building. Mission has taken this building on rent. They have opened a school in this building. Hamid Ali (who was from an elite family and was student of Agra college) was owner of this building.  Hamid Ali needed money so he sold this building to mission for five thousand rupees in Jan-1891. Hamid has taken one thousand immediately and four thousand rupees next year. (Hamid Ali had mortgaged this property to a Chobey earlier.). This purchase was challenged in court by locals Brahmins that mission has purchased this property without their consensus and it is not good for social harmony to have Chruch next to main temple. Locals also filed petition against mission and this building because there was construction over a lane. [a lane which is connecting Naya bazar and Qazi pada]. There were hustles in court but court announced in favour of mission. Blackstone family, who has funded earlier again funded for this project too. This time Mrs. Adaline M. Smith, of Oak Park, Chicago funded six thousand dollars in memory of their granddaughter “Flora L. Blackstone”. Flora Hall was built in 1893. Flora Hall was used as headquarter and a school.

Picture#1: Girija at Quazi-pada near Shri Dwarikadheesh Temple

Picture#2: Girija built in 1893

Picture#2: Rooms in Girija - Ground Floor [Currently shops]

Picture#3: Stair-case to First floor of Girija

Picture#4: Hall - Outside view 

Picture#5: Hall - Inside view 

Blackstone School (girls) – Gracie Hall

Mission wanted to expand training school for girls students, so they received fund from Blackstone family again in memory of Mrs. Adaline M. Smith’s grandchild “Gracie Budlong”. A marble tablet has been erected in the front veranda, under the tower, which state that "Gracie Hall. To the memory of Minnie Grace Budlong. This Building is erected by her Grandmother, Adaline M. Smith, of Oak Park, U. S. A., 1894.". Later there were few more buildings erected i.e. Dormitories, extra rooms in Flora Hall, Extension of Gracie Hall as Smith Hall.

Cantonment Church:

There were British cavalry regiment in cantonment that time and there were many nonconformists in that regiment. Mission wanted to have English service (a place to teach English language) in cantonment for these soldiers and other English students. So Mathura mission has discussed with cantonment commander. Commanding officer provided regimental schoolroom for this purpose initially. They utilised these classrooms for two years. Later mission persuade commanding officer and received land for church for zero rent. Mission erected a church and prayer room by spending 4 thousand rupees in April 1891.

Mission Hospital – Medical Service at Vrindavan

Mission was running medical service since beginning; Miss Dr. McDowell opened a dispensary in the city since 1889. Miss Dr. Sheldon replaced her in 1891. She was attending patients at Vrindavan too once a week. She felt that there should be permanent establishment in Vrindavan. Higher castes of Mathura and Vrindavan had undefined rule that no Christian, Muslim or low caste person purchase land or stay in their settlements / mohalla / sacred limit of city. Miss Fannie Sparks, superintendents of training schools had purchased a site from Brahmin widow (named: Champi) near Vrindavan railways station in 1889 for eleven hundred rupees. That widow already mortgaged this site to a trustee of Govind Deb ji temple. Mission has given full amount to him too and get site registered. There were counter claimant for this site. There were hustles in court, subordinate court announced against mission but later high court announce in favour of mission. Miss. Scott, MD joined mission in 1897 and she was able to win heart of local by her service. With fund from Mrs. L A Calder of Illinois, Mabel Colvin Memorial Home & Dispensary was established here in 15-Dec-1898.

Methodist Episcopal Church mission Mathura started School of Prophets also in 1893. They have organised 35 days school of Prophets in Jul-Aug of 1893. It was almost 5 years since they started mission in Mathura. So they have members who were Christian for 5 years and few who were Christian for a month. Mostly sweeper, chamar, one mohammeden and few higher caste Christian attended this school in 1893. Mostly came from Agra, Aligarh, Hathras, Deeg etc. Later mission has started Mela to spread Christianity. They conducted many Mela to spread their voice and utilised Hindu mela & pilgrims gathering too to spread Christianity in Mathura regions.

Location Links:

Flora Hall:

Flora Hall - Church near Dwarikadheesh Temple

Mission Hospital Vrindavan

Mission Hospital

Blackstone School, Clancy School, Methodist Church

Blackstone, Clancy School

Picture#6: Quazi para street

Picture#7: Girija - Outside view

Picture#8: Girija - Outside view -Gate

Picture#9: Girija - Outside view -Gate

Picture#10: Girija - Outside view - First Floor Gate

Picture#11: Girija - Outside view - First Floor

Picture#12: Girija - Outside view - Ground Floor

Picture#13: Girija - Outside view -Gate

Picture#14: Girija - Inside view