Srinagar’s 125-year-old Saint Lukes Church reopens just before Christmas

Saint Lukes Church, one of Kashmir’s oldest churches, has now opened doors for the public to offer prayers after 30 years. Constructed in 1896, the church is situated on the Southwest slope of Shankaracharya hill, near the Old TB Hospital, which is now known as CD Hospital.

As per the reports, reconstruction work on St Lukes Church was started in April 2020, and it was renovated by the J-K Tourism Department under the Smart City Project, which accounted for INR 90 lakh.
Nearby surroundings have also been developed, which include lighting, allied components, and the church path. The church interiors have also undergone renovation, and its wooden flooring, altar, window panes, seating area,access gate, and porch have been redeveloped.

Church Official Kennedy David Ranjan stated that the renovated church will be inaugurated by J-K Lieutenant Governor Manoj Sinha.
The 125-year-old church is a single-storey building, and features a Gothic style architecture, which makes it different when compared to other prominent monuments located in Srinagar. Prior to the reconstruction work, the church was in a dilapidated condition, and that is the reason why it has remained closed for three long decades..

All this while, Christians in the surrounding areas used to visit the Holy Family Catholic Church, a Roman Catholic Church, and another church in Church Lane for Christmas mass and Sunday mass.
With the reopening of this old church, the Christian community in the area has expressed its happiness and gratitude towards the government’s initiative to renovate and open the church before Christmas.