{ "book_metadata": { "book_name": "History of Christianity in India: Source Materials", "book_author": "M. K. Kuriakose", "publisher": "Indian Society for Promoting Christian Knowledge", "published_on": "2011" }, "chunks": [ { "chunk_index": 1, "chapter_name": "1970. Inauguration of the Church of North India", "page_numbers": [ 419 ], "image_paths": [ "raw\\pages\\00443-1ee23b5d5fa9f2880b3e.webp" ], "chunk_title": "CNI Inauguration Announced", "chunk_data": "196. INAUGURATION OF THE CHURCH OF NORTH INDIA (1970 A.D.)\nThe Church of North India was inaugurated on 29th November 1970. Its constitution was similar to that of the Church of South India with certain features of the Ceylon scheme included. Its most distinctive feature was the unification of the ministries of the uniting churches. Bishop D. M. Kennedy gives the following eye-witness account of the inauguration. Work in Progress: The CNI History, III, Indian Church History Review, vol. VII, No. 1 (June 1973), pp. 20-24.", "time": { "start_year": 1970, "start_month": 11, "start_date": 29, "end_year": 1970, "end_month": 11, "end_date": 29, "time_display": "29 November 1970" }, "meta": { "people": [ "Bishop D. M. Kennedy" ], "places": [ "North India", "South India", "Ceylon" ], "event": "The Church of North India was inaugurated with a constitution modeled on the Church of South India and with unified ministries.", "tags": [ "Church Union", "Religion", "India" ] } }, { "chunk_index": 2, "chapter_name": "1970. Inauguration of the Church of North India", "page_numbers": [ 419 ], "image_paths": [ "raw\\pages\\00443-1ee23b5d5fa9f2880b3e.webp" ], "chunk_title": "A Hindi Inauguration Hymn", "chunk_data": "'The glorious long-awaited day has come:\nAll glory be to Thee, O God;\nThis is the song of every heart...'\nThese words of the special Hindi lyric, beautifully sung on the eve of the Inauguration of the CNI by a special CARAVS Choir, summed up the feelings of all in the vast congregation which", "time": { "start_year": 1970, "start_month": 11, "start_date": 28, "end_year": 1970, "end_month": 11, "end_date": 28, "time_display": "Eve of 29 November 1970" }, "meta": { "people": [ "CARAVS Choir" ], "places": [ "North India" ], "event": "A special Hindi lyric sung by the CARAVS Choir expressed the congregation's anticipation of the CNI inauguration.", "tags": [ "Religion", "Music", "Church Union" ] } }, { "chunk_index": 3, "chapter_name": "1970. Inauguration of the Church of North India", "page_numbers": [ 419, 420 ], "image_paths": [ "raw\\pages\\00443-1ee23b5d5fa9f2880b3e.webp", "raw\\pages\\00444-d4d0e23164357f23e059.webp" ], "chunk_title": "Congregation Gathers at Nagpur", "chunk_data": "assembled on the Inauguration Day itself. The setting was in the spacious grounds of All Saints' Cathedral, Nagpur, that geographically convenient and ecumenically-minded Christian centre; the date was Sunday, 29 November 1970, the first Sunday in Advent. As the Cathedral was not large enough to accommodate the vast congregation of some three thousand Christians from India and overseas, the ceremonies were held in a large pandal outside. It was perhaps appropriate that the new Church should begin its pilgrimage in a tent!", "time": { "start_year": 1970, "start_month": 11, "start_date": 29, "end_year": 1970, "end_month": 11, "end_date": 29, "time_display": "29 November 1970" }, "meta": { "people": [ "Christians from India and overseas" ], "places": [ "All Saints' Cathedral", "Nagpur", "India" ], "event": "Around three thousand Christians gathered at Nagpur for the CNI inauguration, which was held in an outdoor pandal.", "tags": [ "Religion", "Church Union", "Nagpur" ] } }, { "chunk_index": 4, "chapter_name": "1970. Inauguration of the Church of North India", "page_numbers": [ 420 ], "image_paths": [ "raw\\pages\\00444-d4d0e23164357f23e059.webp" ], "chunk_title": "Six Churches Process Together", "chunk_data": "In the colourful opening procession the official representatives of the six uniting Churches (The Council of the Baptist Churches in Northern India, the Church of the Brethren in India, the Disciples of Christ, the Church of India, the Methodist Church (British and Australian Conferences), and the United Church of Northern India), ministerial and lay, each marching for the last time under their own denominational banner—were preceded by the Overseas representatives and the representatives of sister Churches in India itself, prominent among them the tall, imposing figure of Archbishop Raymond of Nagpur, representing the Roman Catholic Church.", "time": { "start_year": 1970, "start_month": 11, "start_date": 29, "end_year": 1970, "end_month": 11, "end_date": 29, "time_display": "29 November 1970" }, "meta": { "people": [ "Archbishop Raymond of Nagpur" ], "places": [ "Northern India", "India", "Nagpur" ], "event": "Representatives of six uniting Churches marched together in the opening procession under their denominational banners for the last time.", "tags": [ "Church Union", "Religion", "Procession" ] } }, { "chunk_index": 5, "chapter_name": "1970. Inauguration of the Church of North India", "page_numbers": [ 420 ], "image_paths": [ "raw\\pages\\00444-d4d0e23164357f23e059.webp" ], "chunk_title": "Dignitaries Attend the Ceremony", "chunk_data": "Mr. A. K. Kisku, M.P., Deputy Minister of Education and Youth Welfare, Government of India (who was representing the Prime Minister, Mrs. Indira Gandhi) and Dr. M. M. Thomas, Chairman of the Central Committee of the World Council of Churches were appropriately seated at the front of the large congregation.", "time": { "start_year": 1970, "start_month": 11, "start_date": 29, "end_year": 1970, "end_month": 11, "end_date": 29, "time_display": "29 November 1970" }, "meta": { "people": [ "A. K. Kisku", "Indira Gandhi", "M. M. Thomas" ], "places": [ "India" ], "event": "Indian government and World Council of Churches representatives attended the inauguration.", "tags": [ "Politics", "Religion", "Church Union" ] } }, { "chunk_index": 6, "chapter_name": "1970. Inauguration of the Church of North India", "page_numbers": [ 420 ], "image_paths": [ "raw\\pages\\00444-d4d0e23164357f23e059.webp" ], "chunk_title": "Declarations of Church Union", "chunk_data": "After the opening hymn, Declarations accepting the Plan of Church Union in North India (4th edition)—including Part I, the Constitution, and Part II, regarding the Inauguration of the Union and Interim Arrangements—were read in the hearing of the congregation by duly authorised lay representatives of the six uniting Churches.", "time": { "start_year": 1970, "start_month": 11, "start_date": 29, "end_year": 1970, "end_month": 11, "end_date": 29, "time_display": "29 November 1970" }, "meta": { "people": [ "Lay representatives of the six uniting Churches" ], "places": [ "North India" ], "event": "Lay representatives read the declarations accepting the Plan of Church Union in North India.", "tags": [ "Church Union", "Religion", "Governance" ] } }, { "chunk_index": 7, "chapter_name": "1970. Inauguration of the Church of North India", "page_numbers": [ 420 ], "image_paths": [ "raw\\pages\\00444-d4d0e23164357f23e059.webp" ], "chunk_title": "The CNI Is Declared One Church", "chunk_data": "These Declarations, together with the names of bishops and other ministers accepting the Constitution of the CNI, were placed on the Communion Table and brought before God in prayer. The presiding minister, the Right Reverend Dr. Gurbachan Singh, retiring Moderator of the UCNI (Presbyterian-Congregationalist) General Assembly, then solemnly declared 'that these six Churches within the area of union have become one CHURCH OF NORTH INDIA'. In response to these momentous acts and to his tremendous declaration, so quietly and reverently spoken, the vast congregation burst into the Doxology.", "time": { "start_year": 1970, "start_month": 11, "start_date": 29, "end_year": 1970, "end_month": 11, "end_date": 29, "time_display": "29 November 1970" }, "meta": { "people": [ "Gurbachan Singh" ], "places": [ "North India" ], "event": "Gurbachan Singh declared that the six Churches had become one Church of North India.", "tags": [ "Church Union", "Religion", "Worship" ] } }, { "chunk_index": 8, "chapter_name": "1970. Inauguration of the Church of North India", "page_numbers": [ 420 ], "image_paths": [ "raw\\pages\\00444-d4d0e23164357f23e059.webp" ], "chunk_title": "The First Communion Service", "chunk_data": "After a moment or two of silence, the Sacrament of the Lord's Supper began. It was according to the Liturgy of the Church of South India and was observed, on this First day of the Inauguration ceremonies, after the Reformed or presbyterian tradition. The sermon was preached by the Reverend Dr. Rupert Davies, President of the British Methodist Conference.", "time": { "start_year": 1970, "start_month": 11, "start_date": 29, "end_year": 1970, "end_month": 11, "end_date": 29, "time_display": "29 November 1970" }, "meta": { "people": [ "Rupert Davies" ], "places": [ "North India", "South India", "Britain" ], "event": "The inaugural service included the Lord's Supper according to the Church of South India liturgy and a sermon by Rupert Davies.", "tags": [ "Religion", "Worship", "Church Union" ] } }, { "chunk_index": 9, "chapter_name": "1970. Inauguration of the Church of North India", "page_numbers": [ 420, 421 ], "image_paths": [ "raw\\pages\\00444-d4d0e23164357f23e059.webp", "raw\\pages\\00445-0d4f0171129a8333ed49.webp" ], "chunk_title": "Ministers Are Unified by Prayer", "chunk_data": "Within the setting of the Sacrament, some eighty ministers, including the former Anglican bishops, were 'unified by prayer and the laying-on of hands of a nucleus of three ministers of the new Church—the Most Reverend Lakdasa de Mel, formerly Anglican, the Reverend Dr. Benjamin Pradhan, Chairman of the Inaugural Committee, formerly Baptist, and the Reverend C. C. Pande, Secretary of the Inaugural Committee, formerly Methodist.", "time": { "start_year": 1970, "start_month": 11, "start_date": 29, "end_year": 1970, "end_month": 11, "end_date": 29, "time_display": "29 November 1970" }, "meta": { "people": [ "Lakdasa de Mel", "Benjamin Pradhan", "C. C. Pande" ], "places": [ "North India" ], "event": "About eighty ministers were unified through prayer and the laying-on of hands by three ministers of the new Church.", "tags": [ "Religion", "Church Union", "Ordination" ] } }, { "chunk_index": 10, "chapter_name": "1970. Inauguration of the Church of North India", "page_numbers": [ 421 ], "image_paths": [ "raw\\pages\\00445-0d4f0171129a8333ed49.webp" ], "chunk_title": "Details of the Unified Ministers", "chunk_data": "(Note: Those 'unified' included the eight Bishops Designate, formerly Anglican Bishops, assigned to CNI Diocese; nine Bishops-Elect from the five non-Anglican traditions; four retiring Bishops (formerly Anglican Bishops, not associated with Dioceses); and also representative and accredited Presbyters of all six uniting Churches, chosen in such a way that, as far as possible, each Diocese of the CNI was represented by at least one presbyter who later assisted the Diocesan Bishop at the Diocesan Unification ceremonies.)", "time": { "start_year": 1970, "start_month": 11, "start_date": 29, "end_year": 1970, "end_month": 11, "end_date": 29, "time_display": "29 November 1970" }, "meta": { "people": [ "Anglican bishops", "Presbyters of the six uniting Churches" ], "places": [ "North India" ], "event": "The unification rite included designated and elected bishops, retiring bishops, and representative presbyters from the six Churches.", "tags": [ "Church Union", "Religion", "Ordination" ] } }, { "chunk_index": 11, "chapter_name": "1970. Inauguration of the Church of North India", "page_numbers": [ 421 ], "image_paths": [ "raw\\pages\\00445-0d4f0171129a8333ed49.webp" ], "chunk_title": "Three Ministers Are Commissioned", "chunk_data": "As agreed to in the Plan of Union, 4th edition, these three ministers had, a few minutes previously, themselves been commissioned with prayer and the laying-on of hands by representatives of all the six Churches now united, plus four other ministers from outside the area—the Moderator of the Church of South India (the Most Reverend P. Solomon), the Right Reverend Mar Theophilos (representing the Metropolitan of the Mar Thoma Syrian Church), the Reverend W. Manners of the Presbyterian Church of Assam, and the Reverend E. L. Wenger of the Baptist Church, Dacca, East Bengal.", "time": { "start_year": 1970, "start_month": 11, "start_date": 29, "end_year": 1970, "end_month": 11, "end_date": 29, "time_display": "29 November 1970" }, "meta": { "people": [ "P. Solomon", "Mar Theophilos", "W. Manners", "E. L. Wenger" ], "places": [ "South India", "Assam", "Dacca", "East Bengal" ], "event": "Representatives of the six Churches and four outside ministers commissioned the three leaders through prayer and the laying-on of hands.", "tags": [ "Religion", "Church Union", "Ordination" ] } }, { "chunk_index": 12, "chapter_name": "1970. Inauguration of the Church of North India", "page_numbers": [ 421 ], "image_paths": [ "raw\\pages\\00445-0d4f0171129a8333ed49.webp" ], "chunk_title": "The Unification Rite Affirms Ordination", "chunk_data": "All who witnessed this Unification Rite—so much discussed and argued over in the long drawn-out period of negotiation—were able to note its true significance. It included an unequivocal affirmation by all the representative ministers, non-Anglican as well as Anglican, of the reality of their existing ordination as an ordination to the ministry of the Universal Church. This was followed by the paradoxical statement by all—Anglicans as well as non-Anglicans—of their willingness to receive from God whatever 'of Christ's grace, commission and authority' He might wish to give to each.", "time": { "start_year": 1970, "start_month": 11, "start_date": 29, "end_year": 1970, "end_month": 11, "end_date": 29, "time_display": "29 November 1970" }, "meta": { "people": [ "Representative Anglican and non-Anglican ministers" ], "places": [ "North India" ], "event": "The Unification Rite affirmed the validity of existing ordinations and the ministers' willingness to receive Christ's grace and authority.", "tags": [ "Religion", "Church Union", "Ordination" ] } }, { "chunk_index": 13, "chapter_name": "1970. Inauguration of the Church of North India", "page_numbers": [ 421 ], "image_paths": [ "raw\\pages\\00445-0d4f0171129a8333ed49.webp" ], "chunk_title": "Ministers Share Communion as One Body", "chunk_data": "A prayer with the same 'intention' was followed by a silent laying-on of hands on groups of ministers coming forward together, not on a denominational but on a regional basis; and in a marvellously reverent stillness the Service moved on to the sharing in the Bread and Wine and to the triumphant recessional hymn, 'Glorious things of thee are spoken, Zion, city of our God'. We marched now, not in our denominational groups, but as one body under one banner, of the Church of North India.", "time": { "start_year": 1970, "start_month": 11, "start_date": 29, "end_year": 1970, "end_month": 11, "end_date": 29, "time_display": "29 November 1970" }, "meta": { "people": [ "Ministers of the Church of North India" ], "places": [ "North India" ], "event": "Ministers received the laying-on of hands regionally, shared Communion, and proceeded together as one body of the CNI.", "tags": [ "Religion", "Worship", "Church Union" ] } }, { "chunk_index": 14, "chapter_name": "1970. Inauguration of the Church of North India", "page_numbers": [ 421 ], "image_paths": [ "raw\\pages\\00445-0d4f0171129a8333ed49.webp" ], "chunk_title": "Former Anglican Bishops Confirmed", "chunk_data": "On the morning of Monday, 30 November—appropriately it was St. Andrew's day—eight former Anglican Bishops, assigned to Dioceses in the CNI, were confirmed in their appointments. At this ceremony Dr. Benjamin Pradhan presided.", "time": { "start_year": 1970, "start_month": 11, "start_date": 30, "end_year": 1970, "end_month": 11, "end_date": 30, "time_display": "30 November 1970" }, "meta": { "people": [ "Benjamin Pradhan", "Eight former Anglican bishops" ], "places": [ "North India" ], "event": "Eight former Anglican bishops were confirmed in their CNI diocesan appointments under Benjamin Pradhan's presidency.", "tags": [ "Religion", "Church Union", "Leadership" ] } }, { "chunk_index": 15, "chapter_name": "1970. Inauguration of the Church of North India", "page_numbers": [ 421, 422 ], "image_paths": [ "raw\\pages\\00445-0d4f0171129a8333ed49.webp", "raw\\pages\\00446-edfe7b1380a325e9e421.webp" ], "chunk_title": "Nine New Bishops Consecrated", "chunk_data": "Then followed the Consecration of nine new Bishops coming from the UCNI, 'British' Methodist, Baptist, Disciples and Church-of-the-Brethren traditions.", "time": { "start_year": 1970, "start_month": 11, "start_date": 30, "end_year": 1970, "end_month": 11, "end_date": 30, "time_display": "30 November 1970" }, "meta": { "people": [ "Nine new bishops" ], "places": [ "North India" ], "event": "Nine new bishops from five Church traditions were consecrated for the Church of North India.", "tags": [ "Religion", "Church Union", "Leadership" ] } }, { "chunk_index": 16, "chapter_name": "1970. Inauguration of the Church of North India", "page_numbers": [ 422 ], "image_paths": [ "raw\\pages\\00446-edfe7b1380a325e9e421.webp" ], "chunk_title": "Bishops Participate in Consecration", "chunk_data": "The Bishops taking part in the Consecration were the retiring Metropolitan of the Anglican Church in India, the Most Rev. Lakdasa de Mel, and the Right Revs. Christopher Robinson and John Sadiq, together with the Moderator of the CSI and Bishop Mar Theophilos of the Mar Thoma Church.", "time": { "start_year": 1970, "start_month": 11, "start_date": 30, "end_year": 1970, "end_month": 11, "end_date": 30, "time_display": "30 November 1970" }, "meta": { "people": [ "Lakdasa de Mel", "Christopher Robinson", "John Sadiq", "Mar Theophilos" ], "places": [ "India", "North India" ], "event": "Anglican, CSI, and Mar Thoma leaders participated in the consecration of the new bishops.", "tags": [ "Religion", "Church Union", "Leadership" ] } }, { "chunk_index": 17, "chapter_name": "1970. Inauguration of the Church of North India", "page_numbers": [ 422 ], "image_paths": [ "raw\\pages\\00446-edfe7b1380a325e9e421.webp" ], "chunk_title": "The Bishops Commit to Apostolic Faith", "chunk_data": "The Ordinal used was that of the Church of South India and, at very short notice, the Moderator of the CSI preached a moving sermon on the pastoral office of a Bishop. The ceremonial, though dignified, was simple; and the questions put to the new bishops and answered by them left in no doubt their commitment and that of the whole Church of North India to the Apostolic, Biblical and evangelical faith.", "time": { "start_year": 1970, "start_month": 11, "start_date": 30, "end_year": 1970, "end_month": 11, "end_date": 30, "time_display": "30 November 1970" }, "meta": { "people": [ "Moderator of the CSI", "New bishops" ], "places": [ "South India", "North India" ], "event": "The new bishops affirmed their commitment, and that of the CNI, to the Apostolic, Biblical, and evangelical faith.", "tags": [ "Religion", "Worship", "Leadership" ] } }, { "chunk_index": 18, "chapter_name": "1970. Inauguration of the Church of North India", "page_numbers": [ 422 ], "image_paths": [ "raw\\pages\\00446-edfe7b1380a325e9e421.webp" ], "chunk_title": "Second-Day Communion Service", "chunk_data": "The Service again culminated in Holy Communion, the Bread and Wine being given on the second day to groups of communicants who came forward to different parts of the pandal, and received the elements, standing, from the Bishops and Presbyters.", "time": { "start_year": 1970, "start_month": 11, "start_date": 30, "end_year": 1970, "end_month": 11, "end_date": 30, "time_display": "30 November 1970" }, "meta": { "people": [ "Bishops", "Presbyters", "Communicants" ], "places": [ "North India" ], "event": "The second day of the inauguration concluded with Holy Communion distributed by bishops and presbyters.", "tags": [ "Religion", "Worship", "Church Union" ] } }, { "chunk_index": 19, "chapter_name": "1970. Inauguration of the Church of North India", "page_numbers": [ 422 ], "image_paths": [ "raw\\pages\\00446-edfe7b1380a325e9e421.webp" ], "chunk_title": "Thanksgiving Service Honors Pioneers", "chunk_data": "The Inauguration ceremonies, which had been carried out on a background of tremendous goodwill and active co-operation from Christian and indeed non-Christian Nagpur, and which had been enriched by several cultural programmes of outstanding interest and merit, reached a fitting climax in a very simple Service of Thanksgiving, with prayer, Bible reading and hymns, on the afternoon of 30 November. It began with an act of remembrance of some of the great pioneers of Church Union in India, including Dr. Augustine Ralla Ram and Dr. Donald Sully, this part of the Service being appropriately and impressively conducted by the Rev. C. C. Pande, the veteran Secretary of the Inaugural Committee, who had been the friend and colleague of most of the people commemorated.", "time": { "start_year": 1970, "start_month": 11, "start_date": 30, "end_year": 1970, "end_month": 11, "end_date": 30, "time_display": "Afternoon of 30 November 1970" }, "meta": { "people": [ "Augustine Ralla Ram", "Donald Sully", "C. C. Pande" ], "places": [ "Nagpur", "India" ], "event": "A Thanksgiving Service at Nagpur commemorated pioneers of Church Union in India.", "tags": [ "Religion", "Church Union", "Commemoration" ] } }, { "chunk_index": 20, "chapter_name": "1970. Inauguration of the Church of North India", "page_numbers": [ 422 ], "image_paths": [ "raw\\pages\\00446-edfe7b1380a325e9e421.webp" ], "chunk_title": "The New Church Begins Its Mission", "chunk_data": "It ended with a stirring and prophetic sermon by one of the youngest members of the Inaugural Committee, the Rev. S. K. Biswas of Calcutta Cathedral, who was so soon to play an outstanding part in the relief of the refugees from Bangla Desh, before the CNI was one year old. With his challenging words ringing in their ears, the Bishops and representative Presbyters and laymen began to disperse on their return journeys to the nineteen far-flung Dioceses of the new Church, there to carry forward in their own regional languages and their Diocesan areas the work of reconciliation and unification so memorably begun at Nagpur.", "time": { "start_year": 1970, "start_month": 11, "start_date": 30, "end_year": 1970, "end_month": 11, "end_date": 30, "time_display": "30 November 1970" }, "meta": { "people": [ "S. K. Biswas", "Bishops", "Presbyters", "Laymen" ], "places": [ "Calcutta", "Bangla Desh", "Nagpur", "North India" ], "event": "After the Thanksgiving sermon, CNI leaders dispersed to nineteen dioceses to continue reconciliation and unification in regional languages.", "tags": [ "Religion", "Church Union", "Mission" ] } } ] }