Methodist Church in India

Methodist Church in India is a Protestant

Methodist Church in India
Christian denomination of India.

The Methodist Church in India's roots originate in

American Methodist missionary activity in India, as
opposed to the British and Australian conferences
of the Methodist Churches, which joined the
Church of South India and the Church of North
India that emerged as a result of the ecumenical
merger of the Methodist Church of Great Britain,
Church of India, Burma and Ceylon (Anglican)
and other Protestant denominations.[1]
Classification Methodist
Methodism came to India in 1856.[2][3] It has Theology Wesleyan-Arminian
hundreds of thousands of members. [4] It is a Polity Episcopal
member of the World Council of Churches,
Christian Conference of Asia, the National Council Associations World Council of Churches,
of Churches in India and World Methodist Christian Conference of Asia, the
Council.[4] It runs schools.[4][5] National Council of Churches in
India and World Methodist
The Methodist Church in India (MCI), is an Council
"autonomous affiliated" Church in relation to the
Congregations 2,460
United Methodist Church.[6][7]
Members 648,000
It has episcopal polity.
Official website https://worldmethodistcouncil.org

History
In 1856 the Methodist Episcopal Church From America started the
mission in India. The Methodist Episcopal Church began its work
in India in 1856, when William Butler came from America. He
selected Oudh and Rohilkhand to work in and, being unable to
secure a residence at Lucknow, began work at Bareilly. The first
Methodist Church in Gandhinagar
War of Independence broke up the work at Bareilly, but in 1858
being renovated.
Lucknow was occupied and Bareilly re-occupied and the work of
the Mission started anew.

By 1864 the work had grown to such an extent that it was organized under the name of the India Mission
Conference. Additional stations were occupied in Oudh, Rohilkhand, Garhwal, and Kumaon, and by 1876
The Methodist Episcopal Church had established work both along evangelistic and educational lines.

Methodist Churches were established in cities including Mumbai, Kolkata, Chennai, Kanpur and
Bangalore. Special revival meetings were held which led the church out of its boundaries and gave it a
national status.
In 1870 marked, on the invitation of James M. Thoburn, an acknowledged leader in the Mission, evangelist
William Taylor was invited to India to hold special revival meetings. On his arrival, he started his work at
Lucknow and subsequently went to Kanpur. The work had thus far been confined to the territory East and
North of the Ganges, but by that river; this move was the first step of expansion into all Southern Asia.
There came into existence Methodist congregations in Kanpur, Bombay, Poona, Calcutta, Secunderabad,
Madras, Bangalore, Nagpur and other cities.[8]

In 1873 the churches established by William Taylor were organized into the "Bombay-Bengal Mission." In
1876 the South India Annual Conference was organized, taking in all the territory outside the bounds of the
original Upper India field. This was followed in 1888 by the organization of the Bengal Annual
Conference, and in 1893 the Bombay and North-West India Annual Conferences were separated. Between
1871 and 1900 the Methodist Episcopal Church expanded to become a national Church throughout
Southern and South-Eastern Asia, with work carried on in twelve languages, extending from Manila to
Quetta and from Lahore to Madras; and the Christian community increased from 1,835 to 111,654.

In 1904 the field was again sub-divided by the organization of the Central Provinces Mission Conference,
which was followed by setting the work of Burma apart and organizing it as a Mission Conference. In
1921 two Annual Conferences, Lucknow and Gujarat were brought into existence and another division of
the field was made in 1922 when the Indus River Annual Conference was organized. In 1925 the
Hyderabad Annual Conference was separated from the South India Annual Conference. In 1956 Agra
Annual Conference was separated from Delhi Annual Conference and Moradabad Annual Conference
from the North India Annual Conference. In 1960 the Karachi Provisional Annual Conference was
organized. Thus in 95 years from 1865 to 1960, the one Conference in India had grown into 13, covering
the whole of Southern Asia.

In this period the work of the Methodist Episcopal Church spread beyond India. Under the leadership of
James M. Thoburn, Burma was entered in 1879, where John E. Robinson became the pioneer missionary,
and in 1885 the work in Malaysia was begun by the establishment of a mission at Singapore, the pioneer
here being William F. Oldham. In 1899, when the Philippines came into the possession of the United States
of America, James M. Thoburn entered Manila and established the Church; Homer C. Stuntz was one of
the pioneer workers. All these missionary leaders later became Bishops of the Church.

In 1870 the first missionaries of the Woman's Foreign Missionary Society of the Methodist Episcopal
Church came. Two young ladies arrived that year: Isabella Thoburn, to work in the education of India's
girls and women, and physician Clara Swain, to work in medicine, the first female doctor to undertake such
work in Asia.

Evangelistic work in the villages of northern India resulted in the baptism of large numbers of people from
the deprived classes.

In 1920 the Methodist Missionary Society was organized to supervise missionary work in India. In 1930
the Central Conference of southern Asia elected the first national bishop. Since the Independence of India
in 1947 all bishops have been Indian nationals. Missionaries were sent to Borneo in 1956 and to the Fiji
islands in 1963.

Since 1928 the MCI was engaged in union negotiations in North India. In 1970 the Central Conference
voted against the plan of union, but dialogue with the Church of North India continued.
In 1981 the Methodist Church in India was established as an "autonomous affiliated" church in relation
with the United Methodist Church.[6][7] The church is now independent in organization and has adopted its
own constitution and book of discipline and articles of faith.

Beliefs
The Methodist Church in India says that it understands itself as the body of Christ in and for the world as
part of the Church universal. Its stated purpose is to understand the love of God as revealed in Jesus Christ,
to bear witness of this love to all people and to make them his disciples.

The Methodist Church in India affirms two dominical sacraments, Holy Baptism and Holy Communion,
with five additional rites being observed: confirmation, confession, matrimony, holy orders and anointing of
the sick. The ordinances of feetwashing (especially on Maundy Thursday), as well as women's
headcovering (usually with a shawl, chiefly a dupatta), are practiced.

Social work
The MCI runs 102 boarding schools and 155 village schools in which over 60,000 children are enrolled. 89
residential hostels cater for 6,540 boys and girls. The Church also operates 19 College and vocational
training institutions, 25 hospitals and health care centres, and many community welfare and development
programmes in the country

Parish

Bangalore

1. Hosanna Methodist Church, Kelamangalam Road, Mathigiri, Hosur, Tamil Nadu (https://hosannamethod
istchurch.in/)

2. Indiranagar Methodist Church, 100ft Road, 13th Main Rd, HAL 2nd Stage, Indiranagar, Bengaluru

3. Sarjapura Methodist Church Marathahalli - Sarjapur Rd, beside St. Patrick's Academy, near Kodathi,
Gate, Bengaluru

4. Koramangala Methodist Church, CA30/A, 15th Main Rd, Koramangala 4th Block, Koramangala,
Bengaluru

5. Christ Methodist Church, 3M98+CGR, Sonam Layout, Essel gardens, Bengaluru

6. Hosa Road Methodist church

7. Lingarajapuram Methodist church

8. Wilson Garden Methodist church

9. R T Nagar Methodist church

10. Grace Methodist church

11. St. Paul Methodist church

12. Hoodi Methodist church

13. Peenya Methodist church

14. L R Nagar Methodist church

15. Mysore Methodist church

16. RTMC

Mumbai

S.
Name Address
No.
Wesley Methodist Tamil Church, Andheri (https://andheri-mt Worlipada Anand Nagar, Marol Pipeline
1
c.business.site/) Rd, Andheri East, Mumbai

2 Centenary Methodist Gujarati Church M.S Ali road, Grant Road east, Mumbai.
Methodist Tamil Church, Mira Road (https://mtcmiraroad.or Shanti Nagar, Mira Road (E),
3
g/home.php) Mumbai/Thane.

Tullock Road, Apollo Bandar, Colaba,

4 Bowen Memorial Methodist Church
Mumbai.

Shaikh Hafizuddin Marg, Ashadham

5 Robinson Memorial Methodist Central Church
Colony, Madanpura, Mumbai.
6 Rahator Memorial Methodist Church Parel, Mumbai.

7 Warner Memorial Methodist Church Ambedkar Nagar, Kurla, Mumbai.

8 Vernon Memorial Methodist Church Syndicate, Kalyan, Mumbai.

9 Sumang Methodist Kannada Church Vithalwadi, Kalyan East, Mumbai.

10 Methodist Marathi Church Thane Gokuldham Society, Thane East

11 Bethel Kannada Methodist Church Matunga Matunga M.L Camp, Matunga

12 Methodist Church Ambernath kalyan-badlapur road, Ambernath

13 St. Paul's Methodist Tamil Church Kurla East Kamgar Nagar, Kurla East

14 Methodist English Church Kirkee Pune Elphinstone Road, Kirkee Pune

15 Methodist Marathi Church Kirkee Pune Elphinstone Road, Kirkee Pune

16 Methodist Tamil Church Kirkee Pune Elphinstone Road, Kirkee Pune

17 Methodist Kannada Church Kirkee Pune Elphinstone Road, Kirkee Pune

18 Oldham Memorial Methodist English Church East Street, Camp, Pune

19 Oldham Memorial Methodist Marathi Church East Street, Camp, Pune

20 Oldham Memorial Methodist Kannada Church East Street, Camp, Pune

21 Methodist Marathi Church 12 Bungalow Road, Lonavala Pune

22 Methodist Marathi Centenary Church Talegaon Station Road, Pune

23 Methodist Marathi Church Talegaon Gaon, Pune

24 Methodist Hindustani Church NDA, Pune

25 Elim Methodist Marathi Church Nigdi, Pune

26 Elim Methodist Tamil Church (https://mtcnigdi.org) Nigdi, Pune

27 Elim Methodist Kannada Church Nigdi, Pune

28 St.Peter's Methodist Tamil Church Kailash Nagar,Thane

Epworth Methodist Tamil Church (https://www.youtube.com/

28 Nerul, Navi Mumbai
channel/UCIENnZFPjzlXBPZ8PuHM71A)
Chennai

1 Emmanuel Methodist Church, Vepery, Chennai 2 Methodist Tamil Church, Vepery, Chennai 3 Anna
Nagar Methodist Church, Anna Nagar, Chennai 4 Holy Trinity Methodist Church, Haddo, Andaman
Islands 5 Methodist Tamil Church, Shoal Bay, Andaman Islands 6 Methodist Tamil Church, Bamboo Flat,
Andaman Islands 7 Methodist Tamil Church, Namunaghar, Andaman Islands 8 Zion Methodist Church,
Pondicherry 9 Emmanuel Methodist Church, Pondicherry 10 St. John's Methodist Tamil Church Madurai
(https://goo.gl/maps/eabVg3h3cTdGBGyq5) 11 Apostolic Methodist Church, Coimbatore 12 Emmanuel
methodist Tamil Church, Pudur, Ambattur, Chennai

Bareilly
Bareilly served as the headquarters for the Methodist Church in India, hence, the Christ Methodist Church
in Civil Lines, Bareilly is the second oldest Methodist Church building in India. The oldest being in
Nainital, Uttarakhand.

S. No. Parish Address

1 Christ Methodist Church Church Road, Civil Lines, Bareilly 243001 - U.P.

Delhi

S.
Parish Address
No.
1 Christ Church Trans Yamuna Lalita Park, Laxmi Nagar, East Delhi, Delhi.

2 Christ Methodist Church Bholanath Bazar, Shahdara, East Delhi, Delhi.

3 Bethel Methodist Church Sector 50, Noida, UP 201301

4 Apostle's Methodist Church Sector 4, RK Puram, New Delhi, Delhi 110022

Methodist Church Delhi Church Road, Birjlal Dua Marg, Pratap Chowk, Delhi Cantonment,
5
Cantonment New Delhi, Delhi 110010

6 Vasant Kunj Methodist Church Pocket 11, Sector B, Vasant Kunj, New Delhi, Delhi 110070
7 Christ Methodist Church Khanpur Block D, JJ Colony, Khanpur, New Delhi, Delhi 110062

Christ Methodist Church- New

8 New Palam Vihar Phase 2, Sector 110, Gurugram, Haryana 122017
Palam Vihar

9 Centenary Methodist Church Lodhi Road, New Delhi, Delhi 110003

10 Millennium Methodist Church Sector 11, Rohini, Delhi, 110085

11 Emmanual Methodist Church Near School, Block U, Mangolpuri S Block, Delhi, 110083

Christ Methodist Church- Nangloi - Najafgarh Rd, Jatav Mohalla, Najafgarh, New Delhi, Delhi
12
Najafgarh 110043
13 Methodist Church Dhaka Dhaka Colony, Mukherjee Nagar, Delhi, 110033

14 Christ Methodist Church 1, Butler Rd, Railway Colony, Tis Hazari, New Delhi, Delhi 110054

15 Butler Methodist Church Sector 19, Pocket 3, Dwarka, Delhi, 110075

Methodist Church-Burari-Sant
16
Nagar
Uttar Pradesh

S. No. Parish Address

1 St. Paul's Methodist Church Roorkee Road, Meerut Cantt.

2 St. John's Church Meerut.

3 St. Thomas Church Baccha Park (Children's Park) Meerut

4 St. Methodist Church G T Road, Ghaziabad.

Lucknow

S. No. Name Address

1 Central Methodist Church 37 Cantonment road, Lucknow.

2 Lal Bagh Methodist Church Foresyth Road, Near Dhayanidhan park, Lal Bagh, Lucknow.

3 Ganeshganj Methodist Church Aminabad road, Lucknow.

4 Daliganj Methodist Church Acharya narendradev Marg, Daliganj, Lucknow.

5 Shalom Methodist Church Sector 4, Vrindavan colony, Lucknow.

6 Christ Methodist Church Ram puram, Behind Gayatri Mandir, Kursi Road,Lucknow.

|7 || Wesleyan Methodist Church 28/29 Nehru Road, Cantt Lucknow.

Kanpur

S. No. Name Address

1 Methodist Church Chakeri Harjinder Nagar, Chakeri, Kanpur.

2 LLJM Methodist Church Post Office Lane, Civil Lines, Kanpur.

3 Methodist Church Noronha Road, Cantonment, Kanpur.

4 Methodist High School Church P Road, Gumti, Kanpur.

5 Sofi Shukla Memorial Methodist Church Hamirpur Road, Baradevi, Kidwai Nagar, Kanpur.
6 Methodist Church Varkitola, Phaphund.

Gandhinagar (Gujarat)

S. No. Name Address

1 Methodist Church Plot # 46, Sector 23, Gandhinagar - 382024.

Ahmedabad (Gujarat)

S.
Name Address
No.
 Methodist Tamil No.3 & 4 Anupam Nagar Society, Near Carmel Methodist Church, Near CTM,
1
Church Ahmedabad.

Nagpur (Maharashtra)

S.
Name Address
No.

Mecosabagh Methodist High Methodist Nelson Hall, Mecosabagh

Methodist
1 School, Mecosabagh Christian 2 Marathi Christian Colony, Kadbi
Hindi Church
Colony, Kadbi Chowk - 440014 Church Chowk - 440014

Bhopal (Madhya Pradesh)

S.
Name Address
No.
Centenary Gehunkheda, Kolar Road, Methodist Church Ayodhya Nagar, Sector
1 2
Methodist Church Bhopal - 462042 Ayodhya Nagar L, Bhopal - 462041

Nanded District (Maharashtra)

S.
Name Address
No.

Nanded Methodist Methodist Church Near SP office Nanded police headquarter

1
Church road,vazirabad,Nanded-431601

See also
Methodism portal

Christianity in India

References
1. "Church of North India" (https://worldmethodistcouncil.org/asia/name/india-church-of-north-in
dia/). World Methodist Council. 9 November 2019. Retrieved 25 June 2020. "The Church of
North India is a united church which came into being as the result of a union of six churches
on 29th November 1970. The six churches were: The Council of the Baptist Churches in
Northern India, The Church of the Brethren in India; The Disciples of Christ; The Church of
India (formerly known as the Church of India, Pakistan, Burma and Ceylon); The Methodist
Church (British and Australian Conferences); The United Church of Northern India. ... The
Church of North India is a full member of the World Council of Churches, the Christian
Conference of Asia, the Council for World Mission, the Anglican Consultative Council, the
World Methodist Council and the World Alliance of Reformed Churches."
2. "Building bridges with Methodist Church in India" (https://www.umnews.org/en/news/buildin
g-bridges-with-methodist-church-in-india).
3. Latourette, 1961.
 4. "Methodist Church in India" (https://web.archive.org/web/20120308041300/http://www.oikou
mene.org/en/member-churches/regions/asia/india/methodist-church-in-india.html?tx_wecdis
cussion). Archived from the original (http://www.oikoumene.org/en/member-churches/region
s/asia/india/methodist-church-in-india.html?tx_wecdiscussion) on 2012-03-08. Retrieved
2010-03-29.[sub]=1
5. Latourette, 1962.
6. "The Methodist Church in India: Bangalore Episcopal Area" (https://web.archive.org/web/20
120524022335/https://gbgm-umc.org/global_news/full_article.cfm?articleid=3174). The
United Methodist Church GBGM. Archived from the original (http://gbgm-umc.org/global_ne
ws/full_article.cfm?articleid=3174) on 2012-05-24. Retrieved 2007-10-18.
7. "India Methodists celebrate 150 years of ministry" (https://web.archive.org/web/2006120610
4810/http://www.umc.org/site/c.gjJTJbMUIuE/b.2213807/k.A1A1/Indias_Methodists_celebrat
e_150_years_of_ministry.htm). The United Methodist Church. Archived from the original (htt
p://www.umc.org/site/c.gjJTJbMUIuE/b.2213807/k.A1A1/Indias_Methodists_celebrate_150_
years_of_ministry.htm) on 2006-12-06. Retrieved 2007-10-18.
8. The Book of Discipline of The United Methodist Church, 1976 Historical Statement, pp 7-11.

Further reading
Badley, Brenton T. The Making of a Bishop: The Life of Bishop Jashwant Chitambar
(Lucknow, India: Lucknow Publishing House, 1942).
Hollister, John Norman. The Centenary of the Methodist Church in Southern Asia (Lucknow
Publishing House, 1956).
Latourette, Kenneth S. Christianity In A Revolutionary Age A History Of Christianity In The
Nineteenth And Twentieth Centuries Volume III The Nineteenth Century Outside Europe The
Americas The Pacific Asia And Africa (1961) pp 400–415. online (https://archive.org/details/c
hristianityinar012668mbp)
Latourette, Kenneth S. Christianity in a Revolutionary Age Vol. 5, The 20th Century outside
Europe (1962) pp 299–331.
Locke, Russ M. "A Methodist Family In India: A History Of I. Amar Chitambar and Family."
(Doctor of Ministry thesis, Claremont School Of Theology, Proquest Dissertations
Publishing, 1978. 781534 online (https://archive.org/stream/AMETHODISTFAMILYININDIA
A/A_METHODIST_FAMILY_IN_INDIA_A_djvu.txt), pp. 40-54 on Jashwant Rao Chitambar.
Moffett, Samuel Hugh. A History of Christianity in Asia, Vol. II, 1500–1900 (2005) . By
Pickett, J. Waskom. The Methodist Church in India. (1939).
Thoburn, James M. The Christian conquest of India (1906) online (https://archive.org/details/
christianconque00thob/page/n11/mode/2up)

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