HISTORY OF JABALPUR DIOCESE
1970 - 2020
JOURNEY OF FAITH OF FIFTY YEARS
Any journey takes lots of time and does not often
guarantee 100 % success. But when we look at the Diocese
of Jabalpur we will find that this Diocese is a Diocese
with a difference which has grown in leaps and bounds
and which has progressed day by day. Though there were
times when this Diocese had a tough time when a part
of the Diocese was bifurcated from Chhattisgarh
and our Diocese got limited in area, yet with the
blessings of the Lord Almighty and the support and love
of the people along with the able and visionary Bishop
Most Rev Dr P. C. Singh our Diocese has been able to
grow and flourish as one of the most vibrant and
outstanding Diocese of the Church of North India. The
success story of the Diocese of Jabalpur is not
hidden from any one. As we celebrate 50 years of
the existence of the Diocese of Jabalpur let us go
down the memory lane to recall the last fifty years of
the Diocese.
JOURNEY OF THE EARLY DAYS
Prior to the inauguration of the Church of North India a
Diocesan Consultative Committee was appointed by the
Inaugural Committee of the Church of North India on
Saturday the 6th September 1970. The task of the
Diocesan Consultative Committee was to carve out a new
diocese. In its first historical meeting held on 24th
September 1970 the Committee worked out as too how to
unite the four church bodies namely the Chhattisgarh
and Orissa Church Council of the United Church of
Northern India, the Nagpur Diocesan Council of the
Church of India, Pakistan, Burma and Ceylon, Nagpur
Church Council (Seoni Section) of the United Church of
Northern India and the Convention of Churches of
the Disciples of Christ existing in the area as proposed
to become the Diocese of Jabalpur of the Church of North
India. After the inauguration of CNI on 29th November
1970 at Nagpur the task to constitute the new
diocese of Jabalpur was intensified and the
Consultative Committee met several times under the able
leadership of Bishop S. K. Patro, who was installed
the first Bishop of Jabalpur Diocese in an impressive
service held in the Christ Church Cathedral,
Jabalpur on Sunday December 13, 1970. On the same
day 40 ordained ministers representing four
different traditions were unified into one ministry
of the one united church. Thus a new Diocese was born
and constituted.
BEGINNING OF THE JOURNEY
Since
the first Diocesan Council was held on the 15th & 16th
Feb. 1971 at the Leonard Theological College, Jabalpur.
The story of this Diocese is of continuous growth and
progress in unity. In the early years four Diocesan
Council Meetings were held consecutively in 1971, 1972,
1973 and 1974 which helped to know and understand one
another as members of one, house-hold of God. After
Bishop Patro was transferred to Chhota Nagpur in April
1975 this Diocese had the privilege to avail of the
leadership of Bishop R. S. Bhandare as an Episcopal
commissary from April-1975. From 16th September 1976 the
Diocese had a new Bishop the Second Bishop Rt Rev F. C
Jonathan. Under his leadership, Clergy and Laity come
together for many meetings and conferences and
participated in various Diocesan programmes for the
upliftment of Diocese. This brought members of different
traditions come together and to appreciate one another's
good points which has fostered unity in the Diocese.
Under the leadership of Rt Rev Bishop F. C Jonathan the
Diocese of Jabalpur was engaged in various
socio-economic Development project at grass root level
.As a Chairman of CASA lots of work was done in Mandla,
Patpara, Deori, Ratanpur and Murpha rural Churches.
In the year 1995 we had the privilege of having our
third Bishop of the Diocese of Jabalpur Rt Rev Sunil Cak.
Under his leadership the ministries and institution grew
and many programmes were organized. He was instrumental
in bringing the JDBSS to Jabalpur , a social
organization who worked for the upliftment of the down
trodden people of the Padri Patpara region. He also was
instrumental in building the new wing of Christ Church
Boys’ Primary Section and the Nursery wing of Christ
Church Girls School, Jabalpur.
In the year 2004 Rt Rev Dr P.C. Singh took charge as the
fourth Bishop of Jabalpur Diocese. Soon after he took
charge the growth rate of the Diocese started to
increase steadily. The churches began to grow
financially and spiritually, the youth fellowship became
vibrant, the women fellowship began to have several
activities and the Sunday School ministry also started
to organize several programmes. In all we can say a new
zeal and enthusiasm started to be seen in the Diocese of
Jabalpur.
JOURNEY OF CHURCHES/CONGREGATION
Initially our Diocese had more than 40 churches and we
had a bigger area of ministry but after the bifurcation
of Chhattisgarh we were left only with 19 churches and
one congregation. The Bishop Most Rev P.C. Singh took it
as a challenge to expand and develop the churches which
will result in the extension of the Kingdom of God.
At present the following churches/congregation along
with their Presbyter/Deacon/Diocesan worker are working
under the able leadership of our Moderator Bishop in
the diocese of Jabalpur. They are as below
1.
CNI Church Marpha and Parstola
Rev. Ashish Harry
2. St Paul's Church Ghamapur Jabalpur
Rev. S. Nilesh Singh
3. Disciples Church of
Christ
Rev. James Masih
4. CNI Church Ghana Khamaria
Rev P K David
5. St Thomas Church Kymore
Pastor Pravin Samuel
6. Ss Philip and James Church
Rev. Navdeep Lal as Asst. Presbyter
Roshan Nagar Congregation
Rev. Navdeep Lal
7. CNI Church Seoni Kachahari Chowk
Rev. Vimal Kujur
8. Ss Philip and James Church Rev
Thomas Kujur
9. St Paul's Church Gokalpur Jabalpur Rev. Rahul Rohan Kumar
10. St Paul's Church Jabalpur
Rev. Daniel Nath
as Asst. Presbyter
11. St Stephen Church Amarpatan Rev. Dayal Singh Parihar
12.St Johns Church in wilderness
Rev Lalit Soloman
13. St Mary Church Satna
Rev. Dn. Kirti Nath
14. Christ Church Panchmarhi Rev. Rakesh Parvey
15. CNI Church Manadehi Maharajpur Rev.Jai Prakash Kotti
16. Christ Church Cathedral JBP Rev. Subh Venkatram Gadi as Asst. Presbyter
17. St Mark Church Nainpur Rev.
Robin Masih
18. St Luke Church Mandla Rev.
Sanjeet Parvey
19. Disciples Church of Christ
Rev. Karishma Martin (Asst)
20. Christ Church Cathedral JBP
Rev. Bruce Thangadurai
21. CNI Church seoni Petrol
Pump Rev. S.K.James
22.St Marks Church Chhindwara
Rev. Ashwini Massey
23. Anant Jeewan Church Seoni.
Rev. Anil Ramaswami
24. Ss Philip and James church
Rev. Vijay David as Hon Presbyter
25. Diocese of Jabalpur
Rev. Mrs. Preeti Dhanyabad as Presbyter with
limited authorization
Diocesan worker:
1. Mr Soloman Titus
2. Mr Neeraj Victor
New Mission Fields
REWA
Jesus gave the great commission that go and preach the
word of God and make disciple and baptize them. The St.
Stephen Church Amarpatan is started new mission field at
REWA city and 20 believers are accepted Jesus Christ as
our personal Saviour and they were baptized by Rev Dayal
Singh Parihar. The Youth member Mr. Raju the Member of
the Amarpatan Parish is working in this new mission
field with Rev Dayal Singh Parihar.
Manpur
On 13 February 2016 in the Pastors prayer meeting at
Manpur Bandhavgarh with the group of believers, our
visionary Moderator Bishop recognized this group of
believers as Manpur Congregation now known as Christ
Church Manpur under the control of St. Paul's Church
Ghamapur Diocese of Jabalpur. Soon we are going to buy a
piece of land to build a church building for the glory
of our Almighty. Manpur congregation is also working in
new mission village like Simra, Semri, Barbaspur and
Baigaon and Mr. Rajneesh Paul Daniel is nurturing them
with word of God.
ROSHAN NAGAR:
A new Church has been started for the people of Roshan
Nagar. Due to its longer distance people found it
difficult to attend the Sunday Worship service regularly
in S.S. Philips and James Church, Katni. Rev Navdeep Lal
is taking care of the Church and this church is also
growing day by day.
ANANT JEEVAN CHURCH:
A new group of believers in Seoni were identified and
under the guidance and care of Rev. Anil Ramaswamy .This
new church has been established . As believers church
in which we are witnessing lot of healing through Rev
Anil Ramaswamy.
MANDEHI:
Under the leadership of Rev. Jai Prakash Koti, a group
of 35 new followers in Christ has been gathered and
regular worship is taking place in Manadehi, Maharajpur,
Mandla . Very soon we are also planning to come up with
a church in that area .
AMARPATAN CHURCH (Dist Satna):
We are very happy to inform that with the contribution
of the pastors of the diocese and other donors we were
able to complete the construction work in Amarpatan
Church .The Building is ready and the Church is ready to
be dedicated to the Glory of God. Some Senior Pastors
went on the 8th of April 2019 to Amarpatan Church and
prayed & blessed the Church so that the Congregation can
start worshipping in the Church. The Dedication Service
will be conducted in the days to come.
After the bifurcation of the Chhattisgarh Diocese we
are in the process of identifying new places and new
areas where we can start new churches and as this was
one of the challenges given to all the Pastors of our
Diocese. The Pastors are wholeheartedly committed to
work for this new challenge.
JOURNEY OF EDUCATIONAL INSTITUTION
The Board of Education Church of North India Jabalpur
Diocese functioning under the able leadership of the
Bishop Chairman The Most Rev Dr P C Singh has at present
14 institutions under his leadership.
These Institutions are as follows
Name of the Institution
No of staff
1 Christ Church Boys’ Senior Secondary
School, Jabalpur
145
2 Christ Church Girls’ Senior Secondary
School, Jabalpur
130
3 Bardsley English Medium School, Katni 91
4 Bardsley Girls Higher Sec School, Katni 44
5 Christ Church School For Boys & Girls,
ISC, Jabalpur 95
6 Christ Church Jabalpur Diocesan High
School, Jabalpur 54
7 Bardsley English Medium School, Jalasur,
Katni 17
8 Mission English High School, Seoni 82
9 Satpula Primary School, Jabalpur 7
10 Satpula Girls Higher Sec School, Jabalpur 19
11 Christ Church Boys Hostel, Jabalpur 22
12 Christ Church Girls Hostel, Jabalpur 7
13 Christ Church Co Ed School Saliwada,
Jabalpur
31
14 Christ Church Girls School Unit II, Vijay
Nagar, Jabalpur
16
These institutions are being governed by the Board under
the Chairmanship of The Most Rev Dr P C Singh.
The Following Schools are affiliated to the Central
Board Of Education (CBSE)
Name
of the Institution
Christ Church Boys’ Senior Secondary School, Jabalpur
Christ Church Girls’ Senior Secondary School, Jabalpur
Bardsley English Medium School Katni
The Following Schools are affiliated to the MP Board Of
Education
Name of the Institution
Bardsley Girls Higher Sec School Katni
Mission English High School Seoni
Satpula Primary School Jabalpur
Satpula Girls Higher Sec School Jabalpur
The Following Schools are affiliated to the Council for
the Indian School Certificate Examination.
Name of the Institution
Christ Church School For Boys & Girls, ISC, Jabalpur
Christ Church Jabalpur Diocesan High School Jabalpur
The following new schools are yet in the process of
affiliation to the CBSE and the procedure is in
progress.
Name of the Institution
Bardsley English Medium School Jalasur Katni
Christ Church Co Ed School Saliwada, Jabalpur
Christ Church Girls School Unit II, Vijay Nagar,
Jabalpur
Board of Secondary Education and Teachers Training MPCNI
The institutions under Jabalpur Diocese:-
Damoh Area :-
1. Mission High School, Damoh
- Principal,
Mrs. Rubina Daniel
2. Mission Middle School, Damoh
- Head Master, Mr. Ajay
Masih
3. Mission Primary School, Damoh
- Head Master, Mr. Ajay
Masih
Seoni Area
1. Mission Girls’ High School, Seoni
- Principal, Mrs. S. Kumar
The following are our hostels
Name of the Institution
Christ Church Boys Hostel Jabalpur
Christ Church Girls Hostel Jabalpur
Achievements and Success
It is a matter of great joy that 6 new schools were
established since the time our Bishop Chairman Most Rev
Dr P. C. Singh was elected as the Bishop of Jabalpur
Diocese in 2004. The below mentioned schools were added
to the list of institutions of our diocese, which is
under the Board Of Education Church of North India
Jabalpur Diocese.
Name of the institution
Year of establishment
Christ Church School For Boys & Girls, ISC, Jabalpur
2005
Christ Church Jabalpur Diocesan H School, Jabalpur
2011
Bardsley English Medium School Jalasur, Katni 2016
St John English medium School , Seoni 2016
Christ Church Co-Ed School Saliwada, Jabalpur
2017
Christ Church Girls Sr. Sec. School, Vijay Nagar,
Jabalpur 2019
It is due to the efforts and vision of our Bishop
Chairman and Moderator CNI Synod The Most Rev Dr P C
Singh that these 6 schools have been established which
has brought blessings to a good number of people not
only from our community but also to people of other
communities as well.
Through these institutions we are blessed to be
spreading the message of joy, peace and happiness. Thus
serving the society with the true motto of the Church Of
North India “Unity, Witness and Service”.
JOURNEY OF YOUTH FELLOWSHIP
Youth is one of the important organ of any Diocese. The
Youth fellowship plays a major role in the programmes
organised by the Diocese of Jabalpur. Under the
guidance of a visionary Bishop our Youth Fellowship
members are always very energetic and enthusiasm to
organise any program in the Diocese. Our Bishop being
the former Youth Director of the Diocese of Jabalpur
understands the likes and dislikes of the Young people
and works with the youth all the times.
Barkat – Ki – Baarish : CNI YOUTH FEST 2018
A joint programme of CNI Synod, SYFC, and the Diocese of
Jabalpur was held in Christ Church Boys School from the
17th of October to the 20th of October, 2018 in which
more than 500 young people from all the Diocese of
Church of North India participated. It was a national
level programme in which practically all the Diocese of
CNI participated.
YOUTH MONTH
The Diocese of Jabalpur, CNI celebrates its Youth Month
in the month of September. Programmes, Prayer Meetings,
Biblical Competitions, Retreat, Seminars, Bible Quiz,
Sports and also other youth activities based on the
theme is organized in different pastorates of the
Diocese to celebrate the Youth Month with great
enthusiasm.
The Month long celebration is celebrated ecumenically
where around 350 young people from different
denominations and churches participates, the Most Rev.
Dr. P. C. Singh, Moderator CNI Synod and Bishop Diocese
of always encourage and guide the youth and express his
happiness to see the active participation of the DYFC
and urge the youth to become strong pillars of the
Church and the Diocese and he also mentions that the
youth is the present and the future of the church.
INTER DIOCESAN LEAGUE:-
IDC (Inter Diocesan Cricket) is an opportunity to gather
the young people of the different Dioceses of the Church
of North India to play, to meet each other, to worship
God and to have fellowship. Every year in the month of
May the Diocesan Youth Fellowship Committee of the
Diocese of Jabalpur, CNI; invites 8 Girls and 12 Boys
from each Diocese to participate in the IDC.
The matches played between the Dioceses are for
fellowship and for the Glory of God.
JESUS CALLS MEETINGS
1. JABALPUR:- The youth of the Diocese came
forward to serve as volunteers for the smooth conduct of
the Prayer Festival from 27th to 29th October 2019 at
Christ Church Boys and Girls School, it was indeed a
history in its making to mark the mile stone in the
Diocese of Jabalpur, our visionary Moderator and Bishop
Dr. P. C. Singh made it possible to witness Gods
presence and a blessed time with Br. Paul Dinakaran and
Sister Evangeline.
2. DARINGBADI:- The Diocesan Youth Choir
participated in the Jesus Calls Prayers Meeting in
Daringbade, Orrisa from 10th to 12th November 2018, the
Choir Team was led by the Choir Director Mr. Saurabh
Pandit.
The Diocesan Youth fellowship is very active and are
ever ready to organize any programme in the Diosese.They
have a melodious Choir which helps in Praise and worship
for all Diocesan programme.
JOURNEY OF DIOCESAN WOMEN’S FELLOWSHIP FOR CHRISTIAN
SERVICE
Women fellowship plays a very important role in any
Diocese . The dedication which they have and the
commitment which they have is tremendous. They are
always ready for any help in the Church. The First lady
of the Synod and Diocese Mrs. Nora Singh is instrumental
in organizing several programmes for the Women
Fellowship members.
Objectives and Programmes of the women’s council:-
1. To bring more women under the banner ship of the
women’s council.
2. To prepare future leaders and to inspire and motivate
women where the women’s fellowship is not active.
3. We organize a one day retreat in Mandla (Maharajpur)
where we focused on important issue like women’s power/
empowerment.
4. The Christian Women’s Fellowship has been celebrating
and performing world Prayer Day and Christian Family
Life.
5. Chain prayer day on Ash Wednesday every year.
JOURNEY OF SOCIAL ORGANISATION IN JABALPUR:
Vikas Asha Kendra Diocese of Jabalpur, CNI
Vikas Asha Kendra started on the 2nd August 1978 by
Bishop F.C Jonathan under the Directorship of Mrs. K. F
Jonathan in the Diocese guest room with only 2 children.
The First teacher was Miss Lazarus who was also
handicapped because she had only one eye. She worked
here about 7 Years, and at present we are having 61
children who are physically and mentally challenged.
There are 19 dumb children, 30 blind children, 13 who
are mentally and poor and needy and require training.
At Present we have 9 teachers and 3 Non- Teaching and 3
Peon in Vikas Asha Kendra. We have all together 9
trained teachers who teach in different Trades.
Vikas Asha Kendra commences with morning devotion at
9:00AM and the school concludes at 4:00 PM. Classes from
1-12are conducted in the institute and it has been
registered with the Government of Madhya Pradesh
(registration no.5842/09/6/3/10)
Aims of Vikas Asha Kendra
To inspire self-confidence and hope in the
handicapped and the needy.
To provide working skills to be
handicapped
To enable them to be self-reliance and to
earn their living.
To evolve ways and means for the
acceptability of these physically & mentally challenged
children by the society and to appreciate their
usefulness.
To create awareness in the society of
their responsibility towards these children.
Entertainment- Our children take part in all National
programmes organized by different societies
Cultural Activities-
The Children take part in all cultural activities,
national festivals and Christmas Programmes and they
take part with great enthusiasm.
Craft Work-
Children are given training of various kinds of crafts,
making of stuffed toys, embroidery, stitching of sari
fall, duster making, weaving, knitting, tailoring,
typing and we also made Pickle, variety of items
prepared by specialist like blouse, gown ,salwar suite,
frock and school dress.
Annual Fete-
Vikas Asha Kendra organizes its annual fete, where large
number of students and parents throng the ground because
everyone has realized that this fete is held annually
for a needy cause so as to bring light into the lives of
the less fortunate.
The Vikas Asha Kendra is progressing day by day with the
help of Diocesan Institutes, Diocesan staff and the
Vikas Asha Kendra staff, who take full interest in these
poor and needy children.
SHISHU SANGOPAN GRIH ( Palna Ghar)
Shishu Sangopan Grih is functioning in the city of
Jabalpur since the last 25 years.
This institution is completely run by Diocese of
Jabalpur. Children of working guardians are admitted in
this institution and are looked after well. They are
given all facilities and love and affection like their
homes. They are given elementary education and they are
made aware of unity, co- operation, love and
reconciliation
ALL WE CAN ( Foreign Partners )
The Diocese of Jabalpur has signed a MOU with ALL WE
CAN organization in the month of October 2018. This
organization is from the Methodist Church of Britain.
This organization will have lots of exchange programme
for Pastors, Teachers Women and Youth, through this
exchange programme our Diocese will be enriched more.
Mrs. N Abraham is appointed as the project Consultant
and an office for ALL WE Can has been opened in front of
the Vikas Asha Kendra Hall.
The ALL WE CAN project was initiated and the first
programme was conducted on the 27th of January 2019
where all the head of the institutions, local Pastors ,
WFCS members and Youth members along with Sunday School
teachers were present.
An organizational Development – Training Programme for
almost 50 members was held in Bandhavgarh National Park
from the 12-15 June , 2019 .This was one of the rarest
occasion in which all the participants of the programme
had the privilege of viewing the Tigers.
GASS MEMORIAL
JOURNEY OF STEWARDSHIP AND FINANCE
From the very beginning of the formation of the Diocese
Miss Naomi E. Blalock our first full time Treasurer,
began well with a realistic approach to self reliance in
its finance. Continuous Stewardship promotional
programmes have been carried on even as early as 1972
and 1973. A well planned Stewardship programme was
introduced in the whole of Diocese in 1977 in which 24
Pastorates conducted the Stewardship campaigns in their
respective Pastorates.
The first Workshop in the Church of North India on
Pastorate Financial Administration was conducted in our
Diocese from August 27- 29, 1979 at Jabalpur. In all 78
participants from 35 Pastorates which included
Treasurers, Presbyters and other lay leaders of the
Diocese attended the. Workshop. Mr. J. M. Das, Honorary
Treasurer of CNI, Mr. Amal Kumar De, the CNI Finance
Secretary and Mr. I. K. Das Gupta, the senior auditor of
M/s. ;’Ray and Ray, Chartered Accountants and Auditors
of the Church of North India formed the team of experts
who taught accounting and accountability to those
responsible for up keeping of books of the Church. It
has greatly benefitted the Diocese.
The Diocese has a Central Fund. The Pastorates
comprising of four traditions have come a long way. All
the Pastorates contribute to the Central Fund from where
the finance is distributed for the on–going mission of
the Church. We have unified scales of salaries for the
presbyters.
A great felt need was fulfilled when the Diocesan,
Executive Committee adopted the Service Rules for the
Presbyters. The Service Rules helps the presbyters to
act more responsibly thus the Pastorates and the Diocese
are benefitted.
In these past few years, our Diocese has made a
considerable increase in the church assessment and we
have made a financial progress due to the vision and the
commitment of our Bishop Most Rev Dr P.C .Singh. Along
with the stewardship workshop which is organized in our
Diocese every year, he has also initiated the Teachers
Seminar for all the CNI staff working in the CNI
institution which has really motivated the teacher of
the School to give their tithe. Two such seminars were
conducted in 2017 and 2018 so that the teacher may be
encouraged to give more tithe .
The program undertaken for stewardship of resources were
allocated in different zones and we have 5 workshops in
different region every year. A Diocesan Level
stewardship programme is organized every year under the
guidance and presence of our Bishop . Because of all
these workshops and seminars the church assessment is
growing day by day and we are able to host and organize
many programmes in our Diocese. Though we are not fully
self sufficient but in the days to come we are sure that
our diocese will be a self sustained organization .
JOURNEY OF CHRISTIAN EDUCATION
A continuous Christian education has been provided on
all levels for Children, Youth, Lay members and the
Clergy. Regular training courses and workshops are
arranged every year to train leaders who teach in Sunday
Schools and for those who conduct VBS classes, youth
rallies on regional and diocesan levels are held.
children's camps are arranged in different regions.
Seminars for laity, retreats for Presbyters, Conventions
for the Youth, Conference for Women's group and joint
meetings of laity and clergy have been called from time
to time with one aim and purpose--to learn and then to
share and express the Christian faith in
Leadership—Leadership Training Seminars have been held
to train the laity to become better Church men women in
the world. Many clergy and laity have been sent to
participate in training programmes outside the Diocese.
We have send almost 10 Pastors to Pastors Training
programme Batala. The Diocese is proud to claim that it
has provided 6 Bishops to the Church of North India in
Bishop I. P. Andrews, Bishop Gurbachan Singh, Bishop F.
C. Jonathan Bishop Sunil Cak, Bishop P. C Singh and
Bishop Robert Ali. We have also given leadership at the
Synodical level in the person of Rev. Daniel Francis,
Joint Director for Religious Education and Mrs. C. N.
Bagh, Stewardship Director and Mr Suresh Jacob (
Stewardship Director and member of different committee.
)
Our Diocese has given the leadership of one of the most
dynamic Moderator of the CNI Synod The Most Rev P.C
Singh who is also the Bishop of Jabalpur Diocese . His
ecumenical skill has helped the Church of North India to
have a good Partnership with other organization.
Ten
of our Pastors attend the 12 days’ advance training
programme on mission evangelism at The Satyaniketan
School of Theology, Batala ,Punjab every year to enrich
and help them to understand the mission field more
effectively
UNIQUE ACHIEVEMENTS IN THE LAST DECADE
Churches
St Paul’s Church Ghamapur CNI ,Jabalpur celebrated 100
year of its faithful journey on 28th of April 2017.The
Chief guest for this occasion was the Rt Rev P .B. Paul
Dupare the then Bishop of the Nagpur Diocese and the
Guest of Honour was the Rt Rev Dr P.C. Singh the
Deputy Moderator of the CNI Synod
It is matter of great joy that the Christ Church
Cathedral one of the oldest Anglican Churches under the
Diocese of Jabalpur is celebrating 175 years of its
Glorious existence. We had a grand closing function on
the 3rd of April where we had a Thanksgiving service in
the Cathedral where our Moderator Most Rev Dr P. C.
Singh was the chief Guest and the Guest of honour was
our General Secretary Mr. Alwan Masih.
The ground breaking ceremony of New Branch of the Christ
Church Girls’ Senior Secondary School ,Vijay Nagar ,Jabalpur
was held on 3rd of April 2019, to mark the 175 years of
the existence of Christ Church Cathedral.
St Paul’s Church Ghamapur CNI ,Jabalpur celebrated 100
year of its faithful journey on 28th of April 2017.The
Chief guest for this occasion was the Rt Rev P .B. Paul
Dupare the then Bishop of the Nagpur Diocese and the
Guest of Honour was the Rt Rev Dr P.C. Singh the
Deputy Moderator of the CNI Synod.
INSTITUTIONS
Bardsley English medium School opened a new branch in
Lakhapateri, Jalasaur, Katni
Christ Church Boys’ Senior Secondary School opened a new
branch in Saliwada,Jabalpur.
St John English Medium School , Seoni.
Christ Church Girls’ Senior Secondary School opened a
new branch in Vijay Nagar,Jabalpur.
The Christ Church Girls’ and the Christ Church Boys’
School in Jabalpur had their Sesquicentennial
Celebration i.e. 150 year of the existence in 2020.
LOGO OF JABALPUR DIOCESE:
As most of the Diocese have their own logo a need was
felt that Jabalpur Diocese should also have their own
logo and with much difficulty a Logo was designed with
the help of Mr Malcolm Tully and Rev Bruce Thangadurai
which was released by the Moderator Most Rev Dr P. C
Singh on 1st May 2020.
ALL INDIA SUNDAY SCHOOL ASSOCIATION:
The 9th National Sunday School Teachers training
Certificate Course of All India Sunday School
Association ( AISSA) was held in Christ Church Boys
Hostel on the 9th & 10th of June ,2017. The Teachers
training Certificate Course was attended by 97 graduates
. I am also happy to inform that in this programme our
Bishop was elected as the President of the AISSA.
PASTORS
PRAYER DAY.
As most of you know that every month the Pastors have
the Prayer day in any one of the Churches and pray for
the Diocese of Jabalpur.
In 2016 the Bishop organized a Pastors retreat in
Darjeeling in the month of September . All the Pastors
under the Diocese of Jabalpur attended this Retreat.
The Diocese of Jabalpur under the guidance and the able
leadership of our Bishop The Most Rev. Dr. P. C. Singh
were taken to the Himachal Pradesh, Palampur ,Dharamshala
on 6th and 7th of June 2017 for the Pastor’s Retreat.
When the state of Kerala was affected by flood it was
decided to have a three days excursion cum exchange
programme between the Pastors of Jabalpur Diocese and
the Pastors of the Kerala Diocese. We were privileged
that with the help of Rev Dr Ipe Joseph we were able to
see the flood affected area of Kerala. Met the
Metropolitan of the Mar Thoma Church and had Lunch with
the clergy of the Diocese. It was a great time for all
of us as we came to know about their projects and their
style of working.
NCCI ASSEMBLY (APRIL 2016)
The National Council of Churches in India held its
XXVIII Quadrennial Assembly in Jabalpur more than 400
delegates all over the country and World attended the
assembly in which our Bishop was elected as the
President of NCCI. It was a great experience for all of
us as we were able to hoist such an event in which so
many National heads were present.
EVANGELISM PROGRAMME JESUS CALLS JABALPUR PRAYER
FESTIVAL
Jesus Calls prayer festival was held from the 27th
October to 29th October 2017 in our Schools and the
Church Campus .More than 60 to 70 thousand people from
all over the country attended the prayer festival. Dr
Paul Dhinakaran & Sis Evangeline Paul Dhinakaran were
the Speakers. A great anointing , outpour of the Holy
Spirit and revival was seen among the people who
attended this Prayer Festival.
COMMUNICATION DEPARTMENT:
We are so happy that from the last 4 years we are able
to have a proper documentation of all the programme held
in the Diocese of Jabalpur. Under the dedicated
Communication Director Rev Dr Ipe Joseph and by the
support of Mr. Malcolm Tully and Mr. Nikhil Lal we were
able to publish the Diocesan Quarterly news letter which
is not only circulated in local CNI churches but also
nationally through CSI , Mar Thoma Church and some of
the Christian agencies.
VISIT OF ARCHBISHOP OF CANTERBURY
One of the historical event in the history of the
Diocese of Jabalpur which cannot be forgotten for a long
period of time is the visit of the Archbishop of
Canterbury His Grace the Most Rev & Right Honourable
Justin Welby and his wife Mrs. Caroline Welby .It is a
historical event as it this was first time in the
Diocese of Jabalpur that the head of Anglican Church
visited our Diocese.
His Grace the Most Rev & Right Honourable Justin Webby
dedicated the newly constructed Christ Church Co-ed
School Saliwada and also inaugurated the
Sesquicentennial Celebration i.e. 150 year of the
existence of the Christ Church Girls’ and the Christ
Church Boys’ School in Jabalpur.
FUTURE PLANS FOR THE DIOCESE OF JABALPUR
As CNI is a United and uniting church we also as the
members of the Jabalpur Diocese want to unite new
believers by opening more churches in the jurisdiction
of the Jabalpur Diocese. Some of its future projects /
plans are as follows: -
1. Establishment of a new Church building and
construction of a new English Medium School in Manpur,
Bandhavgarh.
2. Establishment of compassion House in Bargi,
Jabalpur.
3. Reconstruction of Churches in rural areas.
4. Starting of a new Hospital in Jabalpur
Diocese
5. Opening of a college in Jabalpur
6. Dream of the Moderator is that every
church should strive to open a school to take care of
the teaching and preaching ministries.
This fifty years journey has been long and full of
challenges. Lots of events and programmes were
organized. Let us as a Diocese of Jabalpur work and
strive together for a better tomorrow. Let us envisage
greater involvement, participation and co-operation from
the members of the Diocese and may the Diocese grow in
Service towards our fellow being , in Unity among
ourselves and in Witness to the community at large as
we enter into another milestone in the life of the
Diocese.
Let the journey of Jabalpur Diocese be an inspiration to
other Diocese and may the Jabalpur Diocese remain “ A
DIOCESE WITH A DIFFERENCE”
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