St.Thomas Church (Girjaghar)

In the heart of the holy city of Banaras, which is the centre of Hindu pilgrimage, there lies a centuries-old St Thomas Church in Godowlia. This church has popularised the area as 'Girija Ghar crossing'. However little is known about the history of this church lying in the domain of Hindu dominating area of the city.

According to father Stevens of the church, there are no inscription on the walls of this church that can inform them about the time when it had been built.

"It is believed that Saint Thomas, also known as Didymus, one of the 12 apostles of Jesus Christ, visited the city roughly during 52 AD to 72 AD," infomed father Stevens.

According to Stevens, Saint Thomas was the only apostle of Jesus who went outside Roman Empire to preach the Gospels and spread Christianity. He is believed to cross the Arabian Sea and sailed to India in 52 AD at Kerala where he spread Christian faith among Jews.

"Banaras was also on the itinerary of Saint Thomas apart from many other old cities most of which were South Indian cities, and it is believed that he came to preach people that this place when the present congested area of the city has nothing except thousands of temples and the Ganga. That particular peace of land became the place of worship thereafter leading to the formation of the St Thomas Church, so one can realise how old the age of the church is," said Stevens.

"The church with its present structure is not built after 1700 AD as its bricks suggest," added David, a worshipper at the church.

It is worth mentioning here that the church is a protestant church comes under Churches of North India (CNI), Diocese of Lucknow.

"The 60 ft height of the church was the tallest in the area since the time of my great grand parents," added Kisan, a tea vendor outside the church.

"The walls of the church were losing its texture until a few years back when it was painted in traditional light yellow and white colour of protestant churches," said Ravi, another devotee.

The city has always been an epitome of composite cultures and the history of the St Thomas Church related with an apostle of Jesus and its presence in an entirely Hindu domain is another milestone that reflects the unity in diversity of the city.