| Church of North India | |
|---|---|
 Official seal of the Church of North India | |
| Classification | Protestant |
| Orientation | United church |
| Polity | Episcopal[1][2] |
| Moderator | The Most Rev. Dr. Paritosh Canning |
| Deputy Moderator | The Rt. Rev. Dr. Silvans S Christian |
| General Secretary | The Rev. Dr. D. J. Ajith Kumar |
| Distinct fellowships | World Council of Churches,Council for World Mission,Christian Conference of Asia,Communion of Churches in India,National Council of Churches in India |
| Associations | |
| Region | All ofIndia exceptAndhra Pradesh,Telangana,Lakshadweep,Karnataka,Kerala andTamil Nadu |
| Origin | 29 November 1970 Nagpur |
| Merger of |
|
| Separations | United Church of Northern India – Presbyterian Synod[3] |
| Congregations | 3500 congregations in 3000 parishes and 28 dioceses[4] |
| Members | 2,300,000 (2025) |
| Ministers | 2000+[4] |
| Hospitals | 65 hospitals and nine nursing schools. |
| Secondary schools | 564+ educational institutions and three technical schools. |
| Official website | cnisynod.org |
TheChurch of North India (CNI) is the dominantunited Protestant church in northern India. It was established on 29 November 1970 by bringing together most of theProtestant churches working in northern India. It is a province of the worldwideAnglican Communion and a member of theWorld Methodist Council and theWorld Communion of Reformed Churches.[5][4] The merger, which had been in discussions since 1929, came eventually between theChurch of India, Pakistan, Burma and Ceylon (Anglican), theMethodist Church,Disciples of Christ, and some congregations from theUnited Church of Northern India (Congregationalist andPresbyterian).[5]
The CNI's jurisdiction covers all states of India with the exception of the five states in the south (Andhra Pradesh,Telangana,Karnataka,Kerala andTamil Nadu which are under the jurisdiction of theChurch of South India. It has approximately 2,300,000 members (0.1% of India's population) in 3,000pastorates.[3][6][7]
Ecumenical discussions with a view to a unified church were initiated by the Australian Churches of Christ Mission, the Methodist Church of Australia, the Wesleyan Methodist Church, the Methodist Episcopal Church and the United Church of Northern India during a religious convention inLucknow in 1929.
A negotiation committee was set up in 1951 using the plan of Church Union that resulted from the earlier consultations as its basis. The committee was composed of representatives from the Baptist Churches in Northern India; theChurch of India, Pakistan, Burma and Ceylon; the Methodist Church (British and Australian conferences); theMethodist Church in Southern Asia; and the United Church of Northern India (UCNI).[8][9] TheMethodist Episcopal Church, however, did not join the discussions and, in 1981, it became theMethodist Church in India (MCI).[10] In 1957, the Church of the Brethren in India and the Disciples of Christ denominations joined in the negotiations as well.
A new negotiation committee was set up in 1961 with representatives from all the above-mentioned denominations. In 1965, a finalized plan of Church Union, known as the 4th Plan of Union 1965, was made. The union was formalized on 29 November 1970 when all the negotiating churches were united as the Church of North India with the exception of the Methodist Church in Southern Asia, which decided not to join the union.
The CNI is atrinitarian church that draws from the traditions and heritage of its constituent denominations. The basic creeds of the CNI are theApostles' Creed and theNicene Creed of 381AD.
Theliturgy of the CNI is of particular interest, as it combines many traditions, including that of the Methodists and such smaller churches as theChurch of the Brethren and theDisciples of Christ. Provision is given for diverse liturgical practices and understandings of the divine revelation.
Men and women may be ordaineddeacons,presbyters, andbishops. The CNI approved the ordination of women to the priesthood in 1977.[11] In 2024, the CNI ordained the first woman to serve as a bishop within the CNI.[12] In June, 2024, a second woman was ordained a bishop.[13] In 2025, the CNI ordained a third woman as bishop.[14]
The polity of the CNI brings together the episcopal, the presbyterial and the congregational elements in an effort to reflect the polity of the churches which entered into union.The episcopacy of the CNI is both historical as well as constitutional. There are 26 dioceses, each under the supervision of abishop. The main administrative and legislative body is thesynod, which meets once every three years to elect a presiding bishop, called a moderator, and an executive committee. The moderator acts as the head of the church for a fixed term; another bishop is elected Deputy Moderator.
Social involvement is a major emphasis in the CNI. There are synodal boards in charge of various ministries: Secondary, Higher, Technical and Theological Education, Health Services, Social Services, Rural Development, Literature and Media. There is also a synodal Programme Office which seeks to protect and promote peace, justice, harmony and dignity of life.
The CNI currently operates 65 hospitals, nine nursing schools, 250 educational institutions and three technical schools. Some of the oldest and well-respected educational institutions in India likeScottish Church College in Calcutta,La Martiniere Calcutta,Wilson College in Mumbai,St. James' School, Calcutta,Hislop College in Nagpur,St. John's Diocesan Girls' School, Calcutta,St. Paul's School in Darjeeling,St. John's College, Agra,Bishop Cotton School in Shimla,Christ Church College, Kanpur,Sherwood College in Nainital,Ewing Christian College,Boys' High School & College in Prayagraj are under the administration of the CNI.
The CNI participates in manyecumenical bodies as a reflection of its commitment towards church unity. Domestically it participates in a joint council with theChurch of South India and theMar Thoma Syrian Church known as theCommunion of Churches in India. It is also a member of theNational Council of Churches in India. Regionally, the CNI participates in theChristian Conference of Asia and on an international level it is a member of theWorld Council of Churches, theCouncil for World Mission,World Alliance of Reformed Churches,World Methodist Council and in full communion with theAnglican Communion. The CNI is also in partnership with many other domestic, regional and international Christian agencies.
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Since its formation in 1970, the Synod of the CNI has elected a Moderator and one Deputy every three years.[15]
| Term | Moderator | Deputy Moderator |
|---|---|---|
| April 1971 – July 1974 | Eric Nasir, Bishop in Delhi (and Rajasthan) | Ramchandra Bhandare, Bishop in Nagpur |
| July 1974 – October 1977 | ||
| October 1977 – October 1980 | ||
| October 1980 – November 1983 | Ramchandra Bhandare, Bishop in Nagpur | Dinesh Chandra Gorai, Bishop in Calcutta |
| November 1983 – October 1986 | Dinesh Chandra Gorai, Bishop in Calcutta | Din Dayal, Bishop in Lucknow |
| October 1986 – October 1989 | Din Dayal, Bishop in Lucknow | John Ghosh, Bishop in Darjeeling |
| October 1989 – October 1992 | John Ghosh, Bishop in Darjeeling | Franklin Jonathan, Bishop in Jabalpur |
| October 1992 – October 1995 | Anand Chandu Lal, Bishop in Amritsar | Dhirendra Mohanty, Bishop in Cuttack |
| October 1995 – October 1998 | Dhirendra Mohanty, Bishop in Cuttack | Vinod Peter, Bishop in Nagpur |
| October 1998 – January 2001 | Vinod Peter, Bishop in Nagpur (died December 2000) | James Terom, Bishop in Chotanagpur |
| January – October 2001 | James Terom, Bishop in Chotanagpur | Brojen Malakar, Bishop in Barrackpore |
| October 2001 – October 2004 | James Terom, Bishop in Chotanagpur | Joel Mal, Bishop in Chandigarh |
| October 2004 – October 2005 | ||
| October 2005 – October 2008 | Joel Mal, Bishop in Chandigarh | Purely Lyngdoh, Bishop in North East India |
| October 2008 – October 2011 | Purely Lyngdoh, Bishop in North East India | Philip Marandih, Bishop in Patna |
| October 2011 – October 2014 | Philip Marandih, Bishop in Patna | Pradeep Samantaroy, Bishop in Amritsar |
| October 2014 – 3 October 2017 | Pradeep Samantaroy, Bishop in Amritsar | Prem Singh, Bishop in Jabalpur |
| October 2017 – 23 August 2019 | Prem Singh, Bishop in Jabalpur | Probal Dutta, Bishop in Durgapur and Kolkata |
| 23 August 2019 – 14 September 2022 | Bijay Kumar Nayak, Bishop in Phulbani | |
| 9 December 2022 – October 2025 | Bijay Kumar Nayak | Paul B.P. Duphare Manoj Charan |
| 23 October 2025 - present | Paritosh Canning, Bishop in Calcutta | Silvans S Christian, Bishop in Gujarat |
When originally founded in 1813, the fourth overseas diocese of the Church of England covered all the subcontinent, all Australasia and some of Africa. With its 1835 split to createMadras diocese, Calcutta was made metropolitan over all its original area, and has been split many times since. The Bishop of Calcutta remainedMetropolitan of India until the CNI's 1970 creation; the current diocese covers parts of Bengal and the bishop is The Most Rev. Paritosh Canning, Moderator CNI.[16]
Split from Calcutta diocese in 1837,[17] the Diocese of Bombay was the last new Indian diocese of the Church of England before all colonial dioceses became independent in 1863. Like Calcutta, Mumbai diocese has been a very large Church of England diocese, a diocese of the independent Indian Anglican church, and now a United Church diocese. The CNI diocese today covers Maharashtra, and the bishop is the Rt. Rev. Prabhu D. Jebamani.[18]
Founded from Calcutta diocese in 1890,[17] the current diocese is based inRanchi, its territory isJharkhand and the bishop is B. B. Baskey.[19]
TheDiocese of Lucknow is an ecclesiastical jurisdiction of the Church of India (CIPBC), with its headquarters inPrayagraj,Uttar Pradesh. Established in 1893 following its separation from the Diocese of Calcutta, the diocese retained Prayagraj as its administrative center despite being named after the city of Lucknow. It encompasses the eastern region of Uttar Pradesh and includes several deaneries such as Jhansi, Prayagraj, Lakhimpur, Gorakhpur, Varanasi, Mirzapur.[20]
The diocese was originally created in 1902/03, from Chotanagpur diocese.[21][22]
The CNI Northeast diocese, based inShillong,North East India is headed by bishop Michael Herenz.[23] It originated as the Diocese of Assam, in the Anglican Church of India, erected from Calcutta in 1915;[24] and became known by the present name before 1986.[25]
In 1929, Nasik diocese was founded from Bombay;[26] her present bishop is the Rt. Rev. Darbara Singh.[27]
| Name | Founded | Headquarters | Location | Bishop | Website |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Diocese of Delhi | 1947, from Lahore[28] | New Delhi | Delhi,Haryana | The Rt. Rev. Dr. Paul Swarup | https://www.dioceseofdelhi.org/ |
| Diocese of Dooars | 2023 in Delhi | West Bengal & Assam | Santalpur, Mission Compound | The Rt. Rev. David Roy | |
| Diocese of Amritsar | 1953, from Lahore[29] | Amritsar | Punjab,Himachal Pradesh,Jammu and Kashmir | The Rt. Rev. Manoj Charan | www.amritsardiocesecni.org |
| Diocese of Barrackpore | 1956, from Calcutta[30] | Barrackpore | West Bengal | The Rt. Rev Subrata Chakraborty[19] | |
| Diocese of Andaman and Nicobar | 1966, from Calcutta[31] | Port Blair | Andaman and Nicobar Islands | The Rt. Rev. Thomas | |
| Diocese of Jabalpur | 1970, from Nagpur[32] | Jabalpur | Madhya Pradesh | The Rt. Rev. Ajay Umesh James | http://dioceseofjabalpur-cni.org/ |
| Diocese of Patna | bef. 70 | Bhagalpur | Bihar andJharkhand | The Rt. Rev. Francis Hansda | |
| Diocese of Cuttack | 1970 | Cuttack | Cuttack,Odisha | The Rt. Rev.Surendra Kumar Nanda | http://www.dioceseofcuttackcni.in/ |
| Diocese of Bhopal | betw. 70–79, from Jabalpur | Indore | Madhya Pradesh | The Rt. Rev. Neena Charan | |
| Diocese of Rajasthan | 1981, from Delhi[33] | Ajmer | Rajasthan | The Rt. Rev. Raimson Victor | |
| Diocese of Gujarat | betw. 70–96 | Ahmedabad | Gujarat | The Rt. Rev. Silvans Christian, Deputy Moderator CNI | |
| Diocese of Kolhapur | betw. 70–96 | Kolhapur | Maharashtra | The Rt. Rev. Manoj Devdan Kate | |
| Diocese of Durgapur | betw. 70–96 | Durgapur | West Bengal | The Rt. Rev. Sameer Issac Khimla[16] | |
| Diocese of Chandigarh | 1974, from Amritsar | Ludhiana | Chandigarh,Punjab | The Rt. Rev. Darbara Singh | |
| Diocese of Agra | 1976, from Lucknow[34] | Agra | Uttar Pradesh,Uttarakhand | The Rt. Rev. Bijay Kumar Nayak | http://cnidioceseofagra.org |
| Diocese of Lucknow | 1893, from Diocese of Calcutta[35] | Prayagraj | Uttar Pradesh | Rt. Rev. Morris Edgar Dan[36] | https://www.dioceseoflucknowcni.org |
| Diocese of Eastern Himalaya | bef. 1987 — Darjeeling, renamed c. 1992,[37] from Barrackpur | Darjeeling | West Bengal,Bhutan,parts of Assam | The Rt. Rev. Roshan Thapa | |
| Diocese of Sambalpur | bef 96[38] | Bolangir | Odisha | The Rt. Rev. Immanuel Dani | |
| Diocese of Phulbani | 1997,[39] from Cuttack | Kandhmal | Odisha | The Rt. Rev. Violet Nayak | |
| Diocese of Marathwada | c. 2000[40] | Aurangabad | Maharashtra | The Rt. Rev. Prakash D. Patole | |
| Diocese of Pune | c. 2000[40] | Pune | Maharashtra | The Rt. Rev. Alfred C. Tiwade | |
| Diocese of Chhattisgarh | 2010, from Jabalpur | Raipur | Chhattisgarh | The Rt. Rev. Sushma Kumar |
...churches that would combine the episcopal, presbyterian and congregational forms of church polity,and would accept the historic episcopate without committing the church to any particular theological interpretation of episcopacy. This is essentially what has been done both in the Church of South India and the Church of North India.
The Church of South India (1947) and the Church of North India (1970) are unique and ecumenically important because they have combined the "historic episcopate" with other forms of polity
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.
{{cite web}}: CS1 maint: bot: original URL status unknown (link)While the Methodist Churches of British and Australian origin joined the two great unions of 1947 (Church of South India) and 1970 (Church of North India), the Methodist (Episcopal) Church refrained and, in 1981, was inaugurated as Methodist Church in India (MCI), autonomous, yet affiliated with the UMC.
The three dioceses thus formed have been repeatedly subdivided, until in 1930 there were fourteen dioceses, the dates of their creation being as follows : Calcutta 1814; Madras 1835; Bombay 1837; Colombo 1845; Lahore 1877; Rangoon 1877; Travancore 1879; Chota Nagpur 1890; Lucknow 1893; Tinnevelly 1896; Nagpur 1903; Dornakal 1912; Assam 1915; Nasik 1929.
{{cite web}}: CS1 maint: bot: original URL status unknown (link)
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