CHRISTIANITY

The earliest Christian missionary who came to Kashmir was Jesuit who  visited the valley during Akbar’s time. Fater Jeronme Xavier a grand nephew of St. Francis Xavier, and Brother Degoes came with Akbar to Kashmir  in 1957 A.D. But they did not do real missionary work in Kashmir. Their aim was to convert Akbar first and then the people. But this did not happen. Then father Francis Corsi and Father Joseph Decastro visited Kashmir with Emperor Jehangir. Father Busi came to Kashmir in Shah Jahan’s time in 1651 A.D. He came again in 1665 A.D when Aurengzeb was the emperor. Though ,the next missionary came to Kashmir in 1884 A.D. with Father Marcus.

ROMAN CATHOLIC:

 Organised Roman Catholic mission started in May 1891 A.D at Baramulla by Father Winklay and Cunninghum. In the  beginning the mission work was carried out in tents at Baramulla. In 1892 A.D. the building  and the chapel were erected.in 1895 A.D. Father Brouwer was appointed for Baramulla and Father Winklay  was asked to start the mission in Srinagar. The present priest  house in Srinagar was built in 1931 A.D. and old quarters and chapel (built in one stretch by Father Winklay) were converted into a large chapel.     The Catholic mission started the Presentation Convent School in a rented house on the Bouleward Road, Srinagar, in 1936 A.D. The  first admission was made on 16^th March, 1936 A.D. Later on, the school was shifted in 1939 A.D. when the mission constructed the school building, at Raj Bagh on land provided by the State Government. The Burn-Hall School  was opened in 1942 by Father Thysser in a rented bunglow.    The mission started a small mission school in 1905 A.D. at Baramulla, but after stiff opposition from the local people, the school was temporarily closed and reopened in 1906 A.D. In 1912 A.D. Sisters of Franciscan Mission arrived in Baramulla  and opened a hospital. The original plot, where in1892 father Winklay had built his small house and chapel was given to the sisters. 

PROTESTANT CHRISTIAN MISSION:

These were mainly represented by the Church Missionary Society in Kashmir province. They have been active from 1865 A.D to the present date. In Kashmir the Priest incharge of All Saints Church was himself a Ladakhi Christian of Moravian background (Rev. Yonathan Prijon). About ½ of the Moravion Christians have come down to Kashmir. In a congregration held in Srinagar, about 1/3 were converts from Islam, about 1/3^rd were Christians from Punjab and other parts of the India  who have settled here, and 1/3^rd were Christians temporarily residing in Kashmir. The Christians of all  the three churches of Jammu and Kashmir State since December 1970, form a part of the Church of North India which is a united Church.    With in the last 30 years Pentecostal churches have grown up in all the three regions of the State. These lays great stress on the possession of gifts of the Holy Spirit  by the individual believer. They practice divine heating and  have very little liturgical worship. The leaders have mainly been from South India.   In Kashmir province Church Missionery Society personal remain at the Biscoe Memorial School and at Anantnag in Mission Hospital. Church continues to be missionary in its nature, distributing gospels and preaching to the suptic as opportunities arise. The local church acts as host to evangelistic teams of youngmen from different parts of India who visit the valley during the summer.   The mode of worship of Churches of North India is essentially in the central Christian tradition; laying emphasis on both the scripture, Sacraments and using the ancient  prayers of the church.    Apart from the main Christian festival one interesting local service is the sun-rise service held on Easter morning in the Christian Cemetery in Srinagar to which all local Christians attach great importance.    The church, through its schools, makes continous efforts to bridge the differences between different social and religious groups. As for as the C.M.S Schools is  concerned, interdining, sharing of tents on the expedition and at camps and every other possible aspect of social life is carriedon togther, regardless of religious background. The school tries to warn its dangers of riches and more positively to keep contact with and to help poor sections of the valley, such as, the leper colony at Nagin Lake, by regular visits. The main contribution of the mission schools in Kashmir  has been as an agent  of social change. A consistent attempt has been made over a period one century to eradicate superstitions and social taboos, to encourage practical social service and to break down the barriers between boys of different religious and social background. It may be that a measure of acceptance of the Christian ethic has been attained in society as a whole , through this mission.         But the most important contribution, the Christian Mission has made, is in the field of education. Christian Missionary Schools for boys and girls, especially the famous the famous C.M.S. Tyndale Biscoe Memorial School, Srinagar, has been the torch bearers in the field of modern education since 1880 A.D. It has done the pioneering work in removing ignorance, illiteracy, old prejudice against modern education, and in incalculating a sense of social service, etc. The mission schools have become very popular and occupy a place of prestige among the educational institutions of the valley.