Delhi is home to some of the amazingly beautiful and most famous churches. These churches are very peaceful and holy. They accept people from all religions and treat all people equally. In this list of most famous churches in Delhi, you would find all kinds of churches which include churches from different affiliations. There are some churches with historical significance too. Ever thought about which are the most famous churches in Delhi? We all know about the Lotus Temple, Jama Masjid, Akshardham Temple, and the Gurdwara Bangla Sahib as some of the best religious centers and places to visit in Delhi. Very few people talk about the magnificent churches in Delhi. But in this article, we will highlight some most famous churches in Delhi that are not just a place for worship but also one of the major tourist destinations as well.
6 Most Famous Churches in Delhi that you Must Visit
Churches are the sacred buildings where Christians worship Jesus. But even if you keep faith in any other religion you would agree that churches are one of the most beautiful places one can visit. Churches give out a very positive and holy vibe. The peace in the atmosphere of a church makes the whole experience sublime. Even if you are not religious, visiting a church is one of the best experiences. But even if you keep faith in any other religion you would agree that churches are one of the most beautiful places one can visit. If you agree with us then you should definitely consider visiting the most famous churches in Delhi.
1. St. James’ Church (Oldest Church in Delhi)
With Anglican affiliation, the St. James’ Church was sanctified in1836 and is one of the most famous churches in New Delhi. The architecture of the place is very humble, and the place gives out a very peaceful vibe. Many people believe and say that the Church holds an imitation of the churches in Venice.
The Church was built by an Anglo-Indian military adventurer named Colonel James Skinner. The place is also known as Skinner’s Church. Not many people know this, but St. James’ Church is the oldest Church in Delhi.
Apart from being a great place to worship, the Church also has historical significance attached. The Church was visited and attended by the Viceroy of India until 1931. Apart from the Viceroy, there are several other people who have visited the holy structure, like Queen Elizabeth II in 1961 and the Archbishop of Canterbury in 1995.
The Kashmiri gate metro station is the nearest metro station to the St. James Church, which is located in the Mori gate region. The timings of the Church are 08:30 AM to 10:00 AM in the summers, and after 1st October, it follows its winter timetable where its timings change to 09:00 AM to 10:30 AM each day.
2. St. Thomas Church (Most Famous Church in Delhi)
Located in sector II, R.K. Puram, St. Thomas Church is affiliated with the Roman Catholic church. It is one of the most famous churches in Delhi and is visited by many people each day. While most of these people come to pray to the almighty, there are many people who come to the place to witness the unique structure and the famous peaceful environment the Church has. Over the years, the Church has gained a lot of popularity as a tourist place.
It was built way back in the year 1972, and unlike any other church, the design of St. Thomas Church is inspired by the Mughal style of architecture. You might not know this, but the St. Thomas Church is also known as the Red Brick Church of Delhi. This is because the Church is made out of red bricks. Interestingly while the Church takes inspiration from the Mughal style of architecture, it is built in an Eastern-European style.
You might be confused as to what all this means and how it is possible, but we assure you that one visit to the Church would solve all your doubts about its architecture. The nearest metro station to the St. Thomas Church is located in R.K. Puram in Bhikaji Cama Place. The service timings of the place are 6:15 AM for weekdays, 6:00 AM for Saturdays, and 7:30 AM for Sundays.
3. Sacred Heart Cathedral (Magnificient Church to Visit in Delhi)
During the Mughal Era, Emperor Akhbar tried to create a special state religion that had teachings from Christianity, Hinduism, Islam, and Zoroastrianism. He named this religion as Din-e-Illahi. For the purpose of building the religion, he invited Catholic priests from Goa in the year 1578. These priests helped Catholicism spread its roots in Delhi.
Not many people know this, but the Sacred Heart Cathedral is the second Catholic Church to be built in Delhi. The construction for the Church started in the year 1922 and was completed in 1935. The architecture of the Church is marvelous, and you would surely have a hard time taking your eyes off the beautiful structure. The main altar of the Church is made using pure Carrara marble. Inside the premises of the Church, you would also find schools for girls and boys.
The place is visited by many people throughout the year, and the crowd is especially huge on the days of Christian holidays like Easter and Christmas. You would find several ceremonies being held during these festivals. The Sacred Heart Cathedral is one of the most famous churches in Delhi.
The Church is located near the Gurudwara Bangla Sahib in Ashok Place, Delhi, and is the closest to the Patel Chowk metro station. The service timings of the Church during the winter (i.e., months of October to March) are 6:30 AM and the timing for summer(i.e., during the months of April to September) are 6:30 AM.
4. St. Stephen’s Church (Famous Historical Church in Delhi)
The St. Stephen’s Church was built by the Society for the Propagation of the Gospel. The Church is located near the transportation hub and is visited by many people each day. The red, graceful, and majestic church building is admired by both the visitors and the people passing by.
The building is built using the Gothic style of architecture; however, if you are an enthusiast and know a little bit about architecture, you would notice that some elements of the structure take inspiration from the Romanesque style, and the high ceilings of the Church would remind you of the Baroque style. Overall, the building looks amazing, and the architecture is so amazing that you wouldn’t be able to make out that this marvelous red building is 150 years old.
Not many people know this, but the red color of the Church is to honor the first Christian martyrs in India that lost their lives in 1857. St. Stephen was the first Christian martyr and the patron saint of the city of Delhi. St. Stephen’s Church is one of the most famous churches in Delhi.
Located on the Church Mission Road, Chandni Chowk, the nearest metro station to the St. Stephens Church is the Chandni Chowk metro station. The mass timing of the Church is different during Winters and Summers. During Winters, the timings are 9 AM, and during summer, the timings are 8:30 AM.
5. Cathedral Church of the Redemption (Most Beautiful Church in Delhi)
Constructed by Henry Madd, the Cathedral Church of the Redemption is one of the most famous churches of Delhi and is very close to the Rashtrapati Bhavan of India. The unique feature about this Church is that the building is built in such a way that the Church remains cool at all times. Even if you visit the Church during the scorching heat of Delhi, you would hardly notice the heat here.
The foundation stone of the Cathedral Church of the Redemption was laid down by Lord Irwin, the Governor-General and Viceroy of India, in the year 1927. It took four years of extremely hard work to build this marvelous place as it was finally opened to the public in the year 1931. Being one of the most famous churches in Delhi it is also known as one of the best places to visit in Delhi in one day.
It has an Anglican affiliation, and you would find a replica of the Madonna and Child by Italian Renaissance painter Giovanni Bellini above the altar of the Church. The Church is also known as the Viceroy Church and is one of the holiest and most famous churches Catholic in New Delhi.
The nearest metro station to the Cathedral Church of the Redemption is the Central Secretariat metro station. The service timings of the place are 9 AM in winter, during the months of October to March, and 8:30 AM during Summers during the months of April to September.
6. St.Luke’s Church (Famous Roman Catholic Church in Delhi)
The St.Luke’s Church is one of the best Roman Catholic churches in Delhi. It is built inside the defense colony and was built in the year 1979. A unique thing about this Church is that it holds service in three different languages, i.e., Hindi, English, and Malayalam. This multilingual approach helps a lot in bringing communities together and developing a good relationship between people from all regions and cultures.
The St. Luke’s Church was built by the orders of Archbishop Angelo Innocent Fernandes. The patron Saint Luke takes credit for the naming of the Church. Many people believe that St Luke was the only non-Jew who committed to the New Testament. The Church does daily mass and service gatherings and also runs a Sunday school to inculcate moral values in children.
Located in the posh Defense colony of Vasant Kunj, the nearest metro station to the St. Lukes Church is the South Extension metro station. The service and mass timings are different depending upon the season. For winters, i.e., during the months of October to march, the timing is 9 AM, while for Summers, i.e., April to September, the timings are 6:30 AM.
These were the most famous churches in Delhi. You should definitely consider visiting them and experience the serenity and calmness of these beautiful places. You would definitely fall in love with the aura of these churches and the positivity that they have spread for many years now.