Christ Church, Mashobra, Himachal Pradesh India

The first corner stone of Christ Church Shimla was laid on the 9th September 1844, and the building was opened, by license, for Divine Service on the 11th October 1846. It was consecrated on 10th January 1857 as Christ Church by the Rt. Revd. Thomas Daltry, Bishop of Madras. It took nearly thirteen years to build. The cost of construction was between Rs. 40.000 and Rs. 50,000, of which Government contributed a little over Rs. 12,000, and the rest was raised from private sources. The build consists of nave and chancel (the latter added in 1864) and is 100 feet long by 42 wide. It has sitting accommodation for 574 persons, which can be increased by the addition of chairs to 630. The tower is 90 feet in height; it contains a clock, a brass bell, and peal of six tubular bells, which was erected in 1900.

 Christ Church in Shimla is the second oldest Church in India. Christ Church is one of the prominent landmarks of Shimla. The silhouette of Christ Church is visible for miles around the vicinity of Shimla city. Christ Church remains one of the enduring legacies of the British Raj.

Christ Church was designed by Colonel JT Boileau in 1844; but the Church was consecrated only after 1857. The clock which adorns Christ Church was donated by Colonel Dumbleton in the year 1860. The porch was added in the year 1873.

Christ Church has survived partition and the subsequent political upheavals of the Indian subcontinent. Christ Church continues to be very well maintained and remains in good condition. However the mechanical appendages of the Church like the clock does not function-a natural progression of entropy through time.

You could not help but notice the stunningly beautiful stained glass windows inside the Church. There are five exquisite stained glass windows in Christ Church Shimla. One of them represents the virtues of Faith, Hope, Charity, Fortitude, Patience and Humility.

The Pipe-Organ of Christ Church is the biggest in the Indian subcontinent and was erected in September 1899. The tuning of the Pipe-Organ was completed in September 23 1899,and the dedication and opening recital was conducted in September 28,1899. The Pipe Organ was made to order for a then princely sum of Rs.23,000. The Pipe-Organ was refurbished and re tuned in 1932. Christ Church is functional even today. English language service is held every sunday.