Chapra Christ Church

In the 19th century, Chapra, Nadia was the center of missionary works for the Meherpur subdivision of the undivided Bengal (now West Bengal, India).^[2] In the 1830s, the Church Missionary Society of the Church of England began its work in Chapra.^[3] The congregation it established built Chapra Christ Church in 1840; the church opened in 1841.^[4][5]

Chapra Christ Church and the Church Missionary Society started a school for boys in 1850.^[3] In 1908, the school had 202 students.^[3] It is now operated by the Indian government as Hat Chapra King Edward High School.^[6] In 1956, the church became part of the newly established Diocese of Barrackpore of the Church of North India.^[7]

Chapra Christ Church has coordinated Chapra's Christmas Christian Fair since 1914.^[5] The four-day fair blends traditional Christian and Indian traditions and has some 20,000 participants each year.^[5] For example, Christian kirtans are composed and performed for each fair, along with traditional Christian prayers.^[5] The event also includes a football tournament, craft and food sales, a stick play, and exhibits of crafts and animals.^[5]

23°31′32.04″N 88°33′04.89″E / 23.5255667°N 88.5513583°E / 23.5255667; 88.5513583

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