यूनियन चापेल ए बाप्टिस्ट चर्च

:: HISTORY ::

CANADIAN BAPTIST MISSION, now known as Canadian Baptist Ministries, was established by Baptist Missionaries from Canada, in the year 1850.The Canadian Baptists began working among Telugu speakers in the Andhra Pradesh region, in the year 1874. Their work included medical care, education, evangelism, and discipleship.

UNION CHAPEL was established in the year 1911, with the following charter members: Mr.&Mrs. Shaw; Mrs. Harding; Mr. Smith; Miss. Smith and Miss. D'Prazer.The charter members resolved at their first meeting on the 4th March 1911, that the name of this church shall be THE VIZAGAPATAM ENGLISH BAPTIST CHURCH .The Church was located at Thompson Street, Fort Ward, Visakhapatnam.

OLD VIZAGAPATAM TOWN

THE VIZAGAPATAM ENGLISH BAPTIST CHURCH

THE FOUNDATION STONE LAYING CEREMONY FOR CHURCH EXPANSION PROJECT

The present edifice at WaltairUplands, was built on site acquired from the Canadian Baptist missionaries.The foundation stone was laid by Dr. H M Lazarus on 11th Apr 1971 and dedicated by Rev. V. John RangaRao on 22 Dec 1975.

A SECTION OF THE CONGREGATION AT THE FOUNDATION STONE LAYING CEREMONY FOR CHURCH EXPANSION PROJECT 1996

The Edifice of the English Church at Waltair Uplands

After the Church relocated to Waltair Uplands in 1975,the edifice at Fort Ward became dilapidated and was abandoned.

REV. ROGER WALDOCK was the last Canadian Missionary who pastored Union Chapel. Subsequently,the church was handed over to Indian Management in 1968, when the Canadian Baptist Missionaries returned to their home land.

The New Church edifice for the use of the Telugu Congregation Rev Rajesh Pakki was entrusted the task of shepherding the fledgling Telugu congregation in 2010. He and his wife Vijaya pioneered the work. Today, the Telugu church has over 250 children in the Sunday School and a congregation of about 100 believers, most of whom are first generation Christians. A parsonage was constructed in 2015 for the Pastor of Telugu congregation and dedicated on 8 Nov 2015.

TELUGU CHURCH EDIFICE Dedicated to the Lord by Pastor D. Paul Augustine &Inaugurated for Worship by Mr MSSK William on 26 Jan 2010

INAUGURAL SERVICE OF TELUGU CHURCH IN THE NEWLY CONSTRUCTED EDIFICE

SOME OF THE ELDERS AND MEMBERS WITHREV. V. JOHN RANGA RAO IN THE OLD CHURCH COMPOUND AT FORT WARD

CHURCH DEDICATION SERVICE AT WALTAIR UPLANDS ? 1975

THE FIRST INDIAN PASTOR WAS

During his tenure, Rev V John RangaRao encouraged the church to become missions minded and support church planters, and the Church took up Outreach work initially in theIchapuram area. In recent years the Outreach ministry is mostly focussed in the 4 fields of Atchutapuram, Araku, Yellamanchili and Deverapalli.

REV. V. JOHN RANGA RAO

THE FIRST PASTOR OF THE VIZAGPATNAM ENGLISH BAPTIST CHURCH WAS

REV. WALTER V. HIGGINS

SOME OF THE OTHER CANADIAN BAPTIST MISSIONARIESWHO PASTORED UNION CHAPEL WERE

REV. ERIC QUIRK

REV. H.C. POND

REV. JOHN HART

REV. W. GORDON CARDER

REV. J. WOELFLE

REV. KENNETH KNIGHT

OTHER PASTORS WHO SERVED / ASSISTED UNION CHAPEL IN THE PAST

REV KOSHY MUTHALALY

DR P JACOB DAS

PASTOR PK THOMAS

REV DARREL POND

REV IRWIN SIKHA

REV ROBIN PAUL

REV NELSON RAJU

REV D PAUL AUGUSTINE

PASTOR PRAVEEN KUMAR

PASTOR PRABHU KUMAR

In 2004, the Church was motivated by the Pastor, Rev. Nelson Raju, to start a free Medical clinic for the poor and needy residentsof the Fort Ward area, by renovating one of the outhouse buildings. The free clinic was manned by Union Chapel’s own doctors and presently provides outpatient services on all week days in ENT, Opthalamaology, Gynaecology, Skin, Dental, Paediatrics and General Medicine. The church provides free medicines to all patients, as prescribed by the doctors. The services are extended, without any discrimination of religion, caste, creed or gender. The doctors have attended to the medical needs of over ten thousand out patients at the clinic in the last 5 years, besides conducting six medical camps held in rural and tribal areas. In 2008, by the Grace of God, the Church led by Rev D Paul Augustine, started a small Sunday School ministry to the children in the Fort Ward area premises. Thissoon necessitated a proper building,wherethe fledgling Telugu congregation couldmeet for worship. Therefore, the Church took up the construction of a new edifice, which was built and dedicated to God in January 2010.

CELEBRATING 105 YEARS OF GOD’S FAITHFULLNESS

In 2016, Union Chapel celebrated 105 years of God’s faithfulness in a Thanksgiving Service that was attended by a large congregation of members, worshippers and friends from other churches.

During this time, the church recalled the faithful services of previous pastors and honored them or their wives in case the Pastor has been called home to glory. The church also recognized the contributions of the elders and senior members over the years and felicitated them.

The present Pastoral Team

Rev Thomas Kempis – Rev Rajesh Pakki – Rev Zephaniah Peter

HISTORY