One of the oldest churches in Kashmir, the Saint Lukes Church has been opened for the public to offer prayers after 30 years. The church was constructed in 1896 and is situated on the Southwest slope of Shankara Charya hill near the Old TB Hospital now known as CD Hospital.
The St Lukes Church was renovated by the J-K Tourism Department under the ‘Smart City Project’ which accounted for Rs 90 lakh. The reconstruction work started in April 2020.
Besides, upgradation has also been made on the surrounding landscape which includes access to the Church, lighting, and the allied components. The interior of the church has also been reconstructed which includes Alter, wooden flooring, seating, window panes, access gate, and Porch. The administration informed that the electrification and lighting have also been redone.
Notably, the church is a single-storey building built on a cruciform theme. The church follows a Gothic Style of Architecture which is different from other important monuments located in Srinagar.
Prior to the reconstruction work, the church was lying in a dilapidated condition, with structures suffering damage. Besides, the CGI roofing was damaged, the rainwater intrusion from the roof forced the decay of important components. The plinth was also damaged due to unwanted vegetation. Superstructure walls were damped due to the plinth and seeping of rainwater.
As the St Lukes Church was being closed for three decades, the Christians surrounding the area visited the Holy Family Catholic Church, a Roman Catholic Church, and another one at Church Lane for Sunday mass and Christmas mass.
The Christian community has expressed their happiness and gratitude towards the government’s initiative to renovate and reopen the church before Christmas.