Bishop’s House, 51, Chowringhee Road, Kolkata 700 071

paritoshcanning@cni-calcutta.in

+91 (33) 97482 49400

Diocese of calcutta

News and Updates

UNION CHAPEL

Special Days

137, Lenin Sarani, Kolkata-700 013 : Sunday Worship Service Timings : 10:30am

In 1816 a small group of dedicated believers began to meet and worship regularly at 43, Dharmtalla Street and subsequently in 1821 the Union Chapel at 137, Lenin Sarani was built for this congregation by the London Missionary Society (LMS).
Although the congregation was originally European, yet the Union Chapel soon included local people and even allowed the other denominations to worship in this premises. The local congregation of Krishnapur held their Bengali service in the Union Chapel from 1929 up to the time that the Emmanuel Church, Krishnapur was built.
The Rev. Townly of LMS was the first pastor of the Church. There were several other renowned pastors of the Union Chapel who singularly devoted their efforts to spread the gospel. The Rev. Boaz (1838 – 1858) was instrumental in establishing part of the Lower Circular Cemetery and the LMS institute at Bhowanipur. The Rev. J. J. Poole (1883 – 1888) was a noteworthy pastor who evangelised house to house. The Rev. Brockway built Brockway Hall in the premises where a school for poor girls was started.
Some illustrious worshippers in this church were Lady Bentinck (wife of Governor-General, Lord Bentinck) who worked for the upliftment of the poor and needy women. Dr. Beatrice Aaron and Dr. Catchitoor served indigent women and children through the Union Chapel Clinic.
The Rev. Montgomery started the Union Chapel School in 1967 with only seven children. Today the school has over nine pupils. The Union Chapel continues to cater to the spiritual needs of the local people and with its evangelistic and outreach work, to serve the poor and needy.

Special Days-

  • April 10, 2024: Women Fellowship members of Union Chapel attended a one-day seminar at St. Peter’s Church with the theme – Women…. In the Realm of Mental Health.
  • April 13, 2024: WFCS participated in the conference held at St. Mary’s Church with the theme ” Let us encourage one another to build up. “
  • May 5, 2024: “Mothers’ Day”.
  • May 20 to 22, 2024: WFCS participated in the Summer Camp held at Jhargram.
  • June 2, 2024: “World Environment Day”
  • June 9, 2024: “Fathers’ Day”
  • June 16, 2024: Church AGM
  • July 27, 2024: WFCS members participated in one day Seminar at Wesleyan Church with the theme “Empowering Women and Men to use their gifts together in advancing the Gospel.”
  • August 10, 2024: Some members of WFCS attended Seminar on the theme “Women in Leadership” at St. Stephen Church Kidderpore.
  • August 31, 2024: WFCS took part in the seminar at Christ Church. The theme of the seminar was “Global Warming and its Remedies.”
  • September 1, 2024: Education Sunday
  • September 14, 2024: WFCS members hosted a fun- filled program for the senior citizens of our Diocese with the theme ” You are never too old to set a goal”
  • September 16, 2024: WFCS participated in Fasting Prayer Service, organized by DWFCS at St. John’s Diocesan Girl’s School.
  • September 21, 2024: WFCS participated in a competition cooking “No Flame”.
  • October 26, 2024: WFCS  joined the fun activity day “Take a Break” at St. Thomas’s Church, Mirza Galib Street.
  • November 9, 2024: WFCS members took part in the Anand Mela Organized by St. George’s Church.
  • November 23, 2024: WFCS took part in the one day seminar “Taste and See” which was organized by Church of the Epiphany, Thakurpukur.
    November 24 , 2024: 203rd Anniversary Thanksgiving Service. The Youth gave a musical performance. The event was presided over by the Rt. Rev. Dr. Paritosh Canning, the Bishop of Calcutta. The fellowship was remarkably precious and we thank God for it!  Each & Everyone who attended the Service received a Church calendar.
  • December 1, 2024: WFCS put up a stall at Diocese Fest. All the members of Our Church contributed whole heartedly.
  • December 22, 2024: Nine Lesson Carol service, followed by dinner and Christmas tree. All the Youth members performed a special song.
  • December 23, 2024: Whole Night Carol.
  • January 11, 2025: WFCS of Union Chapel had the outreach program along with the Church Picnic at Jogendra Nagar, Canning. We organized gifts for the Children of this small Christian community.
  • January 20, 2025: “Fellowship of Least Coin”.
  • January 25, 2025: WFCS participated in the Annual Sports Meet organized by DWFCS.
  • February 1, 2025: WFCS participated in the program “Best out of Waste” at St. George’s Church.
  • February 2, 2025:Annual “Harvest Festival”. Our WFCS, Youth, the members of the church & the Union Chapel School contributed gift hampers for the Harvest Festival Sale.
  • February 15, 2025: WFCS members along with the Youth participated for the very first time in the Church Hymn Competition “Presence of Divine Majesty” at St. John’s Church.
  • March 9, 2025: World Day of Prayer was held in our Church. Word of God was delivered by our young member Mrs Anita Samuel.
  • March 25, 2025:  WFCS joined the service of “Annunciation of the Virgin Mary” at St. Paul’s Cathedral, organized by DWFCS.
  • March 30, 2025: Lenten Retreat. the Rt. Rev. Dr. Paritosh Canning, the Bishop of Calcutta was the Speaker. After the retreat, all present were a part of the Fellowship Lunch.

St. Paul’s Cathedral(Between 1858 – 1861); St. Johns’ Church, Consecrated on 24 June 1787; Union Chapel(1821); St. Andrew’s Church(Opened for public worship on 8 March 1818); Calcutta Hill Christian Church; CNI Wesleyan Church; St. Stephen’s Church, Kidderpore, Consecrated in 1846); St. Thomas’ Church, Mirza Ghalib Street(Opened for public Worship on November 20th 1831); St. Barnabas’ Church, Consecrated on 23rd December’ 1867; St. James Church, Kolkata, Consecrated on 25th July 1864; St. Thomas’ Church, Howrah, Consecrated in 1832; St. Luke’s Church, Bosekati; Sadhu Sundar Singh Girja, Bankra; Christ Church, Liluah (Hindi); Christ Church, Liluah (Bengali); Church of the Epiphany, Established in 1863; Jibon Jyoti Upasanaloy; St. Bartholomew’s Church; St. Johns Church Nahazari; St. Peter’s Church, Inaugurated on 20th June, 1945; St. Nicholas Church; Oxford Mission Chapel; Prabhu Jishu Mandir (Geonkhali); St. Mary’s Church, Consecrated on 16th February, 1889; Duff Church, Established in 1848; Christ Church Kolkata, Dedicated in 1839; St. George’s Church; Dedicated on 1st January 1936; Holy Trinity Church, (Opened for public Worship in November,1826); Emmanuel Church, Krishnapur, Established in 1829; St. James’ Church Baranagar; Serampore Johnnagar Church founded in 1880; Chinsurah Church, founded in 1825; St. Saviour’s Hindi Church, built in 1449; St. Saviour’s Tamil Church, started functioning in 1860; Bhowanipore Congregational Church; Osmond Memorial Church, founded in 1868;