Century old Bijnor church built from love celebrates Christmas

  • | Wednesday | 23rd December, 2015

BIJNOR: Christmas celebrations are in full swing at Raja ka Tajpur in Bijnor, as the church at Nehtor locality is popularly known. Like Taj Mahal of Agra, this church also signifies the epitome of love and devotion," said Amit Samuel, a local. Perhaps, it is the only church in the entire country which was erected by a Hindu raja for his wife. The zamindar later converted to Christianity and came to be known as Raja Francis Xavier Singh Rikh. The church was built on a spread of 12 bighas in 1913.

BIJNOR: Christmas celebrations are in full swing at Raja ka Tajpur in Bijnor, as the church at Nehtor locality is popularly known. Raja ka Tajpur has a love story connected to it which locals never tire of narrating to visitors.Officially known as Sacred Heart Church, it was built by Raja Shyam Singh Rikh, a wealthy local zamindar, for his French wife, Margaret Mary, who was 28 years younger to him. The church was built on a spread of 12 bighas in 1913. The zamindar later converted to Christianity and came to be known as Raja Francis Xavier Singh Rikh. The couple eventually moved to Bengaluru because of its favourable climate.In February 1941, the Raja died at the age of 84, and though she was only 56 at the time, Margaret went into a depression and died two months later. The couple is buried at a Bengaluru cemetery."In 2013, on the 100th anniversary of the church and 72 years after the couple died, their granddaughter, Nalini D Belligue, a French national of Indian origin, returned and ensured that their mortal remains were brought back from Bangalore and interred in the grounds of Raja ka Tajpur," said local pradhan Suresh Kumar, talking to TOI.According to Father Biju Sebastian, a Catholic priest of the area, every year a huge fair is organized at the church on Christmas. Preparations are in full swing this year as well. "There is so much of history embedded in this church. Perhaps, it is the only church in the entire country which was erected by a Hindu raja for his wife. Like Taj Mahal of Agra, this church also signifies the epitome of love and devotion," said Amit Samuel, a local.

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