View of GEL Church, which celebrates its 150th anniversary. A Telegraph picture

Ranchi, Dec.13: The oldest Protestant Church in Ranchi, the Gossenor Evangelical Lutheran (GEL) Church, celebrated its 150th anniversary as it carries on with educational and other social welfare activities in the area.

This church, which was completed in 1855, after four years of construction, even today attracts followers of the faith.

It stands towering in Gothic beauty, sheltering as its pride a 150-year Bible, and years of history it has witnessed and survived.

Starting from the time the foundation stones were laid on November 18, 1851 by four Christian families who were sent to Ranchi by Johannes Evangelista Gossenor, who was a Berlin-based priest, followers continue to flock in faith.

At a cost of Rs 13,000 it was constructed by labourers who were totally untrained. From then to now, it has withstood the attacks of both man and nature. At least on three occasions it was attacked. First, during the Sepoy Mutiny in 1857, when Indian soldiers under the British Army fired cannon balls at the church.

?The Indian soldiers in the army thought that the church belongs to those of the English and tried to blow up the church with cannon balls. The structure is so strong that it survived the cannon balls. One of the cannon balls still stuck on the walls of the main building testifies the story,? said Bishop Hemant Hansda, the moderator of the church

The second attack was during the Second World War when the British fought against the Germans. The missionaries had perceived the threat and escaped to Calcutta.

For more than six months the church was deserted and it lay neglected with no one to maintain it or carry on the church duties.

?In 1919, the church was declared autonomous after which it had nothing to do with the Germans. Thereafter, in 1921, it was registered under the Society Act. The church, at present, has more than 1,000 members and works to further the cause of education,? added Hansda.

Its record in this field is impressive. It has opened 24 high schools, 60 middle schools and 4 colleges in different districts of the state.

?We have been imparting education mainly to the rural people over the years. Though we have not been able to do much on the health sector we will soon start social work which will include working on health issues that concern the people in the villages of the state,? said Hansda.

?We have come here to pray that the church remains untouched by weather and its blessings remain with us,? said Siril Lakra, a follower.