List of Churches in Pakistan

Churches in Pakistan have existed since the 16th century when Christian missionaries started coming to the region after the arrival of the East India Company. When Pakistan became a country after the end of British rule, many churches were built for British Army officials.

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These churches became the main places of worship for the hundreds of thousands of families who became a part of Pakistan after independence. The churches remain an essential part of Pakistan’s heritage and represent peace and harmony between different faiths in the country. In 1970, the churches joined together to form the Church of Pakistan, which includes Methodist, Anglican, Lutheran, and Presbyterian churches.

Graana.com has prepared a list of churches in Pakistan below:

An Overview

The majority of the churches in Pakistan were built during British rule. As a result, they look very similar to churches in England. They have high towers, extensive round roofs, and curved glass windows. This unique architectural style gives these churches an impressive and outstanding look.

The architectural style of the churches tends to be uniform across the world, with some prominent features such as vaulted ceilings, bell towers, and arches. The churches in Pakistan represent a mix of traditional local architecture and the more universal architecture that is typical of the churches around the world.

Christians are the second largest religious group in Pakistan. The government has tried to keep these old churches safe and in good condition. It is incredible that some of these beautiful buildings, which show the Christian belief in Pakistan, have now been named national heritage sites.

 

Types of Churches

 

white church building

 

There are many different churches, each with unique beliefs and practices. Some of the most common types of churches include

 

Type of Church  Description 
Catholic Church  The largest Christian denomination in the world, led by priests and bishops, with a centralised hierarchy and belief in the authority of the Pope. 
Protestant Church  Part of the Protestant Reformation, with a wide range of beliefs and practices, but generally shared a belief in the Bible as the sole authority for Christian faith and practice. Common types of Protestant churches include Baptists, Methodists, Lutherans, and Presbyterians. 
Eastern Orthodox Church,  The second largest Christian denomination in the world is led by patriarchs and metropolitans, with a decentralised hierarchy and belief in the authority of the seven ecumenical councils. 
Oriental Orthodox Church,  A group of seven churches that broke away from the Byzantine Empire in the 6th century led by patriarchs, with a decentralised hierarchy and belief in the authority of the first three ecumenical councils. 
Non-denominational Church  Not affiliated with any particular Christian denomination, with a wide range of beliefs and practices, but generally share a belief in the Bible as the sole authority for Christian faith and practice. 

 

Churches in Pakistan

Pakistan has 557 churches in total. These are scattered in various cities across the country. Some of these churches were built over 100 years ago, making them historically and culturally important. The oldest church in Pakistan is believed to be the Saint Joseph’s Church in Lahore, which was founded in 1842.

Being a historically significant city, Karachi has the highest number of churches in Pakistan, followed by Lahore and Rawalpindi. These churches not only serve as a place of worship for the Christian community but also as a place of community gathering where Christians come together to celebrate various religious celebrations such as Christmas and Easter. On religious occasions, these churches are lit up with decorative lighting and are embellished with several colourful ornaments.

 

List of Churches

Here is the list of churches in Pakistan organised city-wise:

 

City  Church 
Islamabad  Apostolic Charismatic Ministry ACM 
Islamabad  Khatoon-e-Fatima Church (Our Lady of Fatima Church) 
Islamabad  Lambs Church Assemblies of God Lambs Church AOG 
Islamabad  Protestant International Church 
Islamabad  St. Thomas Church 
Islamabad  Full Gospel Assembly (FGA) Church Islamabad Full Gospel Assembly Church Islamabad 
Lahore  Assembly of Believers 
Lahore  The Methodist Church of Pakistan 
Lahore  Church of Christ Ministries of Pakistan 
Lahore  Church of St. Mary Magdalene 
Lahore  Immaculate Conception Church 
Lahore  Presbyterian Church 
Lahore  Sacred Heart Cathedral 
Lahore  St. Andrew’s Church 
Lahore  St. Anthony’s Church 
Lahore  St. James’ Church 
Lahore  St. Joseph’s Church 
Lahore  St. Mary’s Church 
Abbottabad  St. Luke’s Church 
Bahawalpur  St. Dominic’s Church 
Bannu  St. George’s Church 
Faisalabad  Cathedral of Sts. Peter and Paul 
Faisalabad  The Jerusalem Methodist Church of Pakistan 
Gojra  Sacred Heart Church 
Haripur St John’s Church
Gojra Sacred Heart Church The Methodist Church 
Hyderabad  St. Francis Xavier Cathedral 
Hyderabad  St. Thomas Church 
Karachi  Brooks Memorial Methodist Church 
Karachi  Christ Church Drigh Road, Drigh Road 
Karachi  Christ the King Church 
Karachi  Church of Our Lady of Fatima 
Karachi  Dr. Luke United Methodist Church, Safoora Goth 
Karachi  Holy Trinity Cathedral 
Karachi  International Church of Karachi 
Karachi  Our Lady of Fatima Church 
Karachi  Philadelphia Pentecostal Church 
Karachi  Sacred Heart Church, Keamari 
Karachi  St. Andrew’s Church, also known as Scotch Church 
Karachi  St. Anthony’s Church, Cantt 
Karachi  St. Anthony’s Church, Manora 

 Other

Karachi  St. Christopher’s Church 
Karachi  St. Francis’ Church, Haji Camp 
Karachi  St. Francis Xavier’s Church, Qayyumabad 
Karachi  St. John’s Church, Drigh Colony 
Karachi  St. Jude’s Church 
Karachi  St. Mark United Methodist Church, Malir Cantt 
Karachi  St. Lawrence’s Church 
Karachi  St. Patrick’s Cathedral 
Karachi  St Paul’s Parish, Azam Basti 
Karachi  St. Theresa’s Church, Korangi Township 
Karachi  Stella Maris Church, Korangi Creek 
Kasur  Our Lady of Sorrows Church 
Kotri  Christ Church United Methodist Hill Parish 
Kotri  Immaculate Conception Church 
Khushab Emmanuel Church

 Khushab

Salvation Army Church 

 Khushab

Church Quaidabad City Catholic
Multan  Cathedral of the Holy Redeemer 
Multan  Cathedral of Resurrection 
Multan  Poiema Christian Centre 
Murree  Church of Seven Sorrows 
Murree  Holy Trinity Church 
Mianwali Chashma Church Kundian Mianwali Catholic Church Chak 
Nathiagali  St. Matthew’s Church 
Peshawar  All Saints’ Church 
Peshawar  St. John’s Cathedral 
Peshawar  St. John’s Church 
Peshawar  St Michael’s Church 
Jhelum St. John’s Church
Nowshera  Protestant Church 

 

Nowshera  Protestant Church 
Nowshera  CathedralChurch 
Quetta  Holy Rosary Church 
Quetta  St. Mary’s Church 
Dunga Gali St John’s Church, Dunga Gal
Dera Ismail Khan St John’s Church Nasri Glorious Church
Rawalpindi  Christ Church Rawalpindi 
Rawalpindi  Nicoll Memorial Church 
Rawalpindi  Sacred Heart Church 
Rawalpindi  St. Andrew’s Church 
Rawalpindi  St. Joseph’s Cathedral 
Rawalpindi  St. Mary’s Church 
Rawalpindi  St. Paul’s Church 
Rawalpindi  Holy Family Catholic Church 
Rawalpindi  St. John’s Church 
Sanghar  St. Paul’s Church, Sanghar 
Sargodha  St Francis Xavier’s Church 
Sialkot  Divine Family Church 
Sialkot  True Way Ministries Church 
Sukkur  St. Mary’s Church 
Sukkur  St. Xavier’s Church 
Thatta  John Wesley Methodist Church 

 

Famous Churches in Pakistan

The mentioned below are some of the historical and famous churches in Pakistan:

 

St. Paul’s Church, Rawalpindi

 

St. Paul's Church, Rawalpindi

 

St. Paul’s Church in Rawalpindi, dating back to 1876, is one of the city’s oldest churches. Initially constructed for Scottish soldiers in the British Army’s Northern Command, it later came under the ownership of the Presbyterian Church following Pakistan’s independence in 1947.

Located opposite General Headquarters (GHQ) in Rawalpindi, the church, originally featuring a red-brick exterior and wooden ceilings, was renovated and painted grey recently. Its main praying hall is adorned with large stained-glass windows depicting images of Jesus and the Virgin Mary. With a capacity to accommodate nearly 800 worshipers at a time, St. Paul’s Church has been offering baptism services for over a century.

 

St. Patrick’s Cathedral, Karachi

 

St. Patrick's Cathedral, Karachi

 

A church characterised by its unique red-brick building, Saint Patrick’s Cathedral adds to the architectural richness of the Karachi city. The church was built in 1881, making it one of the oldest churches in the country.

Its prominent features include arched windows with stained glass decorated with religious scenes, using high-contrast colours. The church also has a beautiful outdoor area with sculptures mounted on an elevated platform accessible by stairs. The church has an indoor seating capacity for up to 2,000 worshipers at a time.

 

St. John’s Cathedral, Peshawar

 

St. John's Cathedral, Peshawar

 

Constructed in the 1850s, the Saint John’s Cathedral in Peshawar city is another historical church in Pakistan. Similar to some of the other churches, this one was also constructed to cater to the British soldiers and their families who were stationed in this region. The church building is built using red bricks. The main features include a unique v-shaped ceiling and majestic chandeliers. 

St. Matthew’s Church, Nathiagali

 

St. Matthew's Church, Nathiagali

 

Another famous church in the Khyber Pakhtunkhwa region is Saint Matthew’s Church. Located in the scenic hill station of Nathia Gali, it is a picturesque cedarwood church surrounded by tall spruce trees. The church stands tall against the backdrop of lush green mountains, making it one of the most scenic churches. It is a popular tourist attraction accessible via a brief hike from the main Nathia Gali market.

 

St. Mary’s Cathedral, Multan

 

St. Mary's Cathedral, Multan

 

The city of Multan is not short of historical architecture that is diverse in nature. The Saint Mary’s Cathedral adds to this rich architecture. Constructed in 1858, it is a magnificent red-brick church which has firmly established itself as one of the city’s largest and most ancient churches. It was originally constructed for British Army personnel in the region and currently serves as the residence of the Bishop of Multan.

 

Sacred Heart Cathedral, Lahore

 

Sacred Heart Cathedral, Lahore

 

Lahore, is renowned for its historical significance among different cultures and religions. It is no wonder that it also hosts one of the most famous churches in Pakistan. The Sacred Heart Cathedral stands firm as one of the most beautiful churches in the city. Characterised by multiple high towers and a dome, the church is an architectural masterpiece that attracts visitors from all over the country. It can accommodate up to 1,500 worshipers at a time.

FAQs

 

1. What are some famous churches in Pakistan?

  • St. Patrick’s Cathedral in Karachi
  • Sacred Heart Cathedral in Lahore
  • Holy Trinity Cathedral in Karachi
  • St. Anthony’s Church in Lahore
  • St. Mary’s Church in Rawalpindi

 

2. How old are the churches in Pakistan?

Many churches in Pakistan were built during the British colonial era, dating back to the 19th and early 20th centuries.

 

3. Are there any historic churches in Pakistan?

Yes, several churches in Pakistan are considered historic, including St. John’s Cathedral in Peshawar and St. Patrick’s Cathedral in Karachi.

 

4. What is the largest church in Pakistan?

The largest church in Pakistan is the Holy Trinity Cathedral in Karachi, known for its impressive architecture and significance in the city.

 

5. How diverse is the Christian community in Pakistan?

Pakistan’s Christian community is diverse, with various denominations, including Anglican, Catholic, Methodist, and Presbyterian, among others.

 

6. Are there any famous Christian festivals celebrated in Pakistan?

Yes, Christmas is a widely celebrated Christian festival in Pakistan, marked by church services, feasts, and gatherings.

 

7. Can tourists visit churches in Pakistan?

Yes, many churches in Pakistan are open to tourists, and visitors are often welcome to attend services or explore the architecture and history.

 

8. How has the Pakistani government supported the preservation of churches?

The Pakistani government has worked to preserve and renovate historic churches, recognizing their cultural and historical significance.

 

9. Are there any annual events or gatherings at churches in Pakistan?

Some churches in Pakistan host annual events, such as Christmas Eve services, Easter celebrations, and charity drives.

 

10. How can I donate to church-related charitable activities in Pakistan?

You can contribute to church-related charitable activities through local churches and charitable organisations or by contacting church authorities for more information.

Follow Graana blog for more related information about mosques in Pakistan.

 

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