Sun, 3 July

At the 125th anniversary celebration of Shepherd Memorial Church of North India, Udaipur

Shriji attended the 125th Celebration of Shepherd Memorial Church, C.N.I. at Udaipur on the 3rd July 2016. The Shepherd Memorial Church is celebrating its 125 years of consecration on 5th July 2016.

The Church is commemorating the dedication of Reverend Dr. James Shepherd, a tireless doctor and faithful pastor who spent decades in Udaipur spreading the word of Christ and serving the distressed in the region of Mewar.

Consecration in 1891: The Shepherd Memorial Church opened its doors on July 5th, 1891. Maharana Fateh Singh, 73rd Custodian of House of Mewar along with an entourage of nobility of Mewar, were present for the consecration ceremonies. The worship service was conducted in the vernacular by Rev. John Traill.

The awe-inspiring story of Rev. James Shepherd is preserved for posterity in a book titled 'Shepherd of Udaipur and the Land he Loved.' It was written by George Carstairs, a fellow missionary and published in 1926.

Ms. Anne Buddle, Head of Exhibitions and Collections, National Galleries of Scotland, who has been researching and documenting Rev. Shepherd's life and times in Udaipur, noted, "It was January 1877, with another missionary, Mr Martin, when Shepherd first visited Udaipur and met the Maharana at Jagniwas. In November 1877, aged just 29, he was asked by the Mission Conference to go to Udaipur (on his own) and open a mission there. Rev. Shepherd lived in a house overlooking the Fateh Sagar Lake. His house survives today and is now occupied by The Superintendent of Police, Udaipur, locally known as 'Padri's Bungalow'.

The 125th year celebration of the consecration of Shepherd Memorial Church is an opportune moment to also pay homage to Mr. Campbell Thomson M.I.C.E. He was the State Engineer in Udaipur from 1885 – 1893. A brass plaque at the Church reveals that "he built the Victoria Jubilee Hall, The Lansdowne and Walter Hospitals, The Fateh Sagar Dam, The Railway to Chitor and This Church."

Today, in this age of modernity and fast-paced life, Udaipur pays its homage to Rev. James Shepherd, a man of faith who travelled thousands of miles to give his best to the people of Mewar. His spirit of dedication lives on and continues to contribute to Udaipur's living heritage in the 21st century.

Shepherd Memorial Church, C.N.I., Udaipur
and Rev. James Shepherd M.D., D.D., K.I.H.M. (1847 – 1926)

Col. R. D. Ganguly presenting a memento to Shriji

Moderator P. K. Samantaroy presenting a bouquet to Shriji