EPCS Church declared State Heritage Building on Platinum Jubilee

ANUSHA GURUNG
GANGTOK, 22 April: Chief Minister Pawan Chamling declared the Evangelical Presbyterian Church, [EPCS] church as a state heritage building on Saturday on the occasion of the Platinum Jubilee of the Church. Assuring that another church will be constructed as per the demand, the CM stated that “The old church will be kept as a heritage site. Our government will try to include it in the world heritage site list as well.”
He made the declaration while addressing the huge gathering of believers at the Palzor Namgyal Girls Sr. Sec. School [PNGSS] as chief guest for the platinum jubilee celebration of the EPCS. The 75 years celebration, divided into two phases was held at Evangelical Presbyterian Church, Sikkim [EPCS] in the morning and PNGS School in the afternoon.
Making another important announcement, the Chief Minister said that the land under dispute will be handed over to PNGS School. There had been a long tussle going on between the government and school administration for the school land. The EPCS church of Gangtok, under which the school has been functioning, had been demanding the government to resolve the dispute.
The CM also announced the construction of the prayer tower which has been a long standing demand of the believers of the state. The CM further provided a grant of Rs. 2 lakh to PNGS School.
The CM released a new Bible on the occasion and also felicitated Rev CT Paju, Pastor Prabal Singh Rai and Bishnu Maya Pradhan [known popularly as Pastorni Ama].
“Sikkim has to be like Jerusalem”, said the CM and highlighting the work of all Christian Missionaries around the world added that Missionaries have contributed immensely in the Third World countries mostly in the field of education which is the case in Sikkim as well.
“History can testify that religious controversies have never occurred in the state during my 18 years in government; religion is above everything, it should not be mixed with politics”, he said.
“My government is determined to provide every support to all the section of people and has never compromised with the secular policies framed” said the CM and assured the believers that their demands will be fulfilled.
Addressing the students, the CM urged them to become good citizens and further spoke on the Chief Minister’s Comprehensive Annual and Total Health Check up [CATCH] programme mentioning that the government aims at making Sikkim an educated, rich and healthy state. The government also dreams of making Sikkim the state with the highest life expectancy rate at an average age of 80 years within a few years, he added.
MLA, Menlom Lepcha also addressed the gathering while Political Secretary to CM, KN Rai, Gangtok MLA  Dorjee Namgyal, Deputy Mayor, Shakti Singh, Minister HRDD, NK Pradhan, Secretary HRDD, CS Rao along with other officials were also present during the celebration.
Earlier, during the morning session at the EPCS church, Elder Andrew Rai, Chairman of Gangtok Church Platinum Jubilee celebration committee, while speaking on the history of the church said that Missionaries had a holistic contribution in the fields of education and health care.
“No body can ignore the historic role played by the missionaries in Sikkim in spreading education and awareness in health care. The base for present day quality education had been set up by Missionaries in Sikkim,” he said.
Prayers, Choir songs, singing of hymns by the congregation, bible reading were other activities that took place in the first half. The chief guest inaugurated the platinum jubilee hall at the church premises. The church also felicitated the Chief Minister and the Coordinator, Platinum Jubilee celebration committee, Phurba Lepcha expressed his gratitude to the Chief Minister for giving heritage status to the oldest church of the state.