Since the arrival of Christian missionaries in the area following the arrival of the East India Company in the 16th century, there have been churches in Pakistan. Many churches were constructed for British Army officials when Pakistan became a nation following the end of British rule.
For the thousands of families who joined Pakistan after its independence, these churches became their primary places of worship. The churches continue to be an important component of Pakistan’s history and stand for religious harmony and peace in the nation. The Church of Pakistan, which consists of Methodist, Anglican, Lutheran, and Presbyterian churches, was created in 1970 as a result of the churches’ union.
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
| 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
| 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 |
Some Other Churches are:
| 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 |
St. Paul’s Church, Rawalpindi
One of the oldest churches in Rawalpindi is St. Paul’s Church, which was founded in 1876. It was initially built for Scottish soldiers in the British Army’s Northern Command, but after Pakistan’s independence in 1947, it was acquired by the Presbyterian Church.
The church, which was once in Rawalpindi and had a red-brick exterior and wooden ceilings, has recently undergone renovations and been painted grey. It is situated across from General Headquarters (GHQ). Large stained-glass windows with images of Jesus and the Virgin Mary decorate its main prayer hall. St. Paul’s Church, which has a seating capacity of close to 800, has been performing baptisms for more than a century.
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
Another historic church in Pakistan was built in the 1850s: Saint John’s Cathedral in Peshawar. This church was also built to serve the British soldiers and their families stationed in the area, similar to some of the other churches. Red bricks are used in the construction of the church. The ceiling has a distinctive v-shape, and there are grand chandeliers.
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
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
The historical importance of Lahore to various cultures and religions is well known. It should come as no surprise that it is home to one of Pakistan’s most illustrious churches. One of the city’s most stunning churches continues to be the Sacred Heart Cathedral. The church, an architectural marvel with numerous tall towers and a dome that draw tourists from all over the nation, is so named. It can hold up to 1,500 worshipers simultaneously.
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