Manipur’s oldest church celebrates116th foundation day

Our Correspondent
UKHRUL, September 29

The oldest church in Manipur, Phungyo Baptist Church, celebrated its 116th foundation day by holding a simple but memorable service at this picturesque Ukhrul district headquarters today.
Established in 1901 at Tangrei locality in Ukhrul town, Phungyo Baptist Church is the oldest and the first established church of Manipur. The church is a fountain of spreading Christianity as well as western education among many tribal communities extending even to neighbouring country Myanmar.
Towards the advent of nineteenth century, a foreign Christian missionary Rev William Pettigrew at his own risk landed at Awungtang Hunphun village, presently the district headquarters of Ukhrul in 1895 and establish the church on September 29, 1901. Pettigrew was also established a school at Singjamei Thokchom Leikai in Imphal and named as the Pettigrew Lower Primary School which is popularly known as simply Pettigrew School.
In the day’s observation today, pastor Rev HA Thanmi of PBC recalled before the congregation how Rev William Pettigrew had worked and sacrificed his life for the good cause of converting the tribals to Christianity and added that in the beginning 12 persons from Hunphun/Ukhrul and Hundung were baptized for the first the time in the history of Christianity of the region.
Now, the church has more than 3800 members, Pastor Thanmi told Eastern Mirror. Eminent Manipur Baptish Convention secretary for peace and development Rev Karang was the speaker of the day’s observation which was attended by more than 300 Christians.

Miss Manipur
After a gap of four-odd years, preparations are on full swing for Miss Manipur, 2016 contest at the 5000-seating capacity Bheigachandra Open Air Theatre at Palace Compound in Manipur’s Imphal East district on December 6.
The grand contest is being organised under the supervision of State Level Miss Manipur Committee. Aspiring contestants across the districts of Manipur, both hills and valley, are eligible to participate in the event. The contestants should be residents of Manipur for at least for past 10 years, according to the organisers.