otri, located along the River Indus bank in Sindh carries significant historical and cultural resonance due to its strategic location and role in the early development of railway infrastructure during the colonial era. The town is also associated with the launch and operation of the Indus flotilla by the British. The ferry service facilitated the transport of goods and services, as well as the construction of the Kotri barrage and the metallic bridge during the first decade following the independence of Pakistan. Kotri has several religious heritage buildings that date back to the days of British rule.

British officials associated with the railway department and the Indus Flotilla constructed the early residential quarters in the railway colony of Kotri. They also established churches in Karachi, Kotri and Hyderabad. These facilities met the religious needs of the British Christian officials and symbolised the presence of Christianity and colonialism in the newly occupied territories of the subcontinent.

A prominent example of this is an old stone masonry church in the railway colony of Kotri, showcasing the intersection of British colonial infrastructure and religious memory. Christ’s Church, located on the north side of the railway station, is the oldest Church associated with the railway line established by the British colonial administration in Sindh. The stone structure is tied to the history of the Protestant movement. Plaques displayed in English in the main hall indicate that the church was built in 1846, following the British conquest of Sindh.

Six tablets on the walls of the main hall recognise the British officers and their families. A tablet on the southern wall, lists the names of East India Company’s Naval Service officers who served in Sindh and the Punjab between the years 1847 and 1854. This tablet says it was erected by the officers of the Indus Flotilla. Another tablet carries the names of the engineers of the Indus Steam Flotilla who were in the region between the years 1860 and 1878. The third tablet is dedicated to the memory of a child named Ethel Catherine Forster, who was four years and two months old when she drowned in the River Indus on December 27, 1868. It also mentions the name of her mother, who passed away in October 1870 aged 38 years.

The church was a cultural space for the colonial officers and their families that also served to preserve their memories marked with sacred symbolism.

The main entrance of the church is located on the west side. Following the patterns of Protestant religious material culture, the architectural design excludes statues, sculptures and iconography of biblical stories and figures, except for the representation of the cross both inside and outside the building. The construction stone is said to have been transported from the Jungshahi area of Thatta in Sindh. The ceiling is made of wood and features a plain design, with no carvings or visible floral patterns. The wooden windows, located on both the lower and upper sections of the stone walls, also lack decorative elements typical of Catholic churches. The relatively large number of windows suggests that these were meant to improve ventilation during the summer. During a field visit to the Church, I was told that the hall remains comfortably cool during the summer.

A tablet on the southern wall lists the names of East India Company’s Naval Service officers serving in Sindh and the Punjab between the years 1847 and 1854.

It was a Sunday and visitors, including children and young adults, were busy organising various segments to showcase scenes from the biblical story about Christ, Mother Mary and other characters.

The church, which now operates under the Diocese of Hyderabad, continues to inspire the Christian community of Kotri and Hyderabad. It has an important role in supporting community life by providing religious services, particularly for the youth.

During the British rule, this church was part of the Diocese of Bombay. No records from those days are now available with the current Presbyter in charge, Rev Shoaib Palous. Following the emergence of Pakistan, he says, the church initially functioned under the administration of Diocese of Karachi. At one point, the facility was closed down. However, it resumed operations in the 1980s. During my visit, Rev Palous showed me a baptism register dating back to 1985 that has been maintained by the pastors. He mentions that this Church was first established for and by colonial officers most of whom lived in the railway colony quarters.

Currently, the church focuses on three aspects of Sunday worship, holy communion and the Sunday school. Rev Shoaib Palous said its ministries includes the youth ministry, the women ministry and the Sunday school.

Details of the land area and church property are not well documented. However, according to a recent survey conducted by the Culture, Tourism, Antiquities and Archives Department, the area of the church grounds is approximately 1.7 hectares.

A comprehensive renovation of the Church building was undertaken in 1987 to address the damage resulting from dampness and salinity. Recognising the need for another renovation, a project was approved in 2025. On December 2, Anthony Naveed, the deputy speaker of the Provincial Assembly, visited the site and inaugurated the conservation and restoration work. The restoration work is currently under way. During my field visit, Rev Shoaib Palous mentioned that the conservation work included the installation of French drains to protect the building from salinity, restoration of the roof to prevent water seepage and preservation of the stone walls. The Diocese of Hyderabad has made special efforts to advocate for the restoration of the heritage building. A field team from the Directorate General of Antiquities and Archaeology regularly visits the Church to monitor the progress of the restoration work.

For students of anthropology, archaeology and history, the church is a symbol of the memory and narrative of British rule. For the local community, particularly the Christian population in the area, it also serves as a sacred space for communal gatherings, celebration, holy service and social support.

The writer is a faculty member in the Department of Anthropology and Archaeology at the University of Sindh, Jamshoro. He has a PhD from Bern University, Switzerland. Email: [email protected]