The Sacred Heart Cathedral In CP Is Perched In The Middle Of Lush Lawns

The Cathedral of the Sacred Heart or the Sacred Heart Cathedral is a Roman Catholic Church situated in the outer reaches of Connaught Place. A towering red building in the middle of very beautifully landscaped lawns, the place is hard to give a miss. Come follow us as we take you through!

About The History

One of the oldest churches in Delhi, the Sacred Heart Cathedral was built in the 1930s under the initiation and guidance of Father Luke and is a striking structure built in the Italian style of architecture. Along with the church are two of the city’s best missionary schools, St. Columba’s School and the Jesus and Mary Convent School, run by the parish, together occupying a staggering 14 acres of land close to the southern end of the Bhai Vir Singh Marg in CP. 

Within the church complex also lies the Maria Bhawan, called the parish house, which is a sophisticated red building that serves as the living quarters for the parish fathers and visiting priests. A brilliant life-size statue of the revered Pope John Paul II welcomes you even as you enter the complex!

Inside The Church

The church interior is a real work of art! It has flawlessly polished floors of stone, giant arches and a very high curved roof. Italian-style arcaded circular turrets and colonnades of white pillars complete the mesmerising picture. The walls along the entire perimeter of the church are adorned with scenes from the Holy Bible. The altar made of marble was donated to the church by one of the British officials of the time, as also were the altar furniture, the church vestments and the bell.

Right behind the altar is a giant depiction of the Last Supper - the final meal that Jesus is believed to have shared with his emissaries in Jerusalem before his crucifixion. To the wall on the left of the altar is a real-looking wooden depiction of the crucifixion of Jesus. Standing before it even for a brief moment instils a sense of goodness in the most unbelieving of people. The whole church is engulfed in silence, except for prayer times and celebrations. Just sitting there in the wake of God for some time, doing nothing calms the mind and senses completely.

The church organizes a number of activities throughout the year for the motivation of the youth and the education of the young and old alike. It holds mass in three different languages every Sunday in addition to the daily mass held every morning and evening. Festivals like Onam, Easter, Christmas, New Year’s and the like are celebrated at the Cathedral with special prayers and a feast where people from all over the city come together.

For the uninitiated, the church personnel are kind enough to guide you through a brief history of Christianity and to share snippets from the Bible on request. Copies of the Bible, some informative pamphlets as well as magazines are available outside the church. A weekly free clinic is also run in the Maria Bhawan, affirming the church’s dedication to the good of all humanity. 

If you want to feel one with a higher power and witness a truly beautiful place of worship, come drop by when it is safe to do so, till then stay indoors and take care.

Where | Sacred Heart Cathedral - 1, Ashok Place, Near Gole Dakkhana, CP
Timings | 9 AM - 12:30 PM & 4 PM & 6:30 PM 
Here's Their Website | https://sacredheartcathedraldelhi.org/default.aspx