Merry Christmas 2020: No midnight mass at the historic Christ Church in Shimla

The world is celebrating Christmas with strict Covid-19 restrictions. Various countries have imposed limitations on gatherings, movements, and social meetings and have strictly advised the revellers not to break Covid-19 norms.

Shimla’s historic church Christ Church on Ridge is also celebrating Christmas with such restrictions. It is for the first time in its 151-year-old history that there is no midnight mass which used to be the annual affair on every Christmas eve.

The Church authorities have decided not to hold any midnight prayer due to the Covid-19 pandemic. The city has witnessed an increase in the number of active and death cases. This has forced the state government to impose strict conditions to check the spread of infection.

The city administration has imposed a night curfew which restricts the free movement of people from 10 at night till 6 in the morning.

Keeping these restrictions in mind, the church authorities have held the prayers during the day in two parts – first at 9:30 and then at 11 am on December 25.

Besides, adequate arrangements were made to maintain a physical distance among visitors who arrived for prayers.

This was also the first occasion that many events which used to be a special attraction for the tourists have either postponed or trimmed down.

Despite all the restrictions, the church management has tried its level best to decorate and maintain its magnificent look which reflects its rich historical past.

Christ Church was constructed in 1857 and it is the second oldest church in Northern India. St. John Church in Meerut was the first which was built in 1844.