FRIENDS OF SERAMPORE The UK support group for one of the greatest and most historic of India's Christian institutions, which still has a vital and unique role to play.

Extracts from the July newsletter

A memorable visit to Serampore College

In February I was fortunate enough to visit Serampore for a few days as part of a period of sabbatical leave, during which I was in India for three weeks. My main base in the country was the BMS guesthouse in Calcutta, and when I arrived at Serampore I was reeling from the impact of the noise and confusion of the city’s streets.

While in Serampore I stayed in the guest flat at the college. For the first couple of days my hosts were Mithra, one of the lecturers, and Irene, together with their three charming daughters, Divya, Deepa and Disha. Once Principal Lalchungnunga and his wife Hliri returned from a conference in the south of India I had most of my meals with them. As I was discovering wherever I went, the hospitality was generous and the welcome warm.
It was a moving experience to see the main college building, erected by Carey and his colleagues in 1818, and his first home in Serampore, beside the broad Hoogly river. I was interested to discover that much of the ironwork for the college buildings was manufactured in Middlesbrough, where I was minister between 1986 and 1999. I spent several hours exploring the surrounding area, intrigued by the piles of jute being loaded on to typically colourful lorries at the mill next door, the courting couples along the river bank (usually accompanied by a scooter) and the elegant Danish church half a mile up-stream. I was there during the cricket World Cup in South Africa, and enthusiasm for the game was at a high pitch. It was unusual not to see at least one group of boys or young men playing on the college field.

My time was spent with the staff and students of the theological college, and I visited a few classes, learning new things about Hinduism and the Indian church, attended prayers each morning and met most of the lecturers. While in the college museum I talked with Sunil Chatterjee, whose knowledge of Carey’s work in India must surely be as great as anyone’s. I smiled at the size of Hannah Marshman’s chair – so much larger than those of her male colleagues. Somehow, the term “Mother of Serampore” took on a different dimension. A short walk to the cemetery enabled me to see and read the memorials to the Careys, the Marshmans and the Wards at their graves.

The students organised a memorable “cultural extravaganza” while I was there, celebrating the cultural diversity of India, complete with bows and arrows from Nagaland, a huge model boat from Kerala and a wide range of songs and dancing from all over the country.

The site is vitally important historically for the mission of the whole Christian Church and for the development of education in India. It needs to be valued and looked after. It is also a strategic place for the ongoing education of Christian leaders in the Indian church of today and tomorrow. The students seemed committed and keen. I also sensed, however, the pressure that both staff and students were under, and their concern about the future. Partly this was a matter of finance. The combined demands of staff costs, the maintenance of the old buildings and the need to improve the facilities, especially in a country like India, are enormous. Keeping theological teaching relevant for the needs of today is a challenge everywhere, but an institution like Serampore, steeped as it is in tradition, has particular obstacles to overcome. Several people mentioned to me their unease at the growing strength of militant, and sometimes fiercely anti-Christian, Hinduism.

What a wonderful opportunity I had to visit such an exciting place! May God guide, protect and provide for the college, and enable it to go on meeting the needs of the Indian church that it seeks to serve for many years to come.

Peter Shepherd
Minister of Broadway Baptist Church, Derby

The Principal, Lalchungnunga, and his wife, Hliri, have recently visited the USA from 23 April to 26 May on a promotional tour, visiting Washington, Princeton and Boston, among other places. We join with them in praying that the visit may have been fruitful.

Total Costs of administration last year were £71 - and this included bank fees for international transfers.

Full details of income and expenditure are in the newsletter.
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