SureshAcharya at 17:56, 29 January 2026

2026-01-29T17:56:16Z

New page

{{Short description|none}}
{{use dmy dates|date=May 2014}}
{{use Indian English|date=May 2014}}
[[File:Imphal - St Josphes cathedral.JPG|thumb|right|260px|St. Joseph's Cathedral, Imphal]]
[[File:Religious map of Manipur.png|thumb|right|260px|Majority religions in Manipur—Christian in blue, Hindu in orange, Muslim in green ]]

[[Christianity]] is the second largest religion in [[Manipur]], a state in Northeast India, according to 2011 census. The tribal communities, [[Kuki people|Kuki-Zomis]] and [[Naga people|Nagas]] are overwhelmingly Christian, along with their kindred communities in the neighbouring states.{{efn|Neighbouring [[Nagaland]] has 88 percent [[Christianity in Nagaland|Christian population]], as does [[Christianity in Mizoram|Mizoram]].}} The dominant [[Meitei people|Meitei]] community has only small numbers of Christians, but Meitei groups claim Christianity to be a threat.<ref name="Scroll 2023"/><ref name="New Lines"/> At the start of the [[2023–2024 Manipur violence]], Meitei mobs burned down 200–300 churches in the [[Imphal Valley]] belonging to all communities, and prohibited pastors from rebuilding them.<ref name="Sky 4 May 2023">
[https://news.sky.com/story/churches-and-homes-attacked-and-set-ablaze-in-india-violence-12872681 Churches and homes attacked and set ablaze in India violence], Sky News, 4 May 2023.
</ref><ref name="Hindu 5 May 2023">
Ziya Us Salam, [https://www.thehindu.com/news/national/christian-groups-alarmed-by-church-attacks-in-manipur-urge-centre-to-start-talks/article66817700.ece Christian groups, alarmed by church attacks in Manipur, urge Centre to start talks], ''The Hindu'', 5 May 2023. "While the Kukis and other tribals in the districts close to Imphal are the main targets as a community, the churches targeted include those of the Christians in the Meitei community."
</ref><ref name="Mint 19 Jun 2023">
Aman Gupta, [https://www.livemint.com/news/india/manipur-archbishop-claims-249-churches-burnt-in-36-hours-says-collapse-of-constitutional-machinery-11687135842800.html Manipur: Archbishop claims 249 churches burnt in 36 hours, says, 'collapse of constitutional machinery'], Mint, 19 June 2023. "249 churches belonging to Meitei Christians in Manipur have been destroyed within 36 hours, with some pastors told not to rebuild them, according to the Archbishop of Imphal."
</ref>

== Early missionaries {{Anchor|William Pettigrew}} ==
[[File:Rev-willian-pettigrew guess 1902 (cropped).jpg|thumb|300px|Rev Willian Pettigrew guess (1902) - first missionary to the [[Kingdom of Manipur]]]]

Christianity in Manipur can traced back to an [[Anglican Church|Anglican]] named [[William Pettigrew (missionary)|William Pettigrew]],<ref>
{{Cite web |last=Naresh |first=Huirem |title=Reverend William Pettigrew and Modern Education in Manipur - Imphal Times |url=https://www.imphaltimes.com/it-articles/item/14437-reverend-william-pettigrew-and-modern-education-in-manipur |access-date=2021-05-16 |website=www.imphaltimes.com |date=10 May 2019 }}
</ref> who lived in India when [[Surchandra Singh]] was the [[maharaja]] of Manipur. Pettigrew, who was born in [[Edinburgh]] and educated in [[London]], applied to work with the [[Robert Arthington#Arthington Aborigines Mission|Arthington Aborigines Mission]] in India and travelled to [[Bengal]] in 1890. He worked for two years in [[Dhaka]] and [[Silchar]]. In 1891, Pettigrew applied for permission to work in Manipur, but this was not granted until 1894. He worked for a time as a teacher in [[Imphal]], teaching the children of government civil servants and soon afterwards opened a school for boys in Manipuri and established a permanent [[Mission (station)|mission station]] there.<ref>
{{Cite web |title=Papers of William Pettigew |url=https://archiveshub.jisc.ac.uk/data/gb891-wp |access-date=2021-05-16 |website=Archives Hub, JISC, UK}}
</ref>

==Origins==
The first Meitei to [[Conversion to Christianity|convert]] to Christianity is debated. It is traditionally believed that '''Angom Porom Singh''' of [[Phayeng]] was the first to be converted in around 1896, but another tradition says that '''Ningol Kaboklei''' met a Christian missionary in [[Sylhet]] (presently in Bangladesh) and converted to Christianity in around 1893, a few years prior to the arrival of [[William Pettigrew (missionary)|William Pettigrew]].<ref>
{{Cite web |last=Chandra |first=Madhu |date=12 June 2021 |title=Theological Scholars of Manipur Commemorate Saroj Nalini Arambam, First Theologian and First Woman BA, MA |url=https://imphalreviews.in/theological-scholars-of-manipur-commemorate-saroj-nalini-arambam-first-theologian-and-first-woman-ba-ma/ |website=Imphal Review of Arts and Politics}}
</ref><ref>
{{Cite web |date=4 January 2022 |title=Angom Porom Singh remembered |url=https://www.thesangaiexpress.com/Encyc/2022/1/4/By-Our-Staff-ReporterIMPHAL-Jan-4-The-125th-spiritual-rebirth-ceremony-of-Angom-Porom-Singh-the.html |website=The Sangai Express}}
</ref>

In December 1912, Porom Singh became the headmaster of a school at Ukhrul, where his teaching responsibilities included preaching the [[gospel]]. He was one of only seven Christians who stood by Pettigrew. At the outbreak of the [[First World War]], he helped Pettigrew raise a labour corps, later becoming a corps leader and an interpreter.<ref>
{{Cite web |last=Khongsai |first=Doulet |date=2018 |title=THE IMPORTANCE OF CHAKPA COMMUNITY IN RELATION TO THE ORIGIN OF CHRISTIANITY IN MANIPUR |url=https://www.academia.edu/38023829 |website=Commers Arts Science - International Research Journal (CASIRJ)}}
</ref>

==Followers==
[[File:Phungyo Baptist Church Members, 2016.jpg|thumb|right|260px|Phungyo Baptist Church along with its members]]

Protestants (mostly Baptist) outnumber [[Catholics]] in Manipur.<ref>
{{cite web |title=Manipur |publisher=Metro Church of God |url=http://www.metrocog.net/index.php?option=com_content&view=article&id=129&Itemid=18&290a7c14d6e615fbd04b2afcf51195c9=hcsbfgyc |archive-date=22 March 2012 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20120322091855/http://www.metrocog.net/index.php?option=com_content&view=article&id=129&Itemid=18&290a7c14d6e615fbd04b2afcf51195c9=hcsbfgyc}}
</ref> A [[Manipur Baptist Convention]] exists.
The [[Reformed Presbyterian churches|Reformed Presbyterian Church]] North-East India Synod has its seat in Manipur.<ref>
{{cite web |title=Churches in Membership |publisher=The International Conference of Reformed Churches |url=http://www.icrconline.com/members.html |archive-date=17 July 2012 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20120717064352/http://www.icrconline.com/members.html}}
</ref> The [[Presbyterian Church in India]] and the [[Church of Christ]] are present in the state, too.<ref>
{{citation |title=India |publisher=Luisterend Dienen |lang=nl |url=http://www.luisterenddienen.nl/info.aspx?o=1673&inc=info&rIntNavId=1698&page=3651 |archive-date=22 March 2012 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20120322081803/http://www.luisterenddienen.nl/info.aspx?o=1673&inc=info&rIntNavId=1698&page=3651}}
</ref><ref>
{{cite web |author=Silbano Garcia, II. |title=Manipur – Directory of the churches of Christ |url=http://church-of-christ.org/churches/India/Manipur_S.htm |publisher=Church-of-christ.org |date=17 November 2013 |archive-url=https://archive.today/20120715192500/http://church-of-christ.org/churches/India/Manipur_S.htm |archive-date=15 July 2012 |url-status=dead }}
</ref> The [[Roman Catholic Archdiocese of Imphal]] has its seat in the state. The Manipur Section of the [[Seventh-day Adventist Church]] has about forty congregations.<ref>
{{cite web |title=Manipur Conference |publisher=Seventh Day Adventist Church |access-date=16 December 2013 |archive-date=14 December 2013 |url=http://www.adventistyearbook.org/default.aspx?&page=ViewAdmField&AdmFieldID=MNPS |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20131214041557/http://www.adventistyearbook.org/default.aspx?&page=ViewAdmField&AdmFieldID=MNPS}}
</ref>
The [[All Manipur Christian Organisation]] (AMCO) exists.<ref>
{{cite web |url=http://www.golias-editions.fr/article4160.html |title=Golias-editions.fr |date=28 May 2010 |language = fr |publisher=Golias-editions.fr |access-date=16 December 2013}}
</ref>

==Demography==
{{Pie chart
|thumb = right
|radius=75
|caption = Religion in Manipur (2011)<ref name="religion">
{{Cite web |date=2011 |title=Table C-01 Population by religious community: Manipur |url=https://censusindia.gov.in/nada/index.php/catalog/11383/download/14496/DDW14C-01%20MDDS.XLS |website=[[Census of India]] |publisher=[[Registrar General and Census Commissioner of India]] |access-date=10 August 2023 |archive-date=9 February 2023 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20230209082749/https://censusindia.gov.in/nada/index.php/catalog/11383/download/14496/DDW14C-01%20MDDS.XLS |url-status=live }}
</ref>
|label1 = [[Hinduism in Manipur|Hinduism]] |color1 = orange |value1 = 41.4
|label2 = Christianity |color2 = dodgerblue |value2 = 41.3
|label3 = [[Meitei Pangals|Islam]] |color3 = green |value3 = 8.40
|other-label = Other religion |other-color=pink | other=8.9 (Includes [[Sanamahism|Sanamahis]], [[Jainism|Jains]], [[Sikh]]s, [[Buddhists]]s and others.</small>)
}}
{{Historical populations
|title = Historical Christian Population in Manipur
|type =
|footnote =
|align = right
|width =
|state =
|shading =
|pop_name =
|percentages =
|source = [[Centre for Policy Studies]]<ref name="CPS Christianisation">
{{cite web |title=The Christianisation of the Northeast |publisher=Centre for Policy Studies |url=https://www.cpsindia.org/dl/Blogs/Blog%2028-Northeast%20Web.pdf |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20180403235528/https://www.cpsindia.org/dl/Blogs/Blog%2028-Northeast%20Web.pdf |archive-date=3 April 2018}}
</ref>
|1901 | 45
|1911 | 132
|1921 | 4,050
|1931 | 10,401
|1941 | 25,727
|1951 | 68,394
|1961 | 152,043
|1971 | 279,243
|1981 | 421,702
|1991 | 626,669
|2001 | 857,285
|2011 | 1,179,043
}}
As per the 2011 census, there are 1,179,043 Christians in Manipur, making up 41.3 percent of the population.<ref name="religion 2011"/>
Of these, 1,119,719 people are in the hill districts,{{efn|The hill districts in 2011 were [[Senapati district|Senapati]], [[Tamenglong district|Tamenglong]], [[Churachandpur district|Churachandpur]], [[Ukhrul district|Ukhrul]] and [[Chandel district|Chandel]].}} where they make up 92 percent of population.<ref name="religion 2011" />

The valley districts{{efn|The valley districts in 2011 were [[Bishnupur district|Bishnupur]], [[Thoubal district|Thoubal]], [[Imphal East district|Imphal East]] and [[Imphal West district|Imphal West]]. (The [[Jiribam district|Jiribam subdivision]] was included in the Imphal East district.)}} have 59,324 Christians, making up 3.6 percent of the population.<ref name="religion 2011">
{{cite web |title=Indian Census 2011 |publisher=Census Department, Government of India |url=http://www.censusindia.gov.in/2011census/c-01.html |url-status=dead |archive-date=13 September 2015 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20150913045700/http://www.censusindia.gov.in/2011census/C-01.html}}
</ref> The majority of them are expected to be tribals (56,913 in the 2011 census).<ref name="census tribes">
{{citation |title=A-11 Appendix: District wise scheduled tribe population (Appendix), Manipur - 2011 |date=2011 |url=https://censusindia.gov.in/nada/index.php/catalog/43013 |publisher=Office of the Registrar General & Census Commissioner, Government of India |id=PC11_A11a-14}}
</ref>{{efn|There are 28,205 [[Naga people|Nagas]], 20,618 [[Kuki-Zo people]] and 6,590 [[Old Kukis|Old Kiki/Naga]] people living in the valley districts.<ref name="census tribes"/>}} The remaining 2,000–3,000 people would belong to the non-tribal communities including the [[Meitei people|Meiteis]].{{efn|Estimates of 300,000 (3 lakh) Meitei Christians given by some journalists<ref name="Scroll 2023">
{{cite web |last=Saikia |first=Arunabh |date=31 May 2023 |title=Caught in the middle of Manipur's ethnic conflict, Meiteis who follow Christianity |url=https://scroll.in/article/1049994/caught-in-the-middle-of-manipurs-ethnic-conflict-meiteis-who-follow-christianity |website=Scroll.in}}
</ref><ref name="New Lines">
{{cite news |first1=Makepeace |last1=Sitlhou |first2=Greeshma |last2=Kuthar |title=While the conflict has been ethnic in nature, there has been an underlying communal element to the violence |newspaper=New Lines Magazine |date=27 December 2023 |url=https://newlinesmag.com/reportage/meitei-christians-in-indias-manipur-face-broad-attacks/}}
</ref>
are not supported by the census data. The number is closer to 3,000.}}

===Tribes===
{{Pie chart
|caption= Christianity among social group of Manipur, 2011 census<ref name=Census2011R>{{multiref2
|{{cite web|title=C-01: Population by religious community, India - 2011 |publisher=Office of the Registrar General & Census Commissioner, India |url=https://censusindia.gov.in/nada/index.php/catalog/11361/download/14474/DDW00C-01%20MDDS.XLS |format=XLS |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20220826023408/https://censusindia.gov.in/nada/index.php/catalog/11361/download/14474/DDW00C-01%20MDDS.XLS |archive-date=26 August 2022 |url-status=live}}
|{{cite web|title=ST-14: Scheduled tribe population by religious community (State/UT level), Manipur - 2011 |url=https://censusindia.gov.in/nada/index.php/catalog/11902/download/15015/ST-14-00-014-DDW-2011.XLS
|publisher=Office of the Registrar General & Census Commissioner, India}}}}</ref>
|value1 = 96.46
|label1 = [[List of Scheduled Tribes#Manipur|Scheduled Tribes]]
|color1= dodgerblue
|other = yes
|other-label = General (incl. converted [[Scheduled Castes]]) population
|other-color = gold
}}

The Christian population in the state is predominantly composed of members of the [[Scheduled Tribe]] communities, accounting for 97.42% of the total Scheduled Tribe population. They are:<ref name="CPS">
{{Citation |title=Christianity among the Scheduled Tribes of the Northeast: Mizoram, Manipur and Nagaland |date=18 October 2016 |url=https://blog.cpsindia.org/2016/10/religion-data-of-census-2011-xxxi.html |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20170213131430/https://blog.cpsindia.org/2016/10/religion-data-of-census-2011-xxxi.html |archive-date=13 February 2017 |publisher=Centre for Policy Studies}}
</ref>
{| class="wikitable"
|-
! '''Tribe'''
! '''Christians'''
! '''Percent'''
|-
| [[Thadou people|Thadou]]
| 211,272
|97.85%
|-
| [[Tangkhul people|Tangkhul]]
| 175,200
|98.11%
|-
| [[Poumai people|Poumai]]
| 126,092
|98.99%
|-
| [[Kabui]]
| 93,416
|89.90%
|-
| [[Mao people (India)|Mao]]
| 92,602
|99.21%
|-
| [[Kacha Naga]]
| 64,357
|97.28%
|-
| [[Paite people|Paite]]
| 54,815
| 98.69%
|-
| [[Hmar people|Hmar]]
| 47,804
| 98.82%
|-
| [[Vaiphei people|Vaiphei]]
| 42,224
| 98.29%
|-
| [[Kuki people|Kuki]]
| 27,784
| 98.03%
|-
| [[Maram people|Maram]]
| 27,221
| 98.90%
|-
| [[Maring people (India)|Maring]]
| 25,858
| 97.86%
|-
| [[Zou people|Zou]]
| 23,718
| 97.63%
|-
| [[Anāl people|Anal]]
| 23,107
| 98.29%
|-
| [[Gangte people|Gangte]]
| 16,859
| 98.14%
|-
| [[Kom people (Manipur)|Kom]]
| 14,345
| 98.74%
|}

== Persecution and violence ==
During the past seven decades, [[Hindutva|Hindu nationalist]] organisations have demanded the revival of the indigenous faiths of tribal communities in [[Northeast India]]. The [[Rashtriya Swayamsevak Sangh]] (RSS) has also demanded that the [[Scheduled Tribe]] status of tribals should be revoked unless they return to their indigenous faiths or Hinduism.<ref name="Sitlhou Kuthar">
{{cite news |first1=Makepeace |last1=Sitlhou |first2=Greeshma |last2=Kuthar |title=While the conflict has been ethnic in nature, there has been an underlying communal element to the violence |newspaper=New Lines Magazine |date=27 December 2023 |url=https://newlinesmag.com/reportage/meitei-christians-in-indias-manipur-face-broad-attacks/}}
</ref>

It was reported that the Meiteis were alarmed by the rapid rise of Christianity in Manipur in recent years. Claims were made that there was a 62% increase of Christians in the state between 2001 and 2011, and that the valley districts saw a jump of 15%.<ref name="Sitlhou Kuthar"/>{{efn|The census data shows only an increase of 37% and the increase in valley districts could be partly attributed to the migration of tribal Christians into the valley.}} In recent decades, the Meiteis aimed to revive the traditional religion called [[Sanamahism]], and many Meitei Hindus started adopting it. Pressure was brought on Meitei Christians as well to convert to Sanamahism.
The Meitei activists organisations [[Arambai Tenggol]] and [[Meitei Leepun]] instrumental in applying this pressure, as well as the leadership of the ruling [[Bharatiya Janata Party]] (BJP).<ref name="Sitlhou Kuthar"/> According to Meitei pastors, the terms of conversion for Meitei Christians required them to personally burn the Bible, remove all Christian symbols from their homes, and sign a legal affidavit declaring their conversion to Sanamahism.<ref name="Sitlhou Kuthar"/>

There were various points of tension between the Meitei Christians and non-Christians in the months prior to May 2023. A rally held by Meitei Christian [[Member of Legislative Assembly|MLA]] [[Paonam Brojen Singh]] came in for criticism because he is alleged to have admired tribal Christians for their recent progress and claimed that Meiteis were being held back by their "old religion". After the [[2023–2024 Manipur violence|ethnic violence]] started in May 2023, a mob of several thousand people attacked his house.<ref name="Sitlhou Kuthar"/>

The [[2023–2024 Manipur violence|2023 ethnic violence]] started on 3 May at the border between Kuki-dominated [[Churachandpur district]] and Meitei-dominated [[Bishnupur district]], soon after a tribal solidarity march held by tribals against a Meitei demand for [[Scheduled Tribe]] status.<ref>
Yudhajit Shankar Das, [https://www.indiatoday.in/india/story/manipur-violence-clashes-nrc-meitei-kuki-naga-imphal-valley-illegal-immigration-myanmar-reserve-forests-biren-singh-2368476-2023-05-04 Manipur violence: State is burning, but what is the decades-old fuel behind the fire], India Today, 4 May 2023. Updated 8 May 2023.
</ref>
The first victim of the violence was a pastor from [[Torbung]]–[[Kangvai]] area called Haopu Kipgen, who was bludgeoned to death.<ref>
Lien Chongloi, [https://thewire.in/rights/manipur-violence-claims-counterclaims-meitei-kuki Dispelling Some Misleading Claims About the Violence in Manipur], The Wire, 27 May 2023.
</ref>
The violence spread to [[Churachandpur Town]] and the [[Imphal City]] on the same day, and to the rest of [[Imphal Valley]] quickly afterwards. A very large number of churches (estimates ranging from 200 to 300) were burnt down by Meitei mobs in the next few days.<ref name="Sky 4 May 2023"/><ref name="Hindu 5 May 2023"/> The Catholic Archbishop of Imphal [[Dominic Lumon]] has said that 249 churches were burnt down in 36 hours.<ref name="IE 18 Jun">
[https://indianexpress.com/article/india/archbishop-imphal-claims-249-churches-burnt-in-manipur-8669677/ Archbishop of Imphal claims 249 churches burnt in Manipur: ‘Religious attack carried out’], The Indian Express, 18 June 2023.
</ref><ref>
{{citation |author=Greeshma Kuthar |title=Fire and Blood: How the BJP is enabling ethnic cleansing in Manipur |newspaper=The Caravan |date=31 July 2023 |url=https://caravanmagazine.in/conflict/how-bjp-enabling-ethnic-cleansing-manipur}}
</ref>
While he claimed that all these churches belonged to Meitei Christians, it was not corroborated by others. Congress leader Bhakta Charan Das said 18 churches belonging to the Meitei community and 2 churches belonging to the Naga community were destroyed, while the others were of unspecified affiliation.<ref>
Vijaita Singh, [https://www.thehindu.com/news/national/ten-kuki-mlas-from-manipur-demand-separate-administration/article66843874.ece Ten Kuki MLAs from Manipur demand 'separate administration'], ''The Hindu'', 12 May 2023.
</ref>
Many of the destroyed churches are believed to have served multiple communities.<ref name="Shilshi p.110">
{{citation |title=The Incredible Journey |first=John S. |last=Shilshi |publisher=Blue Rose Publishers |year=2024 |url=https://books.google.com/books?id=cd_zEAAAQBAJ |page=110}}
</ref>
Some of the pastors had to flee under the cover of darkness to escape death.<ref name="Shilshi p.110"/>

After this initial spurt of destruction, the Christians in the valley appear to have been extensively persecuted. A pastor said that a mob forcefully entered his home and burned all Christian texts, including the Bible. Most pastors were found to be too afraid to speak to journalists. Some were beaten up. Some had fled the state. Others were forced to convert to Sanamahism.<ref name="Sitlhou Kuthar"/>

There were also attempts to downplay the role of extremist Sanamahi groups and push the blame on to the Kuki people. The Meitei Christian Churches Council issued a press statement claiming that all the destruction of Meitei Christian properties was carried out by the Kukis. But the Archbishop denied it, saying there was no evidence for the claim.<ref name="Sitlhou Kuthar"/> Philem Rohan Singh, a celebrity cyclist who emerged as a Meitei Christian leader after the violence, claimed that the Kukis had burnt down Meitei Christian churches in the Kuki-dominated districts, giving a list of such churches. Again this was denied by the Archbishop as well as journalists who verified that many of those churches were still standing unharmed.<ref name="Sitlhou Kuthar"/><ref name="Christianity Today">
Surinder Kaur, [https://www.christianitytoday.com/2023/11/meitei-christians-kuki-manipur-violence-india-persecution/ Meitei Christians Caught in Middle of Manipur Violence], Christianity Today, 30 May 2023.
</ref><ref name="Archbishop">
[[Karan Thapar]], [https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=nQSiCYaIus4 249 Meitei Churches in Valley Burnt Not By Kukis But May Be By Tenggol, Leepun: Archbishop of Imphal], The Wire, via Youtube, 1 August 2023.
</ref>
Rohan Singh also claimed that an agreement had been reached with Arambai Tenggol and Meitei Leepun to resume church services in the valley. However the displaced pastors did not believe the claim saying he could have said under threats.<ref name="Sitlhou Kuthar"/>

There were also efforts to paint the Manipur violence as a purely ethnic clash, with no religious angle. The BJP quoted Cardinal Oswald Gracias, the Archbishop of Bombay, as stating this.<ref>
Kumar Shakti Shekhar, [https://timesofindia.indiatimes.com/india/manipur-violence-is-a-tribal-conflict-not-a-religious-one-bjp-quotes-christian-priest/articleshow/102214962.cms Manipur violence is a tribal conflict, not a religious one: BJP quotes Christian priest], The Times of India, 28 July 2023.
</ref>
However, Archbishop Lumon took a firm stand in an interview with [[Karan Thapar]], pointing out the attacks on Meitei Christian churches and pastors.<ref>
{{citation |title=The Incredible Journey |first=John S. |last=Shilshi |publisher=Blue Rose Publishers |year=2024 |url=https://books.google.com/books?id=cd_zEAAAQBAJ |page=112}}
</ref>
The British Foreign Secretary [[David Cameron]] made a similar point in the House of Lords, based a report by David Campanale.<ref>
Naomi Canton, [https://timesofindia.indiatimes.com/world/uk/there-is-a-clear-religious-part-to-strife-in-manipur-uk-ex-pm-david-cameron/articleshow/109382337.cms ‘There is a clear religious part’ to strife in Manipur: UK ex-PM David Cameron], The Times of India, 18 April 2024. "Campanale's report, which TOI has seen, written in June 2023, states: 'It is to be noted that if the conflict is explained by citing ethnic or economic disputes between valley people and tribals from the hills, account still needs to be given as to why churches among both were destroyed. There is a clear religious dimension.'"
</ref>
The Meitei groups continue to make the claim.<ref>
Guru Aribam Naocha, [https://www.imphaltimes.com/news/ongoing-violence-not-a-religious-conflict-calls-for-peace-and-unity-chennai-manipuri-community Ongoing violence not a religious conflict, calls for peace and unity: Chennai Manipuri Community], Imphal Times, 23 September 2023.
</ref>

== List of denominations ==
Sources:<ref>
World Christian Encyclopedia, Second edition, 2001 Volume 1, pp. 369–370.
</ref><ref>
{{cite web |url=http://in.wowcity.com/imphal/locbus2/13031379269295922722/the-pentecostal-mission-church.htm |title=Imphal The Pentecostal Mission Church | The Pentecostal Mission Church in Imphal, Manipur - WowCity.com |publisher=In.wowcity.com |access-date= 16 December 2013}}
</ref><ref>
{{cite web |url=http://kkke.webnode.com/ |title=Kuki Kahi Kakipah E |access-date=2012-02-22 |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20130813182024/http://kkke.webnode.com/ |archive-date=13 August 2013 }}
</ref><ref>
{{cite web |url=http://www.cbcnei.in/index.php/conventions/manipur-baptist-convention |title=Manipur Baptist Convention | CBCNEI }}
</ref>
{{div col|colwidth=30em}}
* [[Evangelical Congregational Church]]
* [[United Pentecostal Church International]]
* [[Kuki Baptist Convention]]
* [[Kuki Christian Church]]
* [[Manipur Baptist Convention]]
* [[The Pentecostal Mission]]
* [[Presbyterian Church in India (Reformed)]]
* [[Roman Catholic church]]
* [[Manipur Evangelical Lutheran Church]] (49) 8,500 <ref>
{{cite web |url=http://melcindia.org/about-us/melc-at-a-glance/ |title=MELC at a Glance |date=15 February 2015 |access-date=8 February 2019 |archive-date=7 May 2018 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20180507160959/http://melcindia.org/about-us/melc-at-a-glance/ |url-status=dead}}
</ref><ref>
[http://melcindia.org MELC INDIA - Manipur Evangelical Lutheran Church, India] {{Webarchive |url=https://web.archive.org/web/20190310141128/http://melcindia.org/ |date=10 March 2019 }} (formerly known as Zomi Christian Church)
</ref>
* [[Christian Revival Church]]
{{div col end}}

==See also==
* [[List of Christian denominations in North East India]]
* [[Christian Revival Church]]

==Notes==
{{notelist}}

==References==
{{reflist|30em}}

==External links==
* [https://fiacona.org/wp-content/uploads/2023/06/List-of-Churches.pdf Churches destroyed during 3–5 May 2023], Federation of Indian American Christian Organizations (FIACONA), 28 May 2023.

{{Christianity in India by region|state=collapsed}}
{{Churches in India}}

[[Category:Christianity in Manipur| ]]

Christianity in Manipur - Revision history

SureshAcharya at 17:56, 29 January 2026