Brief History of the Unitarian Church Mukhap

By Hehbok Son Roy Shadap
Mukhap, Jaintia Hills

Unitarian Church Mukhap was founded by (L) Rev. David Edwards Lapasam. He was born on the 17th May 1850 and brought up in Shangpung village. Rev. David Edwards was a Methodist (Presbyterian) and worked as an Evangelist in the Presbyterian Church Mowkaiaw. His wife was an educated woman and stayed at Mookaiaw along with theirchildren. While he was doing Ministry in Mowkaiaw, his wife gave birth to their third son who was seriously ill for many months. Hence David Edwards could not devote all his time to his work and for that reason his salary was cut by the church authority and inspite of that he keep on working without complaint.

There are two stories about the origin of Unitarian Church in Mukhap. One story has it that when his third son was seriously ill, and he could not devote all time for doing ministry and his salary was cut down, misunderstanding between him and the authority began. Another story is that during his work as an evangelist in Mowkaiaw he came in contact with Babu Hajom Kissor Singh Nongbri who was able to convince him that the faith in one God is the true teaching of Jesus. From that time, there was a great change in his belief and soon he moved from Mowkaiaw to Mukhap village and started Unitarian church in Mukhap in the years 1894.

He moved from Mowkaiaw to Mukhap in 1893 while he was still an evangelist and it was on the 21.12.1893 he was baptized and became a Unitarian. When the missionary of Presbyterian Church heard about his decision to leave the Church they came to request him to continue as evangelist and to give back his salary due but David Edwards never look back.

Thus it was in 1894 that the seed of Unitarian religion was put in Mukhap; his family wife, children and his niece (Stein Lapasam) were the first fruits of this Church. Later on Mrs. Martha Suiam’s family and some from Suchiang join the church and they build a temporary church building made of bamboos and straw in this same compound that the present church stand. Then after sometime some family from Lamare or Khlem clan came to join the church. Few years later his wife (Mary Shadap) passed away and left behind her five children. (i) Mr. Elwen Harries Shadap, (ii) Mr. Dorries Shadap, (iii) Mr. Horries Shadap, (iv) Mrs. Dressimai Shadap, (v) Mr. Shorendries Shadap.

David Edward good deeds:

i. He is the founder of Unitarian Church Mukhap,

ii. He wrote and recorded all the informations of this church in his diary, but unfortunately all those information were misplaced and loss forever.

iii. He was a responsible person both in the church, society etc.

iv. He himself dug s drinking well which is still using till now by the people of the locality which bear his name (Umlabid),

v. David Edward was a farsighted and broad minded person he bought a big property which was converted to a reserve forest, cemetery.

vi. He was ordained the first minister of Unitarian Union in 1896.

vii. He was the Secretary of Unitarian Union since 1897 till 1904.

viii. He composed hymn in our hymn book “Ieit ia u Blei bad ieit ia u briew” (Love God and Mankind)

On becomming a minister and secretary of Unitarian Union he moved to Jowai and later got married again. Mr. Ris Mohan Lakadong and Mr. Red Mohan Lakadong were his sons from his second wife. Though he was staying in Jowai he hearts was always with his children and the church in Mukhap till he breath his last on 30th Sept, 1920.

During David Edwards absence ministry for the Mukhap Church was performed by a lady named Martha Suiam and later on she was assisted by Mr. Sah Khlem. Mr. Sah Khlem was also an able leader of the church but since he was a mission teacher, he has to go where ever the Union sent him to go, he could not devote all his times in the church. Few years later Mr. Henry Lapasam as well as Mr. Shorendries Shadap (youngest son of Rev. David Edward) where looking after the church. The two leaders worked hard and soul for the church and till now the members of this church still remembered them and on every 18th Sept (Anniversary celebration) the Sunday School students lighted a candle to remember them and their contribution to the growth of the church.

The arrival of Mr. Kisson Laloo and Mr. Mohan Saioo, the church gain strength becasue they were equally responsible leaders of the church.. Mr. Sarbura Ingtih, Mr. Pangti Ingtih, Rang Singh Challam were the mission teacher of the church and had immensely contributed towards educational development and the progress of the mission school in Mukhap. Mr. Broslywell Dkhar join the church in 1936 and after Mr. Rang Singh Challam, Mr. Broslywell Dkhar took charge as a teacher of Mukhap school and then served in Padu and Nongkrem (both are mission school). After Mr. Broslywell Dkhar the mission school in Mukhap was stopped but in 1981 the school was reopened again and Mrs Krarijaid is a teacher of this school and remains so till date. She is also the first person to start Sunday school in the church and retired as a sunday schol teacher only in 2003.

Mr. Iolris Lapasam, Mr. Nadurwell Lamare, Mr. Hisbarwell Suchiang, Mr. Markus Ren are also some of the leaders of this church. The church had also some women who devoted their lives towards the progress of the church they are Mrs. Stein Lapasam, Mrs. Sbuh Lapasam, Mrs. Dressimai Shadap, Westimai Khlem, Nimis Shadap and others.

Some of the prominent leaders of Unitarian Union like Rev. A. Margaret Barr, Mr. Ekiman Singh Rani, Kat Sergeant Khyriem, Rita Lytan, Josingh Kharbuli and others visited the church everynow and then. Our brothers and sisters from Jowai like Mr. Karen Passah, Mr. Carleywell Lyngdoh, Mr. Promiwell Lyngdoh, Mrs. Rophimai Lamar and others supported the church all the time

Problems of the church

In its 115 years of existence the church has several problem, for instances, the sudden demised of some of the prominent leaders of the church. Anti social element cut down hundred numbers of trees from reserve forest of the church. The sudden demise of Mr. Shorendries Shadap at that time make things more complicated. The members of the church when they cannot tolerated this illegal cutting down of trees, they reported it to Unitarian Union in Jowai. General Secretary of the Unitarian Union (Mr. Carleywell Lyngdoh) reported it to the police and police apprehended the leaders of the group but this did not help as they continue to cut many more trees from the other side of the reserve forest. Then, again Mr. C. Lyngdoh, Mr. K. Passah and three other youths along with armed policeman and lawyer (Mr. Das) had to fled again to the village from the reserved forest. While they were still counting the pine trees all of a sudden more than 40 peoples who were still cutting trees from this forest along with their axes, sticks and some weapons surrounded Rev. Carleywell Lyngdoh, the lawyer and one of the armed police. The others had to run to the vehicle. Rev. Carleywell Lyngdoh at that time prayed to God to save them. God listened to his prayer and within a minute Mr. Broslywell Dkhar from top of the hill shouted and ran to help Rev. C. Lyngdoh and the lawyer, then the inspector of police along with three more armed policemen to their rescued. This was a very sad story in the church. General Secretary of UUNEI (Rev. C. Lyngdoh) nearly sacrificed his life for this church, but thank God who shower his blessing upon him, he still continued to work for the upliftment of Unitarian Union as a whole till now.

Church-visitors of the church

115 years had passed, the church was served by four ministers/church visitors. (l) Rev. Devison Marbaniang was the first church Visitor in the church since 23rd Feb, 1965 till 5th April 1975. Though transportation was a huge problem then he was a hardworking and did not spare his time for the progress and development of the church. Later on Mr. Roosevelt Pariat served the church from 4th Oct, 1975 till 1989. it was during his time of serving for fourteen years, the leaders of the church passed away one after another and it really disturb the smooth functioning and progress of the church but still Mr. R. Pariat worked very hard to uplift the church during his time also many years he had to work on foot and before his retirement there was a bus who went up and down everyday to Jowai.

After Mr. R. Pariat came (L) Rev. H. B. Syngkrem in 1989, but unfortunately we lost him after a short period of time as he passed away untimely due to his sickness which lasted for many months. Rev. H. B. Syngkrem really devoted all his time for the progress of the church and infact members of the church would be spiritually uplifted and people would understand the principles of the church much better with his work hard and dedication. It was during his time that the church celebrated its centenary in 1994 and his work became more of a burdens for him.

These are the past stories of the church which some still continue till date and we hope that all the believers in one God face all the challenges with a strike and the church will progress from time to time. At present the minster of the church is Rev. S. Laloo who also works very hard for our church. Our church growth at a very slow pace but we hope that it will make more progress in time to come. I would like to remind that when the church was started; there were only 21 members but now it has increased to 305 with 48 household. Our churches in Mukhap also are the youth wing known as Seng Samla Unitarian Church Mukhap and the women’s wing known as Seng Kynthei Unitarian Church Mukhap.

We have Sunday school every Sunday with more than 70 students were class in different stages. There are 10 teachers of Sunday school who teach them free of cost.
We would like to add the church also run a day school and it was named after the founder of the church i.e. “David Edwards Memorial Lower and Upper Primary School. In pre- primary school there is only one teacher who teaches more than 40 students. In primary section there are four teachers (Class I – IV) and in upper primary section (Class V to VII) there are four teachers. The school cater to the need of the children of the entire Mukhap village and students of the school came different religious of economic background.

Last but not the least, this is the history of our church for 115 years. I do hope that the church continue its journey, with love, understanding and patience. I hope the history of our church will be of an interest to you.