Churches in Lahore: Cathedrals and Historic Chapels

The two churches in Lahore that most visitors come to see stand a short walk apart near the Lahore High Court end of the Mall: the Anglican Cathedral Church of the Resurrection, consecrated in 1887, and the Roman Catholic Sacred Heart Cathedral, consecrated in 1907. Both are working cathedrals rather than museums. Neither publishes visiting hours for sightseers, so the practical approach is to go on a weekday morning, ask at the gate and stay clear of service times.

Lahore has about 100 churches in all, according to a survey in The Friday Times. This guide covers the two cathedrals, the older mission and railway churches worth knowing about, how to visit respectfully, and how to fit them into a day on the Mall.

Which are the main churches in Lahore?

Cathedral Church of the Resurrection

This is the cathedral of the Diocese of Lahore of the Church of Pakistan, the united Protestant church formed in 1970. It was consecrated on 25 January 1887 and designed by John Oldrid Scott, son of the Victorian architect George Gilbert Scott, in a Neo-Gothic style in pink sandstone. It faces the Lahore High Court across the Mall, and the two buildings were designed to sit together.

Two towers with steeples were added in 1898. The steeples were taken down after the 1911 earthquake, which is why the towers look squared off today. Locals sometimes call it the kukkar wala girja, the rooster church.

What to look for:

• The stained glass, which the cathedral is best known for.
• The bells. Six change-ringing bells were cast in 1903 by John Taylor and Co of Loughborough, the largest weighing about a tonne. They are often described as the only ringable peal of church bells in Asia until 2019.
• The Taxila Cross, a small ancient cross excavated in 1935 near Sirkap at Taxila and linked by Christians in Pakistan to the tradition of St Thomas in the region. It is kept at the cathedral, so ask whether it can be seen.
• The clock, which dates from 1862, older than the building itself.

Sacred Heart Cathedral

The seat of the Roman Catholic Archdiocese of Lahore stands on Lawrence Road, just off the Mall. It was built at the wish of Bishop Godefroid Pelckmans, a Belgian Capuchin who led the diocese from 1893 to 1904, with Belgian help and materials, and consecrated on 19 November 1907. The architect was Edouard Dobbeleers of Antwerp.

The style is usually described as Romano-Byzantine, with a domed silhouette that looks quite different from the Gothic Anglican cathedral nearby. Its stained-glass windows were damaged in a 2008 bomb blast in the area and were later restored in Belgium. The building won the Belgian Heritage Abroad prize in 2015.

What other historic churches are there in Lahore?

Beyond the two cathedrals, several older churches are part of the city's history. Most serve busy local congregations and are not set up for visitors, so treat them as places to see from outside unless you are invited in.

The railway churches grew up around the North Western Railway workshops and colonies from the late nineteenth century, when Lahore became a major railway town. If the railway story interests you, our Lahore railway station heritage guide covers the station itself.

Christian history in Lahore is older than any of these buildings. The first church known for certain in the city was built by Jesuits in the last decade of the sixteenth century, with Akbar's permission and funds from Prince Salim, the future Emperor Jahangir. Nothing of it survives.

When are churches in Lahore open to visitors?

No church in Lahore publishes sightseeing hours, and we could not verify current service times for either cathedral from an official source. In practice:

1. Go on a weekday morning, when the compounds are quietest.
2. Speak to the guard or the church office at the gate and say you would like to see the inside.
3. Avoid Sunday mornings unless you are attending a service.
4. If the main doors are locked, ask whether someone can open them; sometimes the answer is to come back later.

Christmas and Easter are the busiest and most rewarding times to see the churches in use. Our guides to Christmas in Pakistan and Easter in Pakistan cover what to expect at services.

What is the etiquette when visiting a church?

• Dress modestly. Cover shoulders and knees. Women do not need to cover their heads, though some local worshippers do.
• Keep your voice down and switch your phone to silent.
• Ask before photographing, and never photograph people praying.
• Do not walk up to the altar or into areas roped off.
• If you join a service, sit near the back, follow when others stand or sit, and do not take communion unless you are a member of that church.
• A small donation in the box near the door is appreciated but not expected.

Is it safe to visit churches in Lahore?

Pakistanis worship and visit at these churches every week, and the cathedrals on the Mall sit in one of the most heavily policed parts of the city. Security is visible for a reason. On 15 March 2015, suicide bombers attacked St John's Catholic Church and Christ Church in Youhanabad during Sunday services, killing at least 15 people. Expect guards and bag checks at the gate.

Go in daylight, follow instructions at the gate and check local news before setting out, particularly around Christmas, Easter and other large gatherings. Our Lahore safety guide covers the wider picture. Foreign visitors should check their own government's advice for Pakistan, since it can affect travel insurance.

How do I fit the churches into a day in Lahore?

The two cathedrals are on the Mall, so they slot easily into a walk along the city's colonial core. A sensible order:

1. Start at the Cathedral Church of the Resurrection, opposite the High Court.
2. Walk the short distance to Sacred Heart on Lawrence Road.
3. Continue along the Mall past the Lahore Museum and the Punjab University old campus towards Anarkali.

Our Mall Road guide covers the buildings along the route, and the colonial architecture of Pakistan guide puts them in a wider setting. For the city's places of worship of other faiths, see our guides to Sikh heritage sites in Lahore and minorities in Pakistan. More ideas for the city are on our experiences page.

Are Lahore's churches worth visiting?

Yes, if you like architecture or want to understand Lahore beyond its Mughal monuments. The Resurrection cathedral is the better building for most visitors, with its Gothic interior, glass and the Taxila Cross. Sacred Heart is worth a look for the contrast. Together they take about an hour and need no ticket.

They are less rewarding if you have only a day in Lahore; the Fort, the Badshahi Mosque and the Walled City come first. And because access depends on whoever is at the gate, they suit flexible travellers better than people on a tight schedule.

Frequently asked questions