Phungyo Baptist Church refutes claims
Source: The Sangai Express / Mungchan Zimik
Ukhrul, December 07 2023:
Associate Pastor, Phungyo Baptist Church (PBC), Seth Ragui slammed the 'break away church Thahao Baptist Church of Wino Bazar' claim as the 'mother church' of Manipur.
Addressing media persons during a press meet held yesterday at PBC office, Tangrei said, 'Phungyo Baptist Church located at Tangrei, Ukhrul is the first Church in Manipur established in 1901 after 12 persons were baptised by Rev William Pettigrew at Ngayira Awungtang, Ukhrul' .
He further stated that, 'The arrival of western missionary Rev William Pettigrew in Ukhrul brought light in education which transformed our civilisation for a better lifestyle forgoing the culture of hatred' .
Ngachan Raleng, chairman PBC Board of Trustee briefed that most of the churches in Ukhrul town and across were branch out and expanded from Phungyo Baptist Church, Tangrei.
The PBC Board rejected the use of the term "mother church" of Manipur by the newly established Thahao Church which was a break away group of Phungyo Baptist Church Tangrei, and the said group established their own church in 2008 at Wino Bazar (Thahao) .
The Manipur Baptist Convention (MBC), an apex body of Manipur Baptist churches has officially given recognition to Phungyo Baptist Church, Tangrei founded on September 29, 1901 as the first and mother Church of Manipur.