SAVE Koronjo

17/10/2025

19/08/2024

But seek first the kingdom of God . . . . . . .will be added to you. . . . . Matthew 6:33

31/01/2024

It's little over three months now that the 113 years old heritage GEL Church at Koronjo was rededicated after major renovation. This endeavor had numerous challenges like division in the congregation, finance, communication, logistics and so on. It was only the grace of God that the wisdom prevailed and the Team Save Koronjo could bring the entire congregation under one platform for the renovation of this church. Pan India support to this initiative was overwhelming.
Technically speaking, Save Koronjo feels that the job at hardware level is completed successfully. Now it has a lot to do at software level, to transform Koronjo into a vibrant congregation.
The following videos shows how we have gone about the renovation of this heritage church during the last ten years.

28/10/2023

With the Grace of Almighty we finally accomplished the first leg of our journey when 113 years old GELC's heritage church building was rededicated for His glory on 21st Oct'23. The members of Team Save Koronjo flocked from all parts of India to thank God and to celebrate the feat together. There was unprecedented gathering of believers over 5k in this blissful and in an atmosphere of gratitude, to be a witness to His Grace.
As promised earlier, Mr. Christian Schumacher with his wife Mrs. Else flew down to Koronjo from Germany to be a part of this historic event. His missionary grand father and granny nurtured the Koronjo congregation between 1911 and 1915 while his mother was born in Koronjo in 1915.
The local tribal folks dancing and singing to the drum beats to welcome the guests was an added flavor to the enthusiastic crowd.
The culmination of this 10 years long journey was only possible due to His Faithfulness, people's unwavering support across India and their prayers which we are grateful for.
Though after dedication of the renovated church building we have to move forward from here but we will continue to work with the "people of Koronjo". We look forward to find you alongside as we embark upon our journey further.
Thanks for being with us!
Saday Godem Topno

15/10/2023

Koronjo is calling . . . .we look forward to see you alongside as we rededicate this edifice to our Lord on Saturday the 21st Oct'23 . . . .make sure you are there.
Team Save Koronjo

03/10/2023

Finishing touches . . . .for the D-day

26/09/2023

Count down has begun for the rededication of renovated heritage GEL Church, Koronjo on 21st Oct 2023 . . . . . leveling work by the community.

05/09/2023

The Saga of Change
Post 8

Christian Greetings from SaveKoronjo,

We wish that you and your family is doing well.

We are glad to be back again with the updates on the renovation work on our iconic heritage, the Christ Church at Koronjo.

At the outset we thank you for your prayers and generosity in supporting us for the above cause.

The following items have been completed so far, besides what was reported last.
1. Entire flooring work inside the church and the varandah.
2. Rain water harvesting system.
3. Steel railing for the balcony and stairs.
4. Wooden railings for the altar.
5. Movable wooden Baptism Font.
6. Fixing of plain transparent glasses to the wooden window panels.

It’s heart warming that few donors have directly sponsored items like audio system, pulpit, railings (altar, stairs & balcony), chandeliers, holy communion ware, baptism font, fans, pulpit bible, altar cross(brass).

The balance work include:
1. Flooring of the front courtyard.
2. Fixing of stained glasses to the fixed window panels and altar windows.
3. Final coat of paint for wooden window panels.
4. Final coat of paint for inside and outside the church.
5. Painting of bell tower and boundary wall.
6. Electrical fittings.
7. Altar furnitures.
8. Main gate: civil work for enlargement and fabrication of new main gate.
9. Relocation/erection of in scripted memorial stones.
10. Overhead tank for the wash rooms and associated plumbing work.
11. Misc: finishing of main door, altar table, altar cushions, balance work for outside flooring, landscaping etc.

With your incessant support and prayers, this unique endeavor is nearing completion now. Keeping up with the Spirit of Autonomy, we have politely declined the foreign help as well as we didn't approach any political leaders for help.

So far around ₹ 33 lakhs is spent. We need around ₹ 7.0 lakhs to complete the balance work.
You are requested to reach out to this noble cause and leave behind a rich legacy for our future generations.
You may send your support to the:-
A/c Name: Girjaghar Maramat Samiti,
A/c No. 1951101007218
IFSC Code: CNRB0001951
Bank : Canara Bank, Salgapos Branch, Simdega

We are glad to invite you to be part of a historic celebration when we rededicate the renovated heritage of GEL Church to the Lord for His Glory on 21st Oct'23: - first ever ”pan India endeavour” to save our heritage.

Kindly go through the pictures👇, to appreciate the progress. The task this magnitude was only possible due to a pan India participation. Their support to this cause is a testimony of their concern for the church. We greatly appreciate the enthusiasm and physical involvement of locals at every stage.
May the blessings of the Lord Almighty be with you and your family in abundance 🙏

Thanks,
Team SaveKoronjo

05/06/2022

A saga of change
Post: 7 Part B

05/06/2022

The Saga of Change
Post: 7 Part A
Christian greetings for the Team Save Koronjo!
We regret that this update comes to you after much delay. The impact of Covid and lack of funds have resulted in the tardy progress of the renovation work at Koronjo.
At the outset Team Save Koronjo is deeply by the sudden and untimely demise of Mrs. Seteng Lugun, the wife of Mr. Saihun Lugun (treasurer of this committee) on 18th April 2022. Save Koronjo family thank Almighty for her illustrious life and pays rich tributes for her immense contribution to this noble cause.
Secondly we thank all the donors and well wishers across the country for their generous support in our endeavor to renovate the 112 years old heritage of GEL Church. We appreciate their commitment in the spirit of Nehemiah 2:17 and autonomous GEL church to preserve this heritage for our future generation.
As of now the following work are completed since last report in Post: 6-
1. The painting work of entire church is completed.
2. The commemoration stones which were erected right in the centre of the open space have been dismantled. These will be relocated suitably.
3. A huge banyan tree in the North-West direction was rather close to the church building. This was cut and uprooted as it was affecting the foundation of the church.
At present the flooring work is in progress. Support from the brothers and sisters of Koronjo is overwhelming. Partial quantities of required materials are procured and work is progressing satisfactorily. The artisans for this work have been hired from Birmitrapur. The total cost of flooring including balcony is estimated to be Rs. 6.5 lakhs.
Subsequently the following work is planned:-
1. Frosted and stained glass work for 47 windows and 5 doors.
2. Interlock brick work for the front courtyard.
3. Fabrication of pulpit, altar and baptismal font.
4. Finishing work for rain harvesting system, railing for balcony, wooden main door etc.
5. Misc work: Er****on of commemoration stones, boundary wall painting, new signboard etc.
We intent to complete the project by Oct’22 and dedicate the same to the Lord by Dec’22. To complete the balance work an estimated Rs. 13.0 lakh is required.
We invite you to join us in this inspirational journey to preserve the iconic heritage of GEL Church. Your support may be remitted in favor of Girjaghar Maramat Samiti, A/c No. 1951101007218, IFSC code CNRB0001951, Canara Bank, Salgapos Branch, Simdega.
Thank you and take care till next post.
Regards,
Saday Godem Topno, for Team Save Koronjo

19/06/2021

The Saga of Change
Post: 6
The much awaited painting work of the church is completed except for a small patch at the southern outer wall near the altar. You may please see the pictures and appreciate the progress. Water seepage was observed during the rain in the dome of the altar. The entire old plaster was removed and repaired satisfactorily.
The progress of work is severely hit by the COVID pandemic and the paucity of funds. The balance work to be completed are: flooring, glass work and window panel fixing, interlocking brickwork for the front courtyard, finishing work for electrical fittings, rain water harvesting system and other misc. work.
So far around Rs. 24.0 lakhs has been spend. To complete the balance work Rs. 9.0 (approx.) is required. Currently our account balance stands at around Rs. 1.0 lakh. We request all the well-wishers to join this initiative to preserve this iconic heritage of GEL Church. Your support may be remitted in favor of Girjaghar Maramat Samiti, A/c No. 1951101007218, IFSC code CNRB0001951, Canara Bank, Salgapos Branch, Simdega.
This may be noted that in this project, while we have not approached any political leader for help, we have also respectfully declined the help from friends in Germany. In principle our team has taken a stand to complete the renovation of this heritage church without any political or overseas help, for we are a 100 years old autonomous church. We would rather take pride with a sense of ownership, for having accomplished this project completely on our own, in true spirit of autonomy and pass on this legacy to our next generation.
We at Koronjo, look forward to walk with you hand in hand for this noble cause and the glory of our Lord Almighty.
Take care, till the next post!
Regards,
Saday Godem Topno
for Team Save Koronjo