The Anglican, Lutheran, and Non-Denominational Churches in the Holy Land

The imagery of Christian worship in the Holy Land and the Middle East is often associated with ornate rituals with an Oriental flair, eastern Orthodox iconography, and devotion to folk traditions and customs. This is certainly true for most of the Christian communities. It may surprise some, however, to discover that other faith communities, more familiar to many people from Protestant and non-denominational traditions, are alive and well in the Holy Land.

Since the mid-nineteenth century, Protestant missionaries and social service programs have been a permanent presence in the region. By the start of the twentieth century, two communities comprised of Arab-speaking Palestinian Christians had been firmly established for several generations.       

The Diocese of Jerusalem under the Episcopal Church of Jerusalem and the Middle East, known informally as the Anglican Church of Jerusalem, is the largest indigenous Protestant community, with some 3,000 congregants. Along with two other dioceses (one covering Cyprus and the Arabian Gulf, and the other in Iran), it is a formal member of the Anglican Communion. The Cathedral of St. George is located a short distance north of the Old City of Jerusalem, built in classical Anglican architectural style, and with its guesthouse and school, has long been a meeting place between locals and the English-speaking international expatriate Christian community. The majority of parishes and congregants are to be found in the Nazareth, the northern coastal cities, and the Galilee. The present Archbishop is the Most Reverend Hosam Naoum.   

The Evangelical Lutheran Church in Jordan and the Holy Land, known informally as the Lutheran Church of the Holy Land, follows the German Lutheran tradition. It has been fully independent since shortly after the Second World War and is comprised of approximately 2,500 congregants, although a substantial number live in Europe and North America. The Lutheran Church of the Redeemer, located in the Christian Quarter of the Old City of Jerusalem, less than a minute’s walking distance to the south of the Church, is the spiritual and administrative home of the Lutheran presence in the Holy Land, is a popular visiting place for pilgrims and tourists who admire its beautiful stonework, contains a popular guesthouse, and is also an epicenter of Protestant life in Jerusalem and, like St. George Anglican Church, a popular meeting place for locals, expatriates and visitors from English-speaking, German-speaking, and Nordic countries. The majority of its congregants are to be found in the three Christian towns of Bethlehem, Beit Jala, and Beit Sahour. Christmas Lutheran Church in Bethlehem is an easily-identifiable landmark, noted by its conical steeple, and has conducted a live streaming broadcast of its Christmas service on Christmas Eve for many years.  Its guesthouse, educational and social services programs make up for one of the largest employers in the Bethlehem region. The Church is actively involved in the World Council of Churches and the Lutheran World Federation. The current Bishop is Reverand Sani Ibrahim Azar.

Originally united under a single administrative body jointly overseen by the British Anglican and German Lutheran churches, the two communities have long since separated but remain strong relations and recognize each other’s church sacraments such as baptism and marriage. Both churches administer or are connected to some of the best-regarded schools, higher learning institutions, hospitals, and social welfare institutions for the Arab-speaking people of the Holy Land, regardless of their denomination and faith, and are seen to be disproportionately significant to the future of the Christian presence in the region in comparison to their congregational size.

The Scottish Episcopalian Church of St. Andrew, located on a hill opposite Mount Sion, has no fixed congregation but acts as both a guesthouse and a ministry center for Scottish Episcopalian concerns in the region, and also oversees an elegant guesthouse in Tiberias.      

In addition to these two well-established faith communities, there is a multitude of smaller Protestant and non-denominational churches with a strong evangelical tradition, in particular in Bethlehem, Jerusalem, and the Galilee. The Quaker School in Ramallah and the Bethlehem Bible College in Bethlehem are two well-known educational institutions from other Protestant and non-denominational traditions. 

Though modest in number, the Protestant and non-denominational churches are truly part of the mosaic of Christian life that is alive and well in the Holy Land.  

Journey to the Holy Land!

Good Shepherd Travel includes Jerusalem, Nazareth and the Galilee, Bethlehem Jericho, the Jordan River, and the Dead Sea as part of our pilgrimages to the Holy Land. Other popular pilgrimage tours to locations such as Rome, Lourdes, Fatima, and Ireland are also available. For more information on how to begin preparing for a pilgrimage in late 2022 and 2023, contact Good Shepherd Travel owner and manager, Tony AbuAita at Tony@goodshepherdtravel.com.