Apostle Church

Apostle Church

The Apostle Church is a Suzhou Municipal Cultural Relics Protection Unit.

The Suzhou Christian Apostle Church is located at No. 130 Yangyuxiang, Suzhou City. It was designated as a Suzhou Municipal Cultural Relics Protection Unit in [year] and now serves as a Christian place of worship.

Originally a church affiliated with the American Chinese Christian Church (Presbyterian Church), it was originally named Sido Church, in memory of the American missionary couple Dubs who founded the church. Established in the 11th year of the Tongzhi reign during the Qing Dynasty (1872), it is one of the earliest Christian churches in Suzhou’s history. After being renovated in 1925, it took on its current scale. In 1952, it was renamed to its present name. During the Cultural Revolution, it was occupied by a factory and used as a warehouse. It was reclaimed and restored between 1980 and 1982, and religious activities resumed.

The main worship hall, or chapel, faces west and has a rectangular floor plan. It is a two-story brick-and-wood structure with gray bricks and tiles. A square bell tower rises an additional level from the stairwell in the southwest corner. The ground floor houses meeting rooms, offices, and a small auditorium. The upper floor contains the main auditorium, which can accommodate 500 people. Adjacent to the chapel are also structures such as the gatehouse and pastor’s residence. The building facade is simple and unadorned. Inside the chapel is the “Memorial Stele for Mr. Dubs,” erected in the 2nd year of the Xuantong reign during the Qing Dynasty (1910).