Hangzhou Catholic Church

Hangzhou Catholic Church

The Hangzhou Catholic Church is a cultural relic protection unit of Zhejiang Province.

The Hangzhou Catholic Church is located in Hangzhou. In the 39th year of the Wanli era (1611), churches were established at the homes of Li Zhizao and Yang Tingyun. In the autumn of the 7th year of the Tianqi era (1627), Yang Tingyun donated substantial funds to construct the first Catholic church in Hangzhou on Guan Lane (west of Guan Bridge, now at No. 415 Zhongshan North Road, the current site of the Catholic church). The main hall has a circular arched ceiling, with a bright interior, vibrant colors, and dazzling brilliance. It features three altars: the central altar houses an image of the Savior, while the side altars feature statues of St. Peter and St. Paul respectively.

In the 39th year of the Wanli era (1611), churches were established at the homes of Li Zhizao and Yang Tingyun. In the autumn of the 7th year of the Tianqi era (1627), Yang Tingyun donated substantial funds to construct the first Catholic church in Hangzhou on Guan Lane (west of Guan Bridge, now at No. 415 Zhongshan North Road, the current site of the Catholic church). Later, Father Emmanuel Diaz Junior built a church near Qiantang Gate by West Lake.

In the 16th year of the Shunzhi era (1659) during the Qing Dynasty, Father Martino Martini of the Italian Jesuit order returned to Hangzhou from Rome. With the support and funding of Zhejiang Governor Tong Guoqi and others, a large garden plot near Yang Tingyun’s former residence (the original site of the church) was allocated to the church for constructing a new building. In the 18th year (1661), the interior was put into use. The church is built in the Roman dome style, consisting of a main hall and two side halls, with four rows of wooden pillars—two of which are embedded within the brick walls.

The main hall has a circular arched ceiling, with a bright interior, vibrant colors, and dazzling brilliance. It features three altars: the central altar houses an image of the Savior, while the side altars feature statues of St. Peter and St. Paul respectively. St. Peter is depicted holding two keys in one hand and pointing to the sky with the other. St. Paul holds a cross in his left hand and points to a banner with the words “We preach Christ crucified.” The walls depict scenes from the life of Jesus, the life of the Virgin Mary, the Four Last Things, the Twelve Apostles, the Four Great Doctors of the Church, founders of various religious orders and their habits, as well as the conversion of St. Paul and Emperor Constantine’s embrace of Catholicism—all accompanied by Chinese inscriptions. In addition to the church, there are also three main rooms, three novitiate rooms, a dining hall and auxiliary rooms, and fourteen bedrooms. The living quarters are surrounded by gardens on three sides, offering a spacious and comfortable environment with views of the mountains and West Lake.

In March of the 28th year of the Kangxi era (1689), during Emperor Kangxi’s southern tour to Hangzhou, the church’s priests, Prospero Intorcetta and Giovanni Battista Pan (Italian), met with the emperor and were granted fruit cakes, pastries, and silver.

In the 30th year of the Kangxi era (1691), the church was repurposed by Zhejiang Governor Zhang Penghe. In August of the 31st year (1692), it caught fire but was later restored.

In March of the 38th year of the Kangxi era (1699), during the emperor’s second southern tour, Giovanni Battista Pan went to Wuxi to welcome him and was gifted four large silver plates of imperial cuisine. Upon the emperor’s arrival in Hangzhou, he hosted a banquet on a lake boat and granted 200 taels of silver for church repairs, also adding the inscription “Imperially Commissioned” above the church gate. Pan specially invited the Qing Dynasty painter Father Wu Yushan to compose a poem commemorating the event: “The street before the church is quiet, dust-free; the imperial carriage passes, asking questions time and again with ease. Smiling, I keep the verses bestowed by the court; the name brings joy as it is read under the black eaves. Banners flutter in the sunny breeze before the gate; incense coils welcome guests into the home. Bowing with incense in hand alongside the elders, cheers and songs celebrate like spring thunder.”

During the Yongzheng Emperor’s ban on Christianity, foreign missionaries were no longer allowed to conduct missionary activities except in Beijing. In the 8th year of the Yongzheng era (1730), when Li Wei served as Governor of Zhejiang, Father Diego de Pantoja was expelled. The characters “Imperially Commissioned” inscribed by Emperor Kangxi were chiseled off the church, which was then converted into the Tin Hau Temple. Li Wei himself wrote and engraved the “Record of the Catholic Church Being Converted into the Tin Hau Temple.” It was not until the 3rd year of the Tongzhi era (1864), after more than 130 years, that the Qing government fully returned the property. In July of that same year, the bishop assigned Fathers Casimir Hersant and André Ly to take up residence in the Catholic church.

In the 2nd year of the Guangxu era (1876), the church was expanded westward with the addition of two altar rooms.

In November of the 1st year of the Republic of China (1912), the church caught fire but was later restored. In the 5th year (1916), three additional rooms were added on the eastern side.

In 1966, the church was repurposed for other uses for 16 years due to the impact of the Cultural Revolution.

After the Third Plenary Session of the 11th Central Committee of the Communist Party of China, various religious policies including property restitution were implemented. On July 26, 1979, the Hangzhou Municipal Committee approved the reopening of the Catholic church on Zhongshan North Road. After renovations, the rededication ceremony was held on December 12, 1982. Despite many challenges, the church has been preserved to this day. In 1991, it was officially registered and obtained the “Zhejiang Province Religious Activity Site Registration Certificate.” Religious activities are conducted regularly, with one bishop, three priests, and twenty nuns. Mass is held every morning, and two services are held each Sunday, currently attracting over 600 parishioners every Sunday. On January 12, 1992, it was designated as a municipal-level cultural relic protection unit in Hangzhou and also serves as a venue for receiving domestic and international Catholic guests. In June 2009, the church underwent another comprehensive renovation, including the installation of stained glass windows, all completed by the end of September.

On January 7, 2011, the church became a cultural relic protection unit of Zhejiang Province.

Further Reading:

· Sixth Batch of Zhejiang Provincial Cultural Relic Protection Units