Christmas Church

Christmas Church

The Christmas Church is a cultural heritage site protected by the city of Anqing.

The "Christmas Church" of Anqing’s Protestant Christianity was first built in the spring of 1912, originally named "Chengren Hall," and has a history of over a hundred years. The church is located in an area called Baihua Pavilion, which is now entirely surrounded by residential neighborhoods. Although the church has undergone several renovations, its long and storied history can still be felt.

It is reported that since the late Qing Dynasty, especially after 1840, a large number of foreign missionaries entered inland China. These missionaries traveled up the Yangtze River, preaching along the way. Anqing, located on the north bank of the Yangtze River at the confluence with the Wan River and serving as the center of southwestern Anhui, held strategic importance and became the earliest provincial capital of Anhui Province. Missionaries built many churches here, as well as schools and hospitals. The Christmas Church was constructed during that period.

The "Christmas Church" is a single-story brick and tile structure. Its walls are made entirely of blue bricks with lime mortar joints. There are four vermilion wooden doors facing east and west, along with twelve glass windows framed in vermilion wood. The characters "聖誕堂" (Christmas Church) are inscribed above the main entrance.

Address: No. 15 Jiankang Road, Yingjiang District

Further Reading:

· Fourth Batch of Municipal Cultural Heritage Protection Units in Anqing City