Nangangzi Catholic Church

Nangangzi Catholic Church

Nangangzi Catholic Church is a cultural tourism attraction.

In the densely populated, winding hutongs of Yongsheng Lane, Xingfu Street, Chongwen District, stands a Gothic-style building that stands out — the 80-year-old Nangangzi Catholic Church.

Chongwen District is home to around 500 Catholics. Major religious festivals such as “Christmas,” “Easter,” “Assumption Day,” and “Pentecost,” as well as regular religious activities, are held at Nangangzi Catholic Church. Especially during the four major religious holidays, nearly a thousand worshippers attend. The church serves as the main venue for Catholic religious activities in Beijing’s southeastern area.

Nangangzi Catholic Church now covers an area of nearly 0.2 hectares. In addition to the church itself, it includes the novitiate of the Sisters of St. Thérèse. The church was first built in 1910, jointly initiated by Father Clement from the Dongjiaominxiang Catholic Church, Sister Agnes from the Daughters of Charity, and Sister Xia from the Sisters of St. Joseph, among others. In 1923, the Daughters of Charity raised 20,000 silver dollars to renovate and expand the Nangangzi Church. They purchased 2.8 hectares of unused burial land in Fangshengchi Hutong (now Yongsheng Lane) and built a new church, namely Nangangzi Catholic Church. It included the sanctuary, priests’ quarters, kitchen courtyard, and seven classrooms named “Huwo No. 4 Branch School.”

After the founding of the People’s Republic of China, Nangangzi Catholic Church underwent three major changes. The first was in 1952 when the convent was repurposed as an orphanage. The second was in 1958, when the state called on religious groups to participate in socialist construction. By the end of that year, the church was closed, and most of its rooms were later handed over to the district education bureau. The third change came after the Third Plenary Session of the 11th Central Committee of the Communist Party in 1978, when religious policies were reinstated. In February 1986, Nangangzi Catholic Church was reopened for religious use, and on September 1 of the same year, it was officially reconsecrated. The convent school was also restored and officially named the “Novitiate of the Sisters of St. Thérèse.” To date, it has enrolled two classes with over 30 students. To protect this church with significant religious and cultural value, in 1988, Nangangzi Catholic Church was listed as a key cultural relic and historic building under protection by Chongwen District.

Location

No. 6, Yongsheng Lane, Dongcheng District, Beijing