Kaifeng Catholic Church

Kaifeng Catholic Church

Kaifeng Catholic Church is a cultural heritage site protected at the provincial level in Henan Province.

Kaifeng Catholic Church is located at No. 41, Lishiting Street, Shunhe Hui District, Kaifeng City. It is the cathedral of the Archdiocese of Henan and also one of the well-known Catholic churches in China. The site covers approximately 10 acres. Built in 1917 under the direction of Italian missionary Bishop Tan Weixin, the construction took three years and was fully completed in 1920. With nearly a century of history, it is one of the best-preserved ancient European-style buildings in Kaifeng. The church features strong European architectural characteristics. From a bird’s-eye view, the structure forms a cross shape, embodying deep Catholic symbolism. Major structures include the church building, the bishop's residence, and the bell tower. The church was designated as a provincial-level cultural relic protection unit in 2006.

The church is a famous example of Gothic architecture. It is 33.45 meters long from north to south, 17 meters wide from east to west, and about 18 meters high. At the very north end inside the church is the main altar. In front of the altar rail are two vesting rooms on the east and west sides. The upper levels of these rooms serve as the choir loft. Directly south of the main altar, there are two rows of five large cement pillars each along the east and west sides. Around the interior of the church are arched stained-glass windows about 3 meters above the ground. Large windows are 4 meters tall and 1 meter wide, while smaller ones are 1.5 meters tall and 0.6 meters wide. The windows are fixed with steel frames, and both large and small ones are fitted with iridescent colored glass pieces about one square foot in size. Above the main southern entrance of the church are four large windows composed of colorful stained glass depicting full-body figures. On the uppermost levels on the east and west sides of the interior are rows of seven round windows each, with diameters of about 1 meter, fitted with clear glass. These allow stronger beams of light to shine into the church. This design creates a gradation of brightness from the floor upward, enhancing the solemn and mysterious atmosphere within. The total floor area of the church is 625.5 square meters, and it can accommodate over a thousand worshippers.

The bell tower is an indispensable feature of any church. Its resonant chimes remind believers of their conscience, as the faithful believe it to be the voice of God. The bell tower is situated directly behind and to the north of the church, about 3 meters from the church building. It measures 2.5 meters in width on all sides and has a square shape. From the ground to the top of the cross at the peak, the bell tower stands about 45 meters high. The interior is divided into eight levels, each connected by spiral wooden staircases. The top is a four-sided pyramid, with a reinforced concrete cross about 5 meters high pointing upwards. The topmost level of the bell tower houses a large bronze bell mounted on a wheel mechanism. A thick rope runs through the floor down to the ground, and pulling this rope rings the bell. The sound can be heard from more than ten miles away.

Construction History

In 1608, Jesuit priests introduced Catholicism to Kaifeng while also searching for the Jewish community on Lishiting Street. In 1642, when Li Zicheng breached the Yellow River’s dikes and flooded Kaifeng, the city was buried under silt. The Hongheyan Catholic Church, located west of Yanchang Temple, collapsed, and almost all the priests and parishioners perished in the flood.

In 1902, Father Tan Weixin (Noe-Joseph Tacconi, 1873–1942) from the Milan Foreign Missions Society of Italy arrived in Kaifeng to revive the Catholic Church. By 1905, he had purchased a residential property on Yuanjingyuan Street and converted it into a church. In 1910, Tan Weixin was appointed Bishop of Nanyang. In 1915, the new Diocese of Kaifeng was established. In 1917, Tan Weixin began constructing the cathedral on the north side of the eastern section of Lishiting Street, completing it in 1919. The surrounding complex included the bishop’s residence, a minor seminary, and church school buildings.

The main cathedral differs in layout from typical Catholic churches, with its main entrance on the south side. It is seven bays deep and can hold over 600 people. The couplet on either side of the sanctuary reads: “The universal true light shines marvelously upon all lands” and “The flame of divine love blazes fiercely across the Central Plains.” The towering square-based pyramid bell tower stands independently about 3 meters to the north of the main hall. The tower is dark gray in color. The bishop’s residence has two floors above ground, with 33 rooms of various sizes, covering a floor area of 1,012 square meters.

Further Reading:

· Fourth Batch of Provincial Cultural Heritage Protection Units in Henan Province