Tombstone of Father Dong

Tombstone of Father Dong

The tombstone of Father Dong is a cultural relic protection unit of Jiexi County.

The tombstone of Father Dong is located on a hillside next to Shangshanzai Village in Dabeishan, northwest of Jiexi County. It was originally part of a Western-style church funded and built by French Father Dong Zhonghe in the 1880s.

The church faces south and is situated on the steep slope of a hill. The platform is 11 meters high, 19.5 meters deep, and 55 meters wide, entirely enclosed by granite stone strips, forming three interconnected terraces that enhance the church’s majestic and grand appearance. Stone steps with railings start from the lower left of the platform, curve to the right, and extend upward, totaling approximately 60–70 meters in length.

The main body of the church is a two-story reinforced concrete building, 7.3 meters high, 12 meters wide, and 25 meters deep. The bell tower is built on the top floor, standing 5.5 meters high. On the right side of the church is the priests’ residence, also a two-story reinforced concrete building, 7.3 meters high, 17.5 meters wide, and 28.2 meters deep. On the left is Xiangshan Primary School, also a two-story building. The three structures form a unified complex, with a total width of 55 meters and an overall height of 24 meters from the base to the top of the bell tower, presenting a grand and imposing presence.

On the hillside behind the church lie two tombs of priests, with inscriptions reading:

(1) Tombstone Inscription of Father Dong:

Father Dong Zhonghe, whose Christian name was Engel, was of French nationality. He was born in 1853, ordained as a priest on July 21, 1878, and came to China to preach in the same year. He studied Chinese in Dayang, Jieyang, Guangdong (now Dayang Township, Jiexi County) for one year, and subsequently preached in Huangshajing, Beidouzhai, Caidong, Changbu of Wuhua County, and Shangshan in our county for 59 years. He passed away in Luotianba, Heshan in 1939 at the age of 84.

(2) Tombstone Inscription of Father Wang:

Father Wang, whose Christian name was Joseph and whose surname was Rongze, was from Shanghai County, Jiangsu Province. Born in the year 1855 AD, he was ordained in Guangdong in 1885 and later preached in Lufeng and Changle counties for 19 years. He passed away in 1904, the 31st year of the Guangxu reign of the Qing Dynasty.

The main structure of Shangshanzai Catholic Church remains intact and was renovated in 1984.

In 1990, the People’s Government of Jiexi County designated it as a cultural relic protection unit.