Guangdong Christian Church (Former Site of Hongde Christian Church)

Guangdong Christian Church (Former Site of Hongde Christian Church)

Guangdong Christian Church is located at No. 23, Hongde 5th Lane, Hongde Road, covering an area of approximately 800 square meters. The main hall has two floors totaling 450 square meters, and the garden area spans 350 square meters. The second floor of the main hall serves as the worship sanctuary, with over 400 seats.

Guangdong Christian Church was founded in the 16th year of the Guangxu reign (1890), originally as the chapel of the China Christian Alliance Church located on Zhongyue, Qixing. It was initially established by American missionary Pastor Bassegu, who preached in the ZhouTouZui area of Henan. In the 30th year of Guangxu (1904), the church was led by Chinese pastor Liu Xingnan, who successively built the Alliance Legacy Hospital and school at ZhouTouZui. He also established Peiying Primary School at the current site of the District United Hospital on Tongfu West Road, Daozheng Girls' Primary School in Qixing South, Tongyin Primary School in Jinghe Lane, a girls’ literacy school in Tonghe Lane, Longdaowei, and a gospel chapel on Hongde Road. In the 23rd year of the Republic of China (1934), due to road construction, the Alliance chapel was relocated to Hongde 5th Lane. On April 13, 1924, the new chapel was completed and named the China Christian Hongde Church, with Pastor He Shaoquan serving as the head. In October 1937, when the Japanese army occupied Guangzhou, they seized the church, scattering its congregation and repurposing the building as a dance hall until the victory of the Anti-Japanese War in 1945, when religious activities resumed. By the eve of the founding of the People’s Republic of China, the church-run institutions were known as Jiying Primary School, kindergarten, and Bijineng Hospital.

After the establishment of the People’s Republic of China, from 1950 to 1951, the government took over the church-affiliated schools and hospital, while the Hongde Chapel was retained. The chapel was subsequently led by pastors such as Tan Zhuling. In 1960, during the church unification movement, Hongde Chapel became a unified worship site. During the Cultural Revolution, religious activities were forced to stop, and the chapel was used as a school. After the reform and opening-up, with the implementation of the Party’s religious policies, the main hall was reclaimed in 1981. On February 22 of the same year, services resumed and it was officially renamed Guangdong Christian Church. In 1997, the church was awarded the title of “Guangzhou Civilized Religious Activity Venue.”

In 1998, the church had three pastors, with Pastor Pan Qiongzhen serving as the head. There were 21 church committee members divided into nine groups, including religious affairs and charitable fellowship. The church had over 80 volunteers and more than 900 registered believers, among whom over 400 had been baptized. An annual Thanksgiving service is held every November. Throughout the 52 Sundays of the year, including holidays such as New Year’s Day, Easter, and Christmas, teachings combine scripture with messages of patriotism, faith, and love for others. During the summer vacation, events such as Youth Flower Festivals, Children's Summer Camps, and Youth Summer Camps are organized.

Source: Haizhu District Archives Bureau

Further Reading:

· Seventh Batch of Guangzhou Municipal Cultural Relics Protection Units