Shima Catholic Church

　　Shima Catholic Church is situated at the foot of Shima Mountain in the southern suburbs of Liangping County, covering an area of 2.58 mu. It was officially approved for reopening in October 1984 by the then Wanxian Administrative Office. The church is a brick-and-wood structure in the Romanesque Revival style, with an activity space of 420 square meters that can accommodate over 300 worshippers. Its red walls and blue tiles present a solemn and majestic atmosphere, forming a striking contrast with the nearby “Shima Gathering Clouds,” one of the Eight Scenic Spots of Liangping, creating a truly magnificent view. The Catholic Patriotic Association of Liangping County is headquartered in this church. It has one priest and two nuns.

　　Catholicism was introduced to Liangping in the 44th year of the Kangxi reign during the Qing Dynasty (1705). In 1756, Father Su, a French priest, built the Erlangtan Church in the northern part of the county. This church was the first Catholic church established in Liangping. Later, the number of churches in the county grew to five, with more than 3,000 believers. At that time, the Liangping parish was under the jurisdiction of the Chongqing Diocese. In 1930, the Wanxian Diocese was established, and the Liangping parish has been under the administration of the Wanxian Diocese ever since. During the Anti-Japanese War, a chapel was set up in the barracks for American Catholic soldiers stationed in Liangping. Before the liberation, aside from the chapel in the U.S. military camp, other churches also ran schools, some of which also operated clinics for the poor and orphanages.

　　The predecessor of Shima Catholic Church was the Dongmen Catholic Church. The original Dongmen Church was occupied by other entities during the Cultural Revolution, and most of its buildings were demolished or altered, making it difficult to restore its religious facilities. When religious property policies were reinstated, with the approval of the county government, the Dongmen Church was relocated to its current site and renamed Shima Catholic Church. Construction began in 1985, and the church was completed in 1986, with its inaugural service held in August of the same year.

　　Address: Southern Liangping County

　　Phone: (023) 53221262