Nangangzi Catholic Church

　　Located in the densely populated area of Chongwen District, amidst winding hutongs in Yongsheng Lane on Xingfu Street, there stands a particularly eye-catching Gothic structure — this is the Nangangzi Catholic Church, which has a history of 80 years.

　　There are about 500 Catholics in Chongwen District. Major religious events such as “Christmas,” “Easter,” “Assumption of the Blessed Virgin Mary,” and “Pentecost,” along with regular religious activities, are all held at Nangangzi Catholic Church. Especially during the four major religious holidays, nearly a thousand worshippers participate. This church serves as the main venue for Catholic religious activities in the southeastern part of Beijing.

　　Currently, Nangangzi Catholic Church covers an area of nearly 0.2 hectares. In addition to the church itself, it includes the Convent of the novitiate of the Sisters of St. Thérèse. The church was originally built in 1910 and was jointly planned by Father Clement from the Dongjiaominxiang Catholic Church, Sister Agnes of the Sisters of Charity, and Sister Xia Dagu of the Sisters of Joseph, among others. In 1923, the Sisters of Charity raised 20,000 silver dollars to renovate and expand the Nangangzi Church. They purchased 2.8 hectares of wasteland at Fangshengchi Hutong (now Yongsheng Lane), where a new church — the Nangangzi Catholic Church — was constructed. It included the main sanctuary, priests' quarters, kitchen facilities, and seven classrooms named “Huiwo 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 encouraged 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, the Nangangzi Catholic Church was reopened for religious use, and it was officially reconsecrated on September 1 of the same year. The convent school was also restored and officially named the “Convent of the novitiate of the Sisters of St. Thérèse.” To date, it has enrolled two classes with over 30 students. To protect this church, which holds significant religious and cultural value, Nangangzi Catholic Church was listed in 1988 as a key cultural relic and historic building under protection by Chongwen District.