Dongjiao Minxiang Church

Dongjiao Minxiang Church

The last church built by missionaries in China, Dongjiaominxiang church, is also known as Saint Miguel church and French church. Dongjiaominxiang church is a two-story Gothic building built in 1901. Located at A13 dongjiaomin lane, Dongcheng District, Beijing, it is famous for its exquisite angel statue above the main entrance.

Historical evolution

Dongjiaominxiang Catholic Church is a church built later in Beijing. Its location belongs to the scope of the French Consulate before the construction of the church.

After the Treaty of Xin Chou was signed in 1901, the number of Europeans who settled in Beijing and lived in the embassy area of Dongjiaominxiang increased significantly. These overseas Chinese demanded to build a church nearby for religious activities. After the negotiation between French bishop fan Guoliang and French consul in China, the French Consulate transferred the land, which was funded by the French mission, and the French priest Gao Jiali was responsible for the construction of the Catholic Church in dongjiaomin lane. Later, the construction work was transferred to the French.

In 1904, the church was completed and officially opened. After the opening of the church, the Catholic Church in dongjiaomin Lane mainly served foreigners in China. The priests and auxiliary clergy of the main church were French nationals and were managed by the French church.

After 1949, the Catholic Diocese of Beijing took over the building and real estate of Dongjiaominxiang Catholic Church. Dongjiaominxiang Catholic Church was put under the management of Beitang. In 1958, due to the change of government policy, the activities of the Catholic Church were restricted, Dongjiaominxiang Catholic Church was closed, the building and real estate were confiscated by the government, and were put under the management of taijichang primary school. The church became the auditorium of the primary school, and the building was restricted to a certain extent There's some damage.

In 1986, taijichang primary school completely moved out of Dongjiaominxiang Catholic Church, and the church was returned to Beijing Church. On December 23, 1989, the church reopened. On October 20, 1995, the Catholic Church of dongjiaomin lane was listed as a cultural relic protection unit in Beijing.

Architectural features

Compared with the four Catholic churches in Beijing: the South Church, the North Church, the East Church and the West church, Dongjiaominxiang Catholic Church has a very short history and a very small scale. However, the building of Dongjiaominxiang Catholic Church is small and exquisite, and it is also a rare Catholic Church in Beijing that has not been completely destroyed and rebuilt.

The existing building of the church covers an area of 2656.4 square meters. The main building is a typical Gothic style, with two stories high and facing south. It is three Bay wide from east to west and fourteen Bay deep from south to north. The inside of the church is a wooden structure, with rib arches at the top, columns at the top, and tile corridors on the floor. The East and west sides of the church are decorated with glass flower windows made in France, but it is used by taijichang primary school During the occupation of the auditorium, most of these flower windows were broken. Above the main entrance of the church is the statue of the church's patron saint Miguel. He is the chief angel in the Bible to protect the people of Israel, and is regarded by the church as the guardian angel of the people of the New Testament. This angel is exquisitely carved with vivid details. The angel statue and the exquisite glass window are the two most eye-catching highlights in the construction of dongjiaomin lane.

In addition to the Gothic main building of the church, there is a western style two-story building on the north side of the church, which is the residence of the priest of the church. On the east side of the church, there are ten brick bungalows. The plane layout is in the form of traditional residential buildings in Beijing, but the doors and windows are of arched structure, which is a combination of Chinese and Western styles.

Address: No.13, dongjiaomin lane, Dongcheng District, Beijing

Longitude: 116.41207885742

Latitude: 39.9029502865

Tel: 010-65135170