Shanghai Daily News

Xujiahui Cathedral

Shanghai's churches are opening their doors to everyone over Christmas, one of Christianity's most important celebrations, writes Michelle Qiao.

Xiao Jinjing is a 28-year-old Shanghai businesswoman, and although she's not a Christian she plans to be in the city's Grace Church on Shaanxi Road N. at 6pm on Christmas Eve.

"I'm so tired of expensive, bustling Christmas activities," says Xiao, who used to go to church regularly during her high school days simply for the quiet and reverent atmosphere she found there. "I don't have the time to visit churches regularly today because I'm kept too busy in my job as a public relations manager. But this year I want to lose myself in a peaceful church atmosphere again where there are no fights or quarrels, only beautiful hymns and music. I will take my husband with me, and he's never spent Christmas Eve in a church before."

Website editor He Ying used to spend Christmas Eve in a church on Gulangyu Island in Xiamen, Fujian Province, when she was a student at Xiamen University. Holy, beautiful Christmas memories finally converted her to Christianity, and now she spends Christmas Eve either in a church or attending a family party given by a Western friend.

Well, whether you're a Christian or not, a church is a lovely place to spend the holy night - no fights, no quarrels or no extra charges.

"The church door is open to all during Christmas," says Jin Lianxue, a priest at Shanghai All Saints Church. "China is so open to Western culture today, and Western fashion and cuisine is just the surface. Religion is the essence of Western civilization."

Jin says the church has been decorated with green garlands, red butterfly ties, colorful balls, golden bells and, of course, Christmas trees.

He says services in the church begin at 7pm from December 23 to 25. "But you had better come before 6:30pm to assure yourself of a seat," he adds.

1. Shanghai All Saints Church (Zhu Sheng Tang)

This church was built in 1925 under the supervision of a priest named Maganlin from the American Saints Association. It's a typical 17th-century church with a wooden spire steeple and a main hall and side hall.

The main hall can seat 500 while an attached house and the small hall can seat 1,000 people.

This red-brick church also has a rose window and a bell tower which has 63 staircases.

It was originally built by an American missionary at the intersection of Huangpi and Huaihai roads. As the population expanded, the church bought land on the present site for the new church.

2. Shanghai Community Church (Guoji Libai Tang)

This church was built in 1925 mainly for the American Christians and nestles today among the greenery of elegant Hengshan Road. It was formerly known as the American Church before having the current name.

Covering an area of 7,300 square meters, the wood-and-brick church is famous for the high standard of its choir. Its roof is a wooden frame in the shape of a pair of scissors.

The church, in modern Gothic style, has attracted many celebrity visitors, including former US President Jimmy Carter and South Africa's Bishop Tutu.

The church can accommodate up to 2,000 and has separate rooms on the second floor where closed-circuit television broadcasts ceremonies from the nave.

Address: 53 Hengshan Rd

Tel: 6437-6576

3. Xujiahui Cathedral (Xujiahui Da Jiaotang)

Xujiahui Cathedral, originally known as St Ignatius Cathedral, is located to the south of bustling Xujiahui and is under city-level protection.

It is the largest cathedral in Shanghai and was once famous as the most magnificent Catholic church in the Far East.

Built in 1910, Xujiahui Cathedral is a brick-and-wood structure in the medieval Gothic style and was the first church in China constructed according to Western architectural styles. Designed by W.M. Dowdall, the cathedral was built by the French Shanghai Construction Co for the Jesuits.

The building is about 80 meters high with the nave stretching 44 meters. There are two 50-meter-high bell towers - one to the south and the other to the north.

A statue of the Virgin Mary made in Paris is in the center of the main aisle. The architectural plane is in the shape of a cross and can accommodate 2,500 worshipers.

The cathedral was once noted for its stained-glass windows which were destroyed during the turbulent years of the "cultural revolution" (1966-76). Replacement work on the stained glass windows started a couple of years ago.

The cathedral was seen in the opening scenes of Hollywood director Steven Spielberg's 1987 film "Empire of the Sun."

Address: 158 Puxi Rd

Tel: 6469-0930

4. Youag John Allen Memorial Church (Jing Ling Tang)

The church was built in 1923 to commemorate American missionary Youag John Allen (1836-1907). The former 720-square-meter church was expanded to 811 square meters in 1983. Charlie Soong, the father of the legendary Soong Sisters, was an associate of Allen.

Allen built an institution in Hongkou District and lived on Kunshan Road. When he died, the school named a building the Youag John Allen Memorial Church.

In 1923, Charlie Soong donated the funds to build a new church at Allen's former residence which is just opposite   the old church.

5. Grace Church (Huai En Tang)

The Grace Church was built by missionary Frank Rawlinson in 1910. Covering an area of 2,200 square meters, this red-brick church with a bell tower has been in its present location since 1942. The original one was on Sichuan Road N.

Rawlinson, a Briton, was born in 1871 and emigrated to the United States to study religion before coming to Shanghai as a missionary. He studied Chinese, became the headmaster of several schools and in 1911 began publishing an English religious magazine.

His life came to a tragic end after the Japanese invasion of Shanghai in 1937. He had just stepped out of his car when he was fatally wounded by Japanese gunners who were shooting at a Chinese plane.

Address: 372 Shaanxi Rd N.

Tel: 6253-9394, 6258-5598

6. Shanghai Moore Memorial Church (Mu En Tang)

The original church was built in 1929 on the site of a former school, but in 1931 famous Hungarian architect Ladislaus Hudec rebuilt it employing the latest visual aesthetic theory.

The church, located near bustling People's Square in the heart of Shanghai, is a striking red-brick building.

Hudec made his fortune in Shanghai from 1918 to 1938 and is the man behind dozens of Shanghai's signature buildings, including the Park Hotel and the Grand Cinema. He was known for his experimental spirit which allowed him to try variations of 20th-century architectural styles.

Covering an area of 1,347 square meters, the church features unique exterior walls constructed with concave and convex red bricks.

The interior is no less beautiful: The rich-hued woodwork and fine stone arches and galleries would impress any visitor.

Address: 316 Xizang Rd M.

Tel: 6322-5069