The imposing structure before you is Meng’En Church. A beacon of faith standing tall in Shanghai. This isn’t just any church. It’s a living testament to the enduring spirit of Christianity in China.
Meng’En Church started as the Moore Memorial Church. American missionaries established it in 1887. Mr and Mrs Lyman Royster Moor of Kansas provided the endowment. The church was renamed in 1900 to honor their generosity. It was originally a Methodist church but later became nondenominational.
The church underwent significant expansion in 1931. It could then seat over 1000 worshippers. Imagine the congregation filling every pew. The grandeur of the space. The hymns echoing through the rafters.
In 1936 a remarkable gift arrived. An American Christian presented a magnificent 5-meter-high neon cross. It adorned the bell tower for years. The cross made Meng’En Church a landmark. A symbol visible across Shanghai and even further afield in East Asia.
The Cultural Revolution brought a period of closure. The church reopened in 1979. It quickly rebuilt its local membership numbering in the thousands. In 1988 two bishops were consecrated here. This was the first consecration in China in three decades. That same year Billy Graham himself preached within these very walls.
Meng’En Church is more than just bricks and mortar. It’s a place where history. faith and community intersect. It displays a simple style reflecting the early days of Christianity in China. A testament to resilience. A place of spiritual solace. It continues to serve as a vibrant center of worship in the heart of Shanghai. The inscription above the gate reads Truth gives you freedom. A timeless message that echoes through this remarkable place. A powerful reminder of the church’s enduring spirit.