“Hall of the Only Respected.” That’s what Jingyi Church was once called. Today we explore the story of this building also known as Gaoqiao Catholic Church. It stands as one of Shanghai’s oldest structures.
Let’s step back to 1640. Martina Pan purchased a residence for Father Francesco Brancati. He was an Italian Jesuit missionary. The building transformed into a church. It became Jingyi Church. Its English name was The Church of the Savior.
Back then, men and women couldn’t attend mass together. Women went to the Church of Our Lady near Xujiazui. Jingyi Church added a side hall for astronomical observations. It grew into a center for Catholicism in Shanghai.
However, challenges arose. In 1665, Christianity faced attacks. Father Brancati left Shanghai for Guangzhou after 28 years. The building became an office. It was for an official of the Coastal Defense.
The story takes another turn. In 1724, the Yongzheng Emperor banned Catholicism again. In 1731, the church was seized. It became a Taoist temple. It was dedicated to the god of war, Guan Yu.
But the narrative doesn’t end there. The Opium War concluded in 1844. Christianity was legalized again. An imperial edict ordered the return of confiscated church lands. However, temples were excluded. It wasn’t until 1860 that the church buildings returned to the Catholic Church. This happened under the Treaty of Tianjin demands.
In 1938, Shangzhi primary school was established on the site. The church had about 600 parishioners at that time. The church operated until 1950. Religious activities were banned. The church school later became Wutong Road Primary School in 1953. The main church hall served as a gym.
In 1959, the building was listed as a Cultural Heritage site in Shanghai. But the title was removed in 1966 during the Cultural Revolution. The title was restored on May 18, 1981. It was used as the primary school gymnasium until the late 1990s. Currently, it is unused.
Jingyi Church also known as Gaoqiao Catholic Church stands as a testament. It reflects Shanghai’s complex religious and cultural history. It has been a residence, a church, a temple, and a school. The walls of the Gaoqiao Catholic Church could tell countless stories. The building is currently closed to visitors. It is under the threat of collapse.