Can you believe this Catholic Church is nestled in what was once Shanghai’s International Settlement? This is St. Teresa Church. It stands as a testament to faith and resilience in a rapidly changing city.
St. Teresa Church’s story mirrors Shanghai’s own. It is a tale of cosmopolitanism, conflict, and enduring spirit. Completed in 1931, St. Teresa Church was built for the local Chinese community. The French Jesuit mission and wealthy Chinese Catholics funded it.
The story goes that during the 1927 White Terror, danger loomed. Two priests were killed. Mission property was at risk. The fearful missionaries prayed for deliverance. They vowed to build a church if spared. Their prayers were answered. Thus, St. Teresa Church was conceived.
The church is named for St. Therese of Lisieux. She was known as the Little Flower. Canonized in 1925, her autobiography, Story of a Soul, deeply resonated with the Chinese. Her message was simple. Ordinary people could achieve extraordinary spirituality through small acts of virtue.
St. Teresa’s message resonated deeply within the Siwen Li neighborhood. It was the lane community surrounding the church. By 1936, the church community thrived. There were 1,000 converts. A girls’ high school had nearly 900 pupils. A dispensary cared for the poor. A resident Chinese priest served the community.
Interestingly, St. Teresa Church stands apart from other Catholic churches in Shanghai. It is not in the French Concession. Nor is it within the Xu Jia Hui Jesuits area. Instead, it was in an area of Lilongs. These were local-style accommodations. This suggests it was aimed at, and perhaps financed by, the local population.
During the Cultural Revolution, St. Teresa Church transformed. It became the Qunyi Radio Factory. Workers produced radios and tape recorders here. An added floor increased space under the vaulted ceiling.
Despite deterioration, St. Teresa Church was restored. Angels were added to the niches. Nuns learned to make stained glass. The windows were repaired. The church reopened for services.
Today, the Siwen Li lanes are different. Facades are painted with glossy nostalgia. A mall stands opposite the church. The church schools and dispensary are gone. Party history replaced them. Yet, St. Teresa Church remains. The church that was the answer to a prayer still stands. Its stories remain intact. It has been here for nearly a century. Its neo-Roman style includes double front columns. Construction began in October 1930. Bishop Auguste Haouisée consecrated it in October 1931. He later became the first bishop of Shanghai. Walking around St. Teresa Church, you feel moved. Its bright profile at sunset delights. Its shadow prolonged by the road lamp fascinates.