“Grandest church in the Far East” it was once called. Today we stand before Jiu’En Church. It is a testament to faith and perseverance in Shanghai.
Jiu’En Church has a rich history. It has overcome many challenges. The church was designed by English architect William Doyle. French Jesuits built it between 1906 and 1910. Jiu’En Church could accommodate 2,500 worshippers at once.
In 1960, after the Communist takeover of Shanghai, leaders of the Shanghai Diocese were arrested. The cathedra of the Bishop of Shanghai was moved to Saint Ignatius. It was moved from the Cathedral of Saint Francis Xavier at Dongjiadu. Jiu’En Church then became the headquarters of the Roman Catholic Diocese of Shanghai.
The original Bishop of Shanghai, Ignatius Kung Pin-Mei, was arrested in 1955. He was sentenced to life imprisonment in 1960. The move to Jiu’En Church happened under Aloysius Zhang Jiashu. He was the Bishop of Shanghai approved by the Chinese government.
During the Cultural Revolution in 1966, Jiu’En Church suffered heavy damage. Red Guards from Beijing vandalized the cathedral. They tore down spires and the ceiling. They smashed stained glass. It was roughly 300 square meters. Priests and nuns were beaten. Bishop Aloysius Zhang Jiashu prayed at the altar until he was dragged away. For ten years, the cathedral was a state-owned grain warehouse.
In 1978, Jiu’En Church reopened. The spires were restored in the early 1980s.
In 1989, the first Catholic Mass in Mandarin was celebrated. Bishop Aloysius Jin Luxian ordered it. Father Thomas Law and Father Joseph Zen of Hong Kong were the celebrants. Father Edward Malatesta from San Francisco also participated.
Restoration of Jiu’En Church continues. In 2002, artist Wo Ye and Father Thomas Lucas began a five-year project. They replaced the stained glass windows. The new windows included Chinese characters and iconography. They were unveiled for the 2010 World Expo in Shanghai.
An image of the Blessed Virgin Mary as Our Lady of China was enshrined in 2014. Spanish sculptor Antonio Jesús Yuste y Navarro created the image.
On November 4, 2018, an image of Mary Help of Christians was also enshrined. It was brought from the Philippines. Thomas Joven, a local Pampanga artisan, created it.
You can find Jiu’En Church near the Xujiahui Metro station. Take exit No. 3.
The cathedral was featured in the film Empire of the Sun. It was in the opening scenes.
Jiu’En Church stands as a symbol of faith. It is a landmark in Shanghai’s history. Its resilience and beauty continue to inspire. The Jiu’En Church is more than just a building. It is a living testament to the enduring spirit.