North Church - Northern Cathedral (1) Introduction, directions, backgrounds

North Church - How to find it

Xi Shi Ku Church, the former Jesuits Western Cathedral lies hidden away in the green streets of XiCheng District. The Church is easily found when moving West from the Forbidden City North Gate (ShenwuMen), past the circular city and the souther edges of Beihai Park, across the bridge (between NanHai and BeiHai) along Wenjin Jie. After passing the Former (Imperial) Beijing Library, walk onto Xi'An Men Dajie and get sight of the Northern Church facade in the north-west direction before hitting the crossroads of Xi'AnMen Dajie and FuxingMen Nei Dajie (FuxingMen Inner Street). If you are at the Geological Museum you have gone too far and should return on your footsteps.

The Northern Church stands just North off Xi'AnMen Dajie at the end of an unexpectedly small side-street.

Visit the Eastern Church just North of famed Wanfujing, Beijing's number one shopping street. Thus also dubbed "Wanfujing Cathedral", the east church is one of the most visible Christian landmarks in the City and a remnant of European influences established under the Portugese as early as the Yongle reign of the Ming Dynasty. A blissful retreat after a walk through always bustling Wanfujing with it's consumer crowds, the Church and it's small parklike grounds are a great place to have a rest. It is also a popular spot for wedding photos, local singing or musical groups, and last but not least - lovers come here for cozy moments. In the evenings local skaters use the marble platforms for practice, always good for some fun action.

Open and functioning, the East (St. Joseph's) Church has regular masses

How the West Cathedral became the Northern Church

Once the site of the Holy Bishops See of Beijing Diocese, todays Northern Church was in the past also known as the Western Cathedral for its earlier location at Canshikou, now inside the exclusive ZhongNanHai communist Leadership compound (western bank). The land to build the Church on was originally granted under the Reign of the mighty Kang Xi (1661AD - 1722 AD), the longest reigning Emperor of the Ching Dynasty but was abandonned in 1887 AD on the the request of the Guanxu Emperor of the Ching

both wider and longer. In addition a small Bishop's house, a seminary and a children's orphanage were constructed inside the new Church grounds, making North Church the largest Church in the City of Beijing. All of the original structures remain today.

History of the Northern Church

The history of the Western-Cathedral-now-Northern-Church has been long and complicated. Christianity first entered China in the 13Th Century during the

Yuan

Dynasty.

However, it

took over 200

years before

relations

truely began

to prosper

and have

effect on

chinese

society. At

first, the odd

would not be ignored or turned down. With the royal compensation of no less than 450.000 silver taels in hand, the Beijing Diocese gladly accepted and as a result the Church was moved to the North and West and its current location at XiShiKu, inside the XiCheng District. The Emperor had his way and the large and magnificent ZhongNanHai Pleasure

Park and Garden was

created, directly connecting

to the Imperial Palace through

Dynasty. The lands and rights were of huge significance and granted as a token of gratitude towards the Jesuit scientist-Priests who cured the Emperor from Malaria with their western medicine. Within 4 years a magnificent Church was built, including an Astronomical Observatory and a Library. The Church was dedicated on December 9Th of the year 1703 AD and given named "The Church of the Holy Savior". For over a century the Church and its flock flourished. However, in 1827 AD,

in tensions that would eventually lead to the Opium Wars with Britain, the DaoGuang Emperor (Reign 1820 AD - 1850 AD) took a number of assertive measures in hope to safeguard China from western encroachment. His actions included an attempted halt on the opium trade and measures against the politically subersive activities of traveling western priests, the so-called "Missionaries". A severe anti-opium program against foreign traders in Canton was launched, seizing and destroying 20.000 chests of Opium. Furthermore, all Church lands granted in all of China were confiscated and Churches, including the 124 year old Beijing Western Cathedral (old location) were demolished. Not a stone was left and the site of hated western influence (now by the manned by lazarists after jesuit society were disbanded in 1773 AD and known as "The French Mission"), was cleared out.

In another twist of history however, in 1860 AD, the Emperor XianFeng, loosing a second Opium War against the British and injoining Western Powers, was forced to make heavy concessions. Among them - a new, now forced grant to the lands of the Canshikou Western Cathedral.

Within Six Years, and to the utter annoyment of the chinese, the victorious western nations had a completely new and even more magnificent Church constructed on the Old Site. The missionaries and other guests immodestly continued

europeans were kept at arms length. Their western science was greatly appreciated and the subject of chinese interest, but otherwise the Europeans were seen as inferior, their attention mainly seen as tribute to the importance of "Da Ming Guo", the Great Ming China.

The first

Church, the

original

Western

Cathedral and

Home of the

Diocese, was

first established

in the year

1703 AD during

the Ching

their contemptuous behavior towards the Chinese and the Emperor, now protected under a new law excluding them from any Chinese Prosecution (so called "extra-territoriality"). The Church prospered once more winning many new flock over the following years. Although anti-foreign incidents and attacks on Christians would continue it was only in 1887 AD, that the Church history was once more interrupted. As mentioned, in this case the DaoGuang Emperor requested the Church move to the North-West. The Church complied with the request, gaining considerable finances and preserving Imperial Favor and International Political Stability. The Church was moved to XiShiKu, enlarged in ambitions, and continued to be the Center of Christian Life in Beijing.

In 1900 AD, however. Troubles broke out again. Enraged by the flagrant behavior of westerners who had turned China into a virtual colony, the Chinese People lashed

Northern Church after 1949 AD

In 1949/1950 AD the Roman Catholic Church had a fall out with the Peoples Republic of China over the issue of the recognition of Taiwan by the Roman Catholic Vatican and alledged treatment of Christians in China. After this severe dent in relations the Churches of China fell silent and in 1958, at the beginning of the Cultural Revolution, the Churches were finally closed. The Catholic Church especially suffered during the Cultural Revolution Era (1966-76) during which normal religious activities in China had been suspended. Although a main item in the official chinese constitution of 1949 AD as well as in the founding principles of the Communist Party, in practice the chinese people's religious freedom was not guaranteed until late 1970s when Mao died and China started its reform and opening up drive under Deng XiaoPing, the new Leader. Issues remain on the table untill today, however the earlier Dogmatist views, not only derived from communism but equally by bitter experiences with the west in the past, have been tempered. A lot changed with Chairman Mao's Death in 1976. General religious freedom and personal liberties in China have improved eversince. As one late result, since Christmas Day of the year 1985 (December 25Th) the Northern Church and other Beijing Churches have been reopened and now regularly hold masses. Clergy from the Roman School regularly visit the Northern Church and other churches around the City. Relations have been on the upslope, but are still not exactly swell.

In 1990 AD the Northern Church was listed as a historical relic by the City of Beijing. For the occasion the Church was cleaned repaired and refurbished.

Between the year 1887 AD and 1958 AD The Northern Church was the Home of the Roman Catholic Diocese of Beijing. In that time it was the most important Christian Religious Site in the Capital and the working place of many dedicated Bishops and Clergy.

The Church is still the caretaker of the Foster Children's Home, which can be viewed on site.

Anyone is respectfully welcome to visit at any Time during daylight hours and warmly welcomed to join in an English- or Chinese language Mass.

out once more. The YiHoChuan Rebels, with secret support of the Evil Empress-Dowager Cixi, launched what would become known as the "Boxer War" (YiHoTuan Rebellion). Violence aimed mainly at westerners but also the Ching Dynasty itself broke out throughout China, quickly sweeping towards the Capital of Beijing. In Beijing Foreigners retreated into their Foreign Legation Quarter (East of TiananMen Square), or when they could not reach the safety of the Legations, sought refuge inside the large grounds of the Northern Cathedral. In the events following, the Church was besieged for quite a long time while western regugees, many Christian Missionaries and their families, feared for their lives inside the compound during the ongoing street-fighting (Interestingly, the Taiping principles were founded on semi-christian ideas directly derived from missionary teachings).

In the end, the defenders held out against overwhelming numbers by the use of their fire-arms. Once more, the force of gunpower proved to much for the Chinese , industrial era warfare being no match for the ill equipped Boxers. When the smoke cleared and western armies had relieved, then pillaged the Forbidden City and Beijing, the Northern Church remained standing but heavily damaged. Thus, a fresh round of Church Building could begin.

The current facade dates from the repairs made immediatly after, in 1901 and 1902 AD, when western powers were reestablishing dominance over recalcitrant China. More interesting Times were to befall the Northern Church.

The St. Joseph's Convent of the Beijing Diocese and the Northern Church

Today's Northern Church community, officially named the St. Joseph's convent of Beijing Diocese was born from the Northern Church community and first established in 1872 by a French priest and three Chinese nuns. For various reasons, religious activities were moderated and finally ceased after the creation of the Peoples Republic of China in 1949 AD. In 1951 AD official relations between the Peoples Republic and the Vatican were terminated indefinitly. The Convent was closed somewhere

between 1958 AD and 1966 AD.

However, in 1986, with the coming of the "opening up"-policy of China towards the outside world religious freedoms have been increased. Buddhist and Daoist Temples, but also Catholic Churches have been blossoming. As one of the first widely publicized signs of this new era, the Convent of St. Joseph was reestablished in 1986 and now has over 50 Nuns in function.

Alternative Names for the Northern Church

As mentioned above the history of the current Northern Church has been long and rather complicated. As a result of this there is a rather long list of alternative names for the Northern Church, which can be rather confusing. The first original name of the Church is Church of the Holy Savior. However, because of it's magnificence and Glory the site was soon dubbed Western Cathedral and both names could be used. This situation remained untill the Jesuit Order (Society) wad disbanded on orders of the Pope in the year 1773 AD. After this the Beijing See, far overseas, remained empty for a while, but soon (1890 AD) the French Lazarists would descend on Beijing to work the new and fertile field. As a consequence, by the year 1900 AD, the Church was known as "The French Mission".

After 1949 AD, the Church was taken over by the Patriotic Church of China, which refers to the communist party of China rather than the Vatican for guidance. Eversince the official name of the Church in english has been Northern Church or North Church.

However, this is not all. Because the Church is not really located due North in the City, local chinese citizens know the Church as the Western Church. When asking directions, do not be fooled and use this term. It is smarter to refer to the sought site as XiShiKu, as this is the city sub-district where the Church stands. If this doesn't work, you could try Canshikou Church, another name sometimes used.

To add a final complication to the name quest, there is actually another western Church. This Church in fact truely is located in the West of the City at XiZhiMen Nei Dajie. That is inside the Former West Gate, Xizhi Men.