北京的天主教堂 Catholic Churches in Beijing
北京的天主教堂
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南堂位于宣武门大街，坐北朝南，最初名无玷始胎圣母堂，因其讲经台后面墙壁上挂着名为"圣母无染原罪像"的巨幅油画，所以天主教会后来就把它称为圣母无染原罪堂。它由德国传教士汤若望于清顺治七年在利玛窦自建小经堂的基础上和历局地段上所建，是京城第一座正规的天主教堂，1652年开堂时顺治皇帝御笔题赠了"钦崇天道"匾额。据史料记载，顺治和康熙两位皇帝曾多次到过南堂。现在的教堂是1904年用庚子赔款重建的罗马式半圆拱形建筑。"文革"中曾作为玩具加工厂使用，1978年重新对外开放，恢复为正常的宗教活动场所，是北京市主教区和北京市天主教爱国会所在地。
东堂位于王府井大街，坐东朝西，本名圣若瑟堂，是为纪念耶稣的父亲若瑟而命名的。它由葡萄牙传教士于清顺治十二年所建，是天主教会在京城修建的第二座教堂，汤若望晚年即住在东堂，而南怀仁、郎世宁等传教士都曾在东堂执役，内有郎世宁绘制的多幅极其珍贵的圣像图。现在的教堂也是罗马式建筑，1904年用庚子赔款重建。"文革"期间曾为王府井小学所用。近年又重加修缮，成为王府井地区最有特色的一处人文景观。台湾人开的情订奇缘影楼，把教堂作为新人婚照的背景；而教堂前的广场，也是京城时尚青年玩滑板和小轮车的场所。
北堂位于西安门内的西什库，坐北朝南，本名救世主堂，始建于清光绪十四年。最初的北堂由法国传教士于康熙四十二年建成，因其地位于中海西畔的蚕池口，所以俗称蚕池口堂，落成时康熙帝还亲笔撰书"万有真原"匾额赐赠。到光绪年间扩修西苑，慈禧嫌这个北堂太高，俯视禁苑，大感不便，因而耿耿于怀，命总理衙门与法国教士转敕迁移，交涉不得要领，后由李鸿章作为一个外交事件，与法国政府和罗马教廷直接打交道，另外拨地给银，才在西什库重建了哥特式建筑的北堂，建成后即作为天主教在北京的总堂。庚子之乱时，它自然也是义和团必烧的眼中钉。而这个新修的教堂异常坚固，教士教民固守，竟然未被攻破，后于1901年修补竣工，一直延续下来。"文革"中也被作为中学使用。据说总堂不久后仍可能从南堂迁至北堂。
西堂位于西直门内大街，坐南朝北，最初名七苦圣母堂，系意大利传教士德理格建于清雍正元年。这位神父于康熙年间来华，曾受命在朝内教授皇子西学，学生中就有后来成为雍正皇帝的雍亲王，所以他受优待能在京置地建堂。现在的教堂是1912年重建的，从那时改名为圣母圣衣堂。"文革"中为同仁堂制药厂所用。现在是四堂中最为残旧的一座。
除上述四堂外，还有东交民巷堂和南岗子堂。东交民巷堂名圣弥额尔堂，由法国教士建于1901年，是在庚子之乱后建在当时使馆区的公共教堂，典型的哥特式建筑。南岗子堂名圣女小德兰堂，位于崇文区永生巷，始建于1923年。这两个天主教堂每周也都有教徒来做礼拜。
Catholic Churches in Beijing
When Christianity was introduced to China, it first secured its foothold in Beijing. Beijing became the first propaganda center of Catholicism.
Due to much trust and attention from the royalty, missionaries, mainly Jesuits, were allowed to build churches here. At present there are eight Catholic churches that belong to the Beijing parish. They are the Eastern Church, Western Church, Southern Church, Northern Church, St. Michael's Church, Nangangzi Church, Pingfang Church and Dongguantou Church. Nine other churches are in the suburb.
As Catholicism originated in western countries, the churches in Beijing resemble western ones in terms of architectural style. Most of them are Romanesque and Gothic architectures. According to Chinese custom of making important architectures face southward, most Catholic churches in Beijing face south (while western churches face east). Because of the ascending trend brought by Gothic architecture's towering spire and forceful pointed arches inside and the priest's mysterious voice brought by the purposive long reverberation, Gothic architecture gained special favors from wrights of the churches, and affected the architectural style of quite a few churches.
Catholicism embraces the Madonna. There are Virgin Mary hills or Virgin Mary pavilions constructed for her outside each Catholic church. These so-called hills are rockeries that are peculiar to Chinese gardens.
Northern Church
The Northern Church, formerly located at Canchikou (opposite to the old Beijing Library) near Zhongnanhai, was established and opened in 1703, and was torn down in 1887 due to the expansion of Zhongnanhai. In the Qing Dynasty (1644-1911), it was rebuilt in Xishiku inside Xi'anmen with 450,000 taels of silver from the government. One floor was added to the church in the renovation in1900. Hence it becomes the majestic and beautiful Northern Church that we see today.
Northern Church is a typical Gothic architecture. Four tall spires, three peaked arch entrances and rosaces make the fa?ade dignified and gorgeous. The church looks more pure white and upright with surrounding pines and cypresses. On both sides of the church front, there stand two Chinese pavilions with yellow glaze and four curving cornices on the roof. There is a stele inscribed personally by Emperor Qianlong inside each pavilion. These constructions, one high and one short, one in western style and one in Chinese style, are arranged skillfully. The saint statuaries on both sides of the main entrance are unique among the churches in Beijing. After the restoration in 1985, the church became more dazzling and the most ornate church in Beijing.
Eastern Church
The Eastern Church, located at famous Wangfujing Avenue in Beijing, was first established in 1655, and was the apartment Emperor Shunzhi of the Qing Dynasty (1644-1911) granted to two foreign priests. They built a small church on the open ground. Later the church was ruined in earthquakes and wars several times. It was rebuilt in 1904. After the restoration in 1980, it was reopened.
Because of the geographic position, the Eastern Church faces west. It follows Romanesque style. The strong pilasters and one high and two low vaults present it a massive architecture style. In order to smooth the expansion of Wangfujing Avenue, Beijing Municipal Government set aside RMB 130 million yuan for the restoration of the whole church.
Western Church
The Western Church, located on the southern side of Xizhimen Nei Street, is the youngest church among these four churches. The Western Church was first established in 1723 and restored in 1912. Because the pharmacy factory beside it has not been moved yet, it nearly cannot be seen from the street. But delicate Collins pillars and Gothic peaked arch inside the church make it grand, elegant and solemn.
St. Michael's Church
The St. Michael's Church in Dongjiaomin Alley was first built in 1901. Dongjiaomin Alley was a special zone for foreigners during the late years of the Qing Dynasty, and almost all embassies were built here. The St. Michael's Church was specially built for foreigners living here, and it belongs to Beijing parish now. Its entrance is in the south, and the whole building follows typical Gothic style. Three main peaked spires and several spire ornaments bring out the best in each other.
The Dongguantou Church
The Dongguantou Church is the smallest of the eight Catholic churches in Beijing city. The Dongguantou Church is located at Dongguantou Village of Fengtai District in southeastern Beijing. The time when it was first built is not known. There used to be an ordinary one-storey house, which was torn down in 1991, and a new church was built at the same place. The style of the church reflects the architect's inspiration, the fa?ade is proportional, and the two warped cornices resemble flying wings and show its individuation.
Longzhuang Church
The Longzhuang Church is located in Tongzhou, suburb of Beijing. There used to be an old church. Local people said that it had been there for more than 100 years, but the exact time cannot be confirmed. In 1998, the Longzhuang Church was rebuilt in the west of the village. It is a red brick construction and faces south. The towering spire points to the blue sky, making the church spectacular.
Housangyu Village Church
The Housangyu Village Church is located in Mentougou, suburb of Beijing. It was the oldest Catholic church in Beijing. According to historical records, it was originally a small church built in 1334, with stone-carved poodles in front of it and carved with eight Chinese characters Zhen Zai Ji Li, Huai Lin De Yi (bringing good luck to the house and lofty moral to the world).
The Housangyu Village Church was expanded in 1896, and was rebuilt in 1988. With the grand view of mountains, the towering white spire looks striking and splendid. In line with the mountain shape, a winding road was constructed towards the Virgin Mary Hill at the mountainside, which presents a unique view. The church once made contribution to the War of Resistance Against Japanese Invasion.
