A century-old church in Guangdong hosted a series of worship services to celebrate the completion of its renovation.
During the morning service at the Church of Our Savior on Sunday, June 16, Andrew Chan Au-ming, Primate of Hong Kong Sheng Kung Hui (Anglican Church of Hong Kong), was invited to deliver a sermon.
Senior Pastor Wu Zhongwu of the church led the congregants in watching a video reviewing the renovation process. The church, with the site selected by Rev. Mok Sau Tsang, was founded in 1919. It was designed by a renowned architect and Hong Kong Sheng Kung Hui believer named Lam Woo, and built through the contributions of both Chinese and foreign believers. Over the past century, the brick and wood structure of the church had suffered from termite damage and dampness, posing safety hazards. Preparation for the renovation began in 2020, with all necessary legal procedures and construction project bidding completed. The renovation commenced on September 18, 2023.
Additionally, three sermons titled "Foundation of Life," "Taking Up the Mission," and "Reestablishing a New Foundation" were given by three pastors from this church and Fangcun Church in the afternoon and evening. They encouraged believers to establish their spiritual foundation, undertake their mission, and grow their spiritual root.
In the afternoon, three events were held: a special lecture featuring being thankful for the church's renovation completion, an unveiling ceremony for the historical and cultural room, and an art exhibition featuring calligraphy, painting, and photography. Dr. Wu Ning, an associate researcher from the Guangdong Provincial Institute of Ethnic and Religious Studies, was invited to give a special lecture titled "A Person, A Book, and An Era – Discussing Rosewell Hobart Graves' Forty Years of Missionary Work in Guangzhou." He introduced Reverend Graves' significant contributions to modern Sino-Western exchanges in areas such as medicine, education, and publishing during his 57 years in China. Graves' book Forty Years in China: A Changing China provided insights into the societal transformations of late Qing China and offered perspectives on China's revival from the Christian community.
Before the plaque unveiling ceremony, Pastor Wu explained that the establishment of the historical and cultural room aimed to preserve the church's historical and cultural traditions and spiritual heritage, build a platform for cultural exchange in and outside the church, and promote the localization of Christianity in China. Pastor Wu then invited the guests to join him in the unveiling ceremony.
The third afternoon event titled the "Calligraphy, Painting, and Photography Art Exhibition" marked the first cultural activity since the establishment of the room. The church hall and corridors displayed numerous artworks, including calligraphy and paper-cutting creations by church members. Renowned calligrapher Han Xingguang was invited to showcase his calligraphy, further promoting the church's initiative of transcribing the Bible with Chinese brush pens.
- Translated by Abigail Wu
广州基督教救主堂举办修缮竣工献堂感恩崇拜。
6月16日主日，在广州救主堂上午早堂的仪文崇拜中，救主堂邀请了香港圣公会陈讴明大主教为献堂崇拜进行证道分享。
救主堂主任牧师吴忠武牧师带领大家观看了救主堂修缮的视频回顾：始建于1919年的救主堂，是由莫寿增牧师选址万福路184号，由香港圣公会信徒、著名建筑设计师林护先生设计，并由中外同道奉献建设而成。经历百载风雨洗礼，砖木结构的教堂建筑遭遇白蚁侵蚀、潮湿腐朽，存在安全隐患。救主堂自2020年就开始做修缮前的准备工作，依法依规办妥了修缮工程的各项手续和工程招标工作，于2023年9月18日正式启动修缮工程。
除此，救主堂下午堂和晚堂还分别开展了以“生命的根基”“齐来承接使命”“重立新基”为主题的三场崇拜；分别由救主堂朱艳丽牧师、芳村堂赵立道牧师、救主堂吴忠武牧师依次分享。他们勉励救主堂信徒在教会扎下生命根基、勇于承接使命、重立属灵根基。
下午，救主堂分别进行了“救主堂修缮竣工感恩专题讲座”、“历史文化揭牌仪式”和“书画摄影艺术展”三场活动。第一场活动邀请了广东省民族宗教研究院副研究员吴宁博士做专题主讲。吴博士以“一个人、一本书与一个时代——以纪好弼牧师广州传教四十年为中心的讨论”为题，从“来到未知中国”、“亲历转变的中国”、“世界变局的中国”三个方面介绍了美南浸信会来华传教士纪好弼牧师在广州的传教工作，他在中国生活的57年在医疗、教育、文字出版等近代中西交流领域里做出了突出贡献。他的著作《在华四十年——变化中的中国》不仅为晚清中国社会巨变提供了见证，也为中国如何复兴提出了来自基督教界的见解。
在“历史文化揭牌仪式”前，吴牧师为会众介绍了设立历史文化室的是为了传承救主堂历史文化传统和信仰精神；搭建文化交流平台，成为教内外沟通的桥梁；推动落实基督教中国化事工。随后，吴牧师邀请与会嘉宾一起来到历史文化室举行揭牌仪式。
下午的第三场活动“书画摄影艺术展”，是历史文化室设立后的首次文化活动。救主堂活动大厅和堂廊展示了多幅书画和剪纸艺术品，都是来自信徒们的创作。著名的书法家韩兴光受邀为大家挥墨书写，以此推动救主堂开展抄写圣经的书法事工。
广州教堂举办修缮竣工献堂感恩崇拜
A century-old church in Guangdong hosted a series of worship services to celebrate the completion of its renovation.
During the morning service at the Church of Our Savior on Sunday, June 16, Andrew Chan Au-ming, Primate of Hong Kong Sheng Kung Hui (Anglican Church of Hong Kong), was invited to deliver a sermon.
Senior Pastor Wu Zhongwu of the church led the congregants in watching a video reviewing the renovation process. The church, with the site selected by Rev. Mok Sau Tsang, was founded in 1919. It was designed by a renowned architect and Hong Kong Sheng Kung Hui believer named Lam Woo, and built through the contributions of both Chinese and foreign believers. Over the past century, the brick and wood structure of the church had suffered from termite damage and dampness, posing safety hazards. Preparation for the renovation began in 2020, with all necessary legal procedures and construction project bidding completed. The renovation commenced on September 18, 2023.
Additionally, three sermons titled "Foundation of Life," "Taking Up the Mission," and "Reestablishing a New Foundation" were given by three pastors from this church and Fangcun Church in the afternoon and evening. They encouraged believers to establish their spiritual foundation, undertake their mission, and grow their spiritual root.
In the afternoon, three events were held: a special lecture featuring being thankful for the church's renovation completion, an unveiling ceremony for the historical and cultural room, and an art exhibition featuring calligraphy, painting, and photography. Dr. Wu Ning, an associate researcher from the Guangdong Provincial Institute of Ethnic and Religious Studies, was invited to give a special lecture titled "A Person, A Book, and An Era – Discussing Rosewell Hobart Graves' Forty Years of Missionary Work in Guangzhou." He introduced Reverend Graves' significant contributions to modern Sino-Western exchanges in areas such as medicine, education, and publishing during his 57 years in China. Graves' book Forty Years in China: A Changing China provided insights into the societal transformations of late Qing China and offered perspectives on China's revival from the Christian community.
Before the plaque unveiling ceremony, Pastor Wu explained that the establishment of the historical and cultural room aimed to preserve the church's historical and cultural traditions and spiritual heritage, build a platform for cultural exchange in and outside the church, and promote the localization of Christianity in China. Pastor Wu then invited the guests to join him in the unveiling ceremony.
The third afternoon event titled the "Calligraphy, Painting, and Photography Art Exhibition" marked the first cultural activity since the establishment of the room. The church hall and corridors displayed numerous artworks, including calligraphy and paper-cutting creations by church members. Renowned calligrapher Han Xingguang was invited to showcase his calligraphy, further promoting the church's initiative of transcribing the Bible with Chinese brush pens.
- Translated by Abigail Wu
Guangzhou Century-Old Church Dedicated After Renovation
