A Lianjiang church in Fuzhou, Fujian, invested nearly 800,000 yuan to repair the original site of a primary school built by missionaries.
John Richard Wolfe (1832-1915), an Irish missionary, began preaching in 1864 in Lianjiang and served as vice-president of the Church Missionary Society (CMS) in Fuzhou. Zhenli Church was founded as the first church in Lianjiang County three years later. In 1898, CMS purchased and rebuilt a garden in the county, which had pavilions, terraces, storied buildings, storied pavilions, fishponds, and rockeries, providing housing for British missionaries.
In 1898, the first western medical clinic was set up in the county by a missionary from England. In the same year, the church founded an old-style private school for girls in the garden, which was the beginning of girls’ schooling in the city. In 1913, the second year of the Republic of China, it was renamed Yuxian Girls’ Primary School (transliteration). With the new name of Taoying Primary School (transliteration) in 1931, it enrolled both boys and girls. After the founding of the People's Republic of China, it became military barracks. After the garrison was withdrawn in 1980, the headquarters of a bridge in Lianjiang was set up in the cottage. After the bridge was completed, a secondary school tutoring institute was established there in 1990.
As a result of prolonged typhoons and heavy rains, the roof tiles and internal wooden structure of Yangzhuo Cottage were seriously damaged.
As a traditional building in the late Qing Dynasty, the cottage is of great significance to the study of the spread and development of Christianity in Lianjiang. In 1984, it was rated as a cultural relic protection unit of the county.
After a year of repair, this 120-year-old building has been completely restored and has now been handed over to the church.
- Translated by Abigail Wu
1864年秋，英国圣公会传教士胡约翰到福建连江传道。1867年建“真理堂”，为县内第一座教堂。1898 年，英国传道部在连江县凤城镇玉山村购买修建县邑园林，园林内建有亭、台、楼、阁和鱼池、假山等，为英国传教士住房。
1898年英传教士马爱光等在县城西门外设医馆，是连江县最早西医诊所。同年，基督教会在这座园林里创办毓英女塾，为连江女校之始。民国2年(1913年)改名毓贤女子小学校，民国20（1931））年又改陶英小学，男女兼收。中华人民共和国成立后为驻军营房。1980 年驻军撤走，设连江新大桥指挥部。桥建成后，1990 年设中学校补习所。
由于长期受台风、暴雨的侵袭，养拙草堂屋面瓦片、内部木构件残破严重。
原有的养拙草堂，是清末传统建筑，对研究连江地区基督教传播与发展具有重要意义。1984年被评为连江县级文物保护单位。
据负责养拙草堂修建陈小山经理介绍，为保护这座120多年古老建筑，连江基督教会拆资近80万元，经过一年的努力，已全部修复，现移交教会使用。
https://www.gospeltimes.cn/article/index/id/59486
福建连江基督教会斥资抢救修复毓贤小学校址养拙草堂
A Lianjiang church in Fuzhou, Fujian, invested nearly 800,000 yuan to repair the original site of a primary school built by missionaries.
John Richard Wolfe (1832-1915), an Irish missionary, began preaching in 1864 in Lianjiang and served as vice-president of the Church Missionary Society (CMS) in Fuzhou. Zhenli Church was founded as the first church in Lianjiang County three years later. In 1898, CMS purchased and rebuilt a garden in the county, which had pavilions, terraces, storied buildings, storied pavilions, fishponds, and rockeries, providing housing for British missionaries.
In 1898, the first western medical clinic was set up in the county by a missionary from England. In the same year, the church founded an old-style private school for girls in the garden, which was the beginning of girls’ schooling in the city. In 1913, the second year of the Republic of China, it was renamed Yuxian Girls’ Primary School (transliteration). With the new name of Taoying Primary School (transliteration) in 1931, it enrolled both boys and girls. After the founding of the People's Republic of China, it became military barracks. After the garrison was withdrawn in 1980, the headquarters of a bridge in Lianjiang was set up in the cottage. After the bridge was completed, a secondary school tutoring institute was established there in 1990.
As a result of prolonged typhoons and heavy rains, the roof tiles and internal wooden structure of Yangzhuo Cottage were seriously damaged.
As a traditional building in the late Qing Dynasty, the cottage is of great significance to the study of the spread and development of Christianity in Lianjiang. In 1984, it was rated as a cultural relic protection unit of the county.
After a year of repair, this 120-year-old building has been completely restored and has now been handed over to the church.
- Translated by Abigail Wu
Old Site of Missionary School Renovated in Fujian
