The most famous Catholic churches in Beijing are the South Church (Xuanwumen Church), East Church (Wangfujing Church), North Church (Xishiku Church) and West Church (Xizhimen Church). The Xizhimen Church is the smallest and the only one not begun by Jesuits.
The West Church is known as the Chapel of Our Lady of Mount Carmel and was established by the Congregation of the Mission. This seminar was established by the French Jesuit Ai Meng Jue, with the purpose of nurturing persons for the priesthood and relief of the poor. The French Jesuits came to China in 1699. In addition to missions in Beijing and serving the royal court, they also developed educational centers in Hebei, Mongolia, Henan, and Zhejiang.
In 1705, the Italian missionary Teodoricus Pedrini came to Beijing as a special envoy of the Holy See. After completing his initial task, he stayed in China and was appointed to the royal palace to teach the young prince western science. His students include Yin Zhen, the fourth son of the emperor, who became the Yongzheng Emperor. Although it was during a 100-year ban of the church, out of gratitude to Teodoricus Pedrini, in 1723 the emperor authorized him to purchase land inside Xizhimen to build the Xizhimen Catholic Church, also called Church of Our Lady of Sorrows. Teodoricus Pedrini presided over the West Church’s education efforts for more than 40 years until he died on December 10, 1764.
In 1811, the Jiaqing Emperor promulgated the announcement that prohibited the spread of Catholicism in China. Except for those serving in the court, missionaries were not allowed to live in the capital or engage in missionary activities. Because of this the four priests of Xizhimen Church were expelled, the church was demolished, and the property was confiscated.
In the modern period, Catholic missionary activities were protected by a treaty, and the century-old ban on religion ended. At that time Catholic missionaries asked the Qing Court to return their property. However, because the West Church was demolished earlier during the Jiaqing Period, the Xizhimen area had become a residential area. Officials did not know the specific location of the West Church.
After searching and finding the old site, the church began the construction work and the new West Church was finally completed in 1867. However, only 32 years later, due to the Boxer Rebellion, the Xizhimen Church was destroyed again. The third rebuilding of the church was completed in 1912. The reconstruction work was carried out by Blanchier, Sisters of Charity, and the newly-built church was renamed the Chapel of Our Lady of Mount Carmel.
In 1966, the Xizhimen Church was forced to close and was used as a factory warehouse. The three-story bell tower of the church was also demolished. It was not reopened until 1994, and the clock tower and courtyard were renovated in 2008, with the restoration following the style of the third reconstruction.
The Xizhimen Church is a typical Gothic building with a three-story bell tower. The altar area has been changed and has a marble floor. The altar is a three-folded golden, splendid arched statue of the Coronation of the Virgin; the white Chinese altar is shaped like Noah's Ark. The area behind the altar, which forms an axis (near the bell tower entrance) is a unique blue and white octagonal baptistery, the only one in the Beijing Diocese. The tall Corinthian columns and pointed windows make the inside of the church appear lofty and beautiful.
- Translated by Kevin Feng
教堂巡礼：北京西直门教堂
北京天主教最有名的莫过于南堂（宣武门教堂）、东堂（王府井教堂）、北堂（西什库教堂）以及西堂（西直门教堂）四座教堂。在四大堂中，西直门教堂的规模最小，而且是唯一非耶稣会建立的。
西堂被称为圣母圣衣堂，由遣使会建立。这个修会由法国人味增爵建立，以培育圣职人员和救济穷人为宗旨。他们于1699年来到中国，除在北京宣教，并供职朝廷外，又在河北、蒙古、河南、浙江等地发展教务。
1705年，意大利传教士德理格作为罗马教廷特使随员，来到中国北京。完成任务后，他留在了中国，受命在宫廷内教授皇子西学。而他的学生中就包括皇四子胤禛，即后来的雍正皇帝。1723年，虽然已是百年禁教时期，但皇帝出于对德里格的感激，特许他在西直门内购置土地建设了西直门天主堂，时称：“圣母七苦堂”。此后，德里格主持西堂教务四十余年，直到1764年12月10日安息。
1811年，嘉庆皇帝颁布旨意严禁天主教在华传播。传教士除在朝廷供职者外，一概不许居住京城，更不许从事宣教活动。在这样的局势下，西直门教堂的四位神父遭到驱逐，教堂更是被拆除，地产被没收。
到了近代时期，天主教传教活动被写入了条约，百年禁教就此结束。当时天主教传教士向清廷提出归还教产。可是由于嘉庆年间西堂被拆除，西直门一带都成了一片民居，当时官员竟然不知道西堂的具体位置。
找到旧址后，教会开始了西堂的重建工作，1867年新的西堂终于落成。不过仅过32年，由于义和团运动爆发，西直门教堂再次被捣毁，第三次落成已经是1912年了。而这次重建工作由仁爱会修女博朗西耶氏负责，新建的教堂被改名为圣母圣衣堂。
1966年，西直门教堂被迫关闭，被用作工厂仓库。其间教堂三层高的钟楼也被拆除。直到1994年才重新开放，并在2008年重修了钟楼与庭院，基本恢复了第三次重建后的主体样式。
西直门教堂是一座比较典型的哥特式建筑，拥有一座三层的尖顶钟楼。目前祭坛已改为大理石地面。祭台像是一幅三折式金碧辉煌的、尖拱形圣母加冕像；白色中文祭台形似诺亚方舟。与祭台形成中轴线的后方（近钟楼入口），是北京教区所独有的一个蓝白两色的八角形洗礼池。教堂内部高大的科林斯柱和尖顶券窗，使得从内部看来，教堂依然高大华丽。
The most famous Catholic churches in Beijing are the South Church (Xuanwumen Church), East Church (Wangfujing Church), North Church (Xishiku Church) and West Church (Xizhimen Church). The Xizhimen Church is the smallest and the only one not begun by Jesuits.
The West Church is known as the Chapel of Our Lady of Mount Carmel and was established by the Congregation of the Mission. This seminar was established by the French Jesuit Ai Meng Jue, with the purpose of nurturing persons for the priesthood and relief of the poor. The French Jesuits came to China in 1699. In addition to missions in Beijing and serving the royal court, they also developed educational centers in Hebei, Mongolia, Henan, and Zhejiang.
In 1705, the Italian missionary Teodoricus Pedrini came to Beijing as a special envoy of the Holy See. After completing his initial task, he stayed in China and was appointed to the royal palace to teach the young prince western science. His students include Yin Zhen, the fourth son of the emperor, who became the Yongzheng Emperor. Although it was during a 100-year ban of the church, out of gratitude to Teodoricus Pedrini, in 1723 the emperor authorized him to purchase land inside Xizhimen to build the Xizhimen Catholic Church, also called Church of Our Lady of Sorrows. Teodoricus Pedrini presided over the West Church’s education efforts for more than 40 years until he died on December 10, 1764.
In 1811, the Jiaqing Emperor promulgated the announcement that prohibited the spread of Catholicism in China. Except for those serving in the court, missionaries were not allowed to live in the capital or engage in missionary activities. Because of this the four priests of Xizhimen Church were expelled, the church was demolished, and the property was confiscated.
In the modern period, Catholic missionary activities were protected by a treaty, and the century-old ban on religion ended. At that time Catholic missionaries asked the Qing Court to return their property. However, because the West Church was demolished earlier during the Jiaqing Period, the Xizhimen area had become a residential area. Officials did not know the specific location of the West Church.
After searching and finding the old site, the church began the construction work and the new West Church was finally completed in 1867. However, only 32 years later, due to the Boxer Rebellion, the Xizhimen Church was destroyed again. The third rebuilding of the church was completed in 1912. The reconstruction work was carried out by Blanchier, Sisters of Charity, and the newly-built church was renamed the Chapel of Our Lady of Mount Carmel.
In 1966, the Xizhimen Church was forced to close and was used as a factory warehouse. The three-story bell tower of the church was also demolished. It was not reopened until 1994, and the clock tower and courtyard were renovated in 2008, with the restoration following the style of the third reconstruction.
The Xizhimen Church is a typical Gothic building with a three-story bell tower. The altar area has been changed and has a marble floor. The altar is a three-folded golden, splendid arched statue of the Coronation of the Virgin; the white Chinese altar is shaped like Noah's Ark. The area behind the altar, which forms an axis (near the bell tower entrance) is a unique blue and white octagonal baptistery, the only one in the Beijing Diocese. The tall Corinthian columns and pointed windows make the inside of the church appear lofty and beautiful.
- Translated by Kevin Feng
Church Tour: Beijing West Church
