Built in the modern era, St. Michael’s Catholic Church is situated in the center of Beijing in the Legation Quarter.
In China's modern history, Dongjiao Minxiang Alley（Beijing Legation Quarter） became famous because many foreign embassies are located there. There are many Christians among the foreigners who are in the embassy area. In order to provide a place for them to worship, the church built this Catholic church here.
In 1901, Bishop Pierre-Marie-Alphonse Favier negotiated with the French consulate in China and obtained a piece of land to build a church. Fr. Callisto Caravario of the French Mission was responsible for its construction. In 1904, St. Michael's Church was officially opened. At that time, the members of the church were mainly foreigners living in China, and the education work of the church was basically handled by French clergy. The church was named "St. Michael" (ie: Michael).
St. Michael's Church is built in the Gothic style. The existing building occupies an area of 2656.4 square meters. The main building is a two-storey building. The rear of the church is on the north side and the entrance gate faces south. The width from the east to the west is about three rooms. The length from the south to the north is about 14 rooms(one room is the average space of a single room). The east and west walls of the church have stained glass windows imported from France in the late Qing Dynasty. The top of the hall is sloped, covered with gray tube tiles, all of which are glazed. The top of the hall is a typical Gothic structure with ribbed arch buttresses that increase the height. The temple is three rooms wide from east to west, and fourteen rooms from north to south. It is supported by columns and the floor is tiled.
Above the main entrance of the church is a statue of St. Michael, the patron saint of the church. Statues of angels and exquisite stained glass windows are the two most striking highlights in the architecture of Beijing Legation Quarter. And unlike the other four Catholic churches in Beijing, it has never been severely damaged in the 100 years since it was built. It has been well preserved and has kept its original appearance.
After 1949, when foreign missionaries left the mainland, St. Michael's Church belonged to the Beijing Diocese. Father Yao Guangyu and Father Zhang Yongshan presided over educational instruction, and the believers were all Chinese. In 1952, two priests, Wang Shide and Dian Difan, came to serve. In 1954, Wang Jiting was appointed as a priest in this church.
In 1958, St. Michael's Church was forced to close and was used as a primary school site. It wasn't until 1986 that the elementary school moved out of the church. After the church was renovated, it was restored on December 23, 1989, and was called the Catholic Church in Beijing Legation Quarter in Beijing Diocese.
At present, the Catholic Church in Beijing Legation Quarter not only carries out a ministry of evangelism but also participates in various social undertakings. priests from the church often organize believers to participate in public welfare activities such as poverty alleviation and disaster relief.
This church has also become a place for tourists to visit, including many international friends.
- Translated by Kevin Feng
教堂巡礼：北京东交民巷天主堂
在北京市中心，有一座建于近代的天主堂，她就是位于东交民巷的圣弥额尔教堂。
在中国近代史上，东交民巷胡同成为各国列强的使馆区，故而名声鹊起。在使馆区里，外国人比较多，而他们当中又有不少基督徒，为了满足信仰生活的需要，于是教会在此建立了这座天主教堂。
1901年，北京教区主教樊国梁与法国驻华领事协商。从法国领事馆获得了一块地，作为建立教堂之用。而法国遣使会的高嘉理神父负责建堂工作。1904年，东交民巷天主堂正式落成，当时的教友主要是在华的外国人，教务基本由法国神职人员负责。教堂被命名为“圣弥额尔”（即：米迦勒）。
东交民巷天主教是一座哥特式教堂，现存建筑占地面积2656.4平方米，主体建筑为高二层，坐北朝南，东西面阔三开间，南北进深十四开间。圣堂东西两面墙上装有清末从法国进口的彩色花玻璃。堂内顶部为斜坡型，上覆灰筒瓦，均为琉璃瓦。堂顶部用肋状拱券以增加高度，是典型的哥特式建筑。圣堂东西宽三间，南北进深十四间，内有圆柱支撑，地板也为花砖甬道。
圣堂正门上方为教堂主保天使圣弥额尔的雕像。天使造像和精美的玻璃花窗是东交民巷建筑中最引人瞩目的两大亮点。而且与其他四座天主堂不同，从建成至今近100年来，从未遭到严重的破坏，保存的比较完好，其建筑一直保留了原貌。
1949年后，随着外国传教士离开大陆，东交民巷天主教归属于北京教区。由姚光裕神父和张永善神父主持教务，信徒也都是中国人。1952年王师德、殿涤凡两位神父来此侍奉。1954年则由王基厅出任本堂神父。
1958年，东交民巷天主堂被迫关闭，成为一小学的用地。直到1986年，小学从教堂迁出，教堂经过再次整修，于1989年12月23日复堂，定名为北京教区东交民巷天主堂。
目前东交民巷天主堂不仅开展福传事工，还参与各样社会事业。教堂神父经常组织信徒参与扶贫、赈灾等公益事业。
这座教堂也成为游客们的打卡之地，其中包括许多国际友人。
Built in the modern era, St. Michael’s Catholic Church is situated in the center of Beijing in the Legation Quarter.
In China's modern history, Dongjiao Minxiang Alley（Beijing Legation Quarter） became famous because many foreign embassies are located there. There are many Christians among the foreigners who are in the embassy area. In order to provide a place for them to worship, the church built this Catholic church here.
In 1901, Bishop Pierre-Marie-Alphonse Favier negotiated with the French consulate in China and obtained a piece of land to build a church. Fr. Callisto Caravario of the French Mission was responsible for its construction. In 1904, St. Michael's Church was officially opened. At that time, the members of the church were mainly foreigners living in China, and the education work of the church was basically handled by French clergy. The church was named "St. Michael" (ie: Michael).
St. Michael's Church is built in the Gothic style. The existing building occupies an area of 2656.4 square meters. The main building is a two-storey building. The rear of the church is on the north side and the entrance gate faces south. The width from the east to the west is about three rooms. The length from the south to the north is about 14 rooms(one room is the average space of a single room). The east and west walls of the church have stained glass windows imported from France in the late Qing Dynasty. The top of the hall is sloped, covered with gray tube tiles, all of which are glazed. The top of the hall is a typical Gothic structure with ribbed arch buttresses that increase the height. The temple is three rooms wide from east to west, and fourteen rooms from north to south. It is supported by columns and the floor is tiled.
Above the main entrance of the church is a statue of St. Michael, the patron saint of the church. Statues of angels and exquisite stained glass windows are the two most striking highlights in the architecture of Beijing Legation Quarter. And unlike the other four Catholic churches in Beijing, it has never been severely damaged in the 100 years since it was built. It has been well preserved and has kept its original appearance.
After 1949, when foreign missionaries left the mainland, St. Michael's Church belonged to the Beijing Diocese. Father Yao Guangyu and Father Zhang Yongshan presided over educational instruction, and the believers were all Chinese. In 1952, two priests, Wang Shide and Dian Difan, came to serve. In 1954, Wang Jiting was appointed as a priest in this church.
In 1958, St. Michael's Church was forced to close and was used as a primary school site. It wasn't until 1986 that the elementary school moved out of the church. After the church was renovated, it was restored on December 23, 1989, and was called the Catholic Church in Beijing Legation Quarter in Beijing Diocese.
At present, the Catholic Church in Beijing Legation Quarter not only carries out a ministry of evangelism but also participates in various social undertakings. priests from the church often organize believers to participate in public welfare activities such as poverty alleviation and disaster relief.
This church has also become a place for tourists to visit, including many international friends.
- Translated by Kevin Feng
Church Tour: Beijing St. Michael's Church
