Xiangfen County has a long history. The subordinate Xiangling County and Fencheng Town were famous counties in history, well known as "Gold Xiangling and Silver Taiping". Xi Shengmo, historically the first local pastor in Shanxi, was a native of this county. With a long history, the Christian church in Gucheng Town has been the residence of the county CC&TSPM for many years.
According to Xiangfen County Annals, "Christianity in Xiangfen County was introduced from Linfen City and Xinjiang County respectively. In 1817, British Pastor Mark John and others built a church in Fencheng Town and developed more than 10 followers."
In 1893, two churches were built on Xiangling East Street with 10 followers. Six years later, Pastor Tong and his family went from Linfen City to Henan Province, passing through Fencheng Town where they spent 15 days preaching. Xi Zizhi, later renamed Xi Shengmo, from Xizhang Village of Xiangling County became a church member in Linfen City and preached in the Fendong area of Xiangling County.
In 1910, Gospel Church, subordinate to Linfen Church, was established in Xiangling County. In 1917, Xinjiang Church members went to Fencheng County to preach the gospel, and Gospel Church was located towards the western entrance of Fencheng County. In 1937, Danish and Australian pastors presided over the church affairs. Meantime, the number of believers increased to more than 200, and churches were set up in six villages; pastors, elders, deacons, and other professional religious personnel were set up to manage church affairs; there were more than 100 believers in Xiangling County and more than 200 believers in Fencheng Town. The following year, Fencheng Church built the Bo'ai Primary School in Dongpobao, which was later closed four years later.
From 1955 to 1956, Fencheng Church moved to Gucheng East Street. During the Cultural Revolution, religious activities were suspended.
In 1979 when the policy of religious freedom started to be implemented, church activities resumed, resulting in the emergence of more than 50 believers for the church. In 1985, Wang Tingxiu was elected by the church as the elder. In August of that year, Pastor Wan Rong was in charge there and there were 10 activity points in the county.
In 1986, the AnLi activity point was added; in 1990, Niu Lanxi was elected as an elder of the church. In 1992, two pastors were appointed and there were more than 120 believers of the church. In April 1993, two believers were elected as the 9th County CPPCC members. In March 1995, the establishment of an activity site in Xiji Village was approved, and the site involved five surrounding villages. That year, 12 activity venues were approved.
In 1996, Gucheng Town, Xiangling South Street, Jiao Village were rated as five virtuous churches, and there were 1,164 believers that year. In 2005, there were 2,360 believers, many of whom were farmers. In July, Pastor Yang Yuhu was elected as the president of Xiangfen County CC and in October, he was elected as the vice-president of Linfen CC and director of Xiangfen County TSPM.
- Translated by Stephen Huang
襄汾县历史悠久，历史上襄陵县和汾城镇均为名县，素有“金襄陵、银太平”美称。历史上山西首位本土牧师席胜魔就是该县人氏。古城镇基督教会历史悠久，多年曾是县两会驻地。
据《襄汾县志》记载，“襄汾县基督教分别由临汾、新绛传入县境。1817年，英国牧师马克·约翰等人在汾城镇修建教堂，发展教徒10余人。"
1893年，修建襄陵东街两间教堂，教徒10人。六年后，童牧师一家三口由临汾到河南，途径汾城宣教15天。襄陵西张村人席某（席子直，后改名席胜魔）自临汾入教后，在襄陵汾东一带发展教徒。
1910年，襄陵县建立福音教堂，隶属临汾教会。1917年，新绛教会到汾城县传教，福音堂设于汾城县西门口内。民国9年后，由丹麦、澳大利亚教士主持教务。民国26年，教徒增至200余人，于6村分设教堂，基督教堂设牧师、长老、执事等宗教职业人员，管理教务。民国26年，襄陵有教徒百余人，汾城有教徒200余人。民国27年，汾城教堂于东坡堡建博爱小学，并于民国30年停办。
1955年至1956年，汾城教堂迁移至古城东街。上世纪六七十年代，宗教活动因故停止。
1979年，当地落实宗教政策，恢复教会活动，有教徒50余人。1985年，经教会选举王婷修为长老，是年8月由万荣牧师给以那里，全县设10个活动点。
1986年，增设安李活动点；1990年，牛兰溪被选为教会长老，1992年，按立两名牧师，有教徒120余人；1993年4月，两位信徒被选为第九届县政协委员。1995年3月，批准设立西吉村活动点，涉及周围五村。是年，批准成立12个活动场所。
1996年，古城、襄陵南街、焦村被评为五好教堂，是年教徒1164人。2005年共有教徒2360人，其中许多信徒是农民。7月杨玉虎牧师被选举为教会会长，10月被选为临汾市教会副会长，任县“三自”爱国运动委员会主任。
山西襄汾县基督教简介
Xiangfen County has a long history. The subordinate Xiangling County and Fencheng Town were famous counties in history, well known as "Gold Xiangling and Silver Taiping". Xi Shengmo, historically the first local pastor in Shanxi, was a native of this county. With a long history, the Christian church in Gucheng Town has been the residence of the county CC&TSPM for many years.
According to Xiangfen County Annals, "Christianity in Xiangfen County was introduced from Linfen City and Xinjiang County respectively. In 1817, British Pastor Mark John and others built a church in Fencheng Town and developed more than 10 followers."
In 1893, two churches were built on Xiangling East Street with 10 followers. Six years later, Pastor Tong and his family went from Linfen City to Henan Province, passing through Fencheng Town where they spent 15 days preaching. Xi Zizhi, later renamed Xi Shengmo, from Xizhang Village of Xiangling County became a church member in Linfen City and preached in the Fendong area of Xiangling County.
In 1910, Gospel Church, subordinate to Linfen Church, was established in Xiangling County. In 1917, Xinjiang Church members went to Fencheng County to preach the gospel, and Gospel Church was located towards the western entrance of Fencheng County. In 1937, Danish and Australian pastors presided over the church affairs. Meantime, the number of believers increased to more than 200, and churches were set up in six villages; pastors, elders, deacons, and other professional religious personnel were set up to manage church affairs; there were more than 100 believers in Xiangling County and more than 200 believers in Fencheng Town. The following year, Fencheng Church built the Bo'ai Primary School in Dongpobao, which was later closed four years later.
From 1955 to 1956, Fencheng Church moved to Gucheng East Street. During the Cultural Revolution, religious activities were suspended.
In 1979 when the policy of religious freedom started to be implemented, church activities resumed, resulting in the emergence of more than 50 believers for the church. In 1985, Wang Tingxiu was elected by the church as the elder. In August of that year, Pastor Wan Rong was in charge there and there were 10 activity points in the county.
In 1986, the AnLi activity point was added; in 1990, Niu Lanxi was elected as an elder of the church. In 1992, two pastors were appointed and there were more than 120 believers of the church. In April 1993, two believers were elected as the 9th County CPPCC members. In March 1995, the establishment of an activity site in Xiji Village was approved, and the site involved five surrounding villages. That year, 12 activity venues were approved.
In 1996, Gucheng Town, Xiangling South Street, Jiao Village were rated as five virtuous churches, and there were 1,164 believers that year. In 2005, there were 2,360 believers, many of whom were farmers. In July, Pastor Yang Yuhu was elected as the president of Xiangfen County CC and in October, he was elected as the vice-president of Linfen CC and director of Xiangfen County TSPM.
- Translated by Stephen Huang
A Brief Introduction to Christianity in Xiangfen County, Shanxi Province
