Huozhou City is located in the south-central part of the Shanxi Province. According to the Records of Unification, the county (now the city) is named after the Huoshan in the east of the county. Under the jurisdiction of Linfen City, Houzhou is located at the junction between Linfen and Jinzhong Basin, with a total area of 765 square kilometers (0.18 acres). Rich in natural resources, it is one of the primary energy and heavy chemical bases in Shanxi Province. As early as hundreds of thousands of years ago, there were ancient people living in the territory, which belonged to the early paleolithic human culture.
In 1877, Shanxi suffered a period of severe drought. The British missionary Timothy Richard visited Shanxi to assist with the relief efforts while introducing Christianity to the northern China province at the same time. In 1880, Xi Shengmo, a native of Xiangling who later became Pastor Hsi, Pingyang Prefecture, Shanxi Province, set up a smoking cessation bureau in Gutan City to persuade people to convert to Christianity by quitting smoking. This was the beginning of the introduction of Christianity into Huozhou.
In 1885, two female Norwegian missionaries whose Chinese surnames were Shi and Ren set up a church in Huoxian County. At that time, Christianity had established a certain foundation among the people, and the scope of missionary activity was mainly in Chengguan, Dawang Village, Yuantou, and Taohua Canal. In 1900, a female missionary from France, donated money to build a mission hospital on the north side of Guanpo Street in the county.
In 1909, Pastor Wang Bingjun, a resident of Tuanbai, Fenxi County, appealed for believers to donate funds. This sum of money, together with the Boxer Indemnity, was then used to build a chapel and a dining hall. In addition to the original church hospital, the church consisted of 130 rooms and nine cave dwellings, covering an area of about nine mu (1.48 acres).
During the winter months, the British Protestant Westminster Abbey donated silver to build Chongzhen Female Primary School, with three British female teachers, Alice Mildred Cable, Francesca French, and Evangeline French. Since education was not universal in society at that time, there were many students in missionary schools. In addition to the county, there were also students from Hebei, Shaanxi, and other places who came to apply for education. It was estimated that there were more than 160 students.
Alice Mildred Cable was both the headmaster and a missionary. The school was divided into three departments: primary school, junior high school, and normal school. Soon after that, Li Youwa and Zhang Kaiquan started Hongwen School with about 40 students.
In 1929, influenced by the full acceptance of the universal primary school, the two schools were closed for a time, and then reopened. In 1937, when the Anti-Japanese War broke out, the schools run by Christian churches were completely closed.
From 1925 to the outbreak of the Second Sino-Japanese War in 1937, the British Pastor who Chinese last name was Shi and his wife came to Huozhou frequently. During this period, the church had produced educational material to relieve the bad habit of foot-binding for women.
In 1927, five local Christians together purchased a piece of land as another site for the Christian church. A sign which read “Huofen Christian Church in China” was hung outside the hospital. The church issued leaflets and declarations, and foreigners were not allowed to enter the hospital to conduct worship services. During the War of Resistance against Japanese Aggression, the academy also protected many refugees and progressors.
In 1934, the Christian Church of Huo County had 154 followers, 93 of which were men. In the first month of 1938, the Japanese occupied Huo County, then presided over the church affairs of the Australian Pastor Dunes (female), and the British pastor Shi and his wife opened a refugee shelter, providing safety for the people who could not escape from the city to avoid the ravages of the Japanese. That same year, Shi was transferred.
In 1934, Qin Yuhong, a resident of Guanxiang Village in the county, and Guo Xuequan, a pastor in the city, took charge of the church affairs and lived in the Guanpo Church compound. In 1946, Guo and Duan Jinbu (female) presided over the church affairs.
After the liberation of the county in around 1949, the church ceased its activities. In 1958 when the socialist transformation was carried out, Guo Xuequan unconditionally applied for the transformation of all the houses on behalf of the believers. From then on, the Guanpo Street Christian compound was used by the county party committee.
In terms of denominations, there were many Christian denominations in Huo County. In addition to the Inland Church, there is the Seventh-day Adventist Church. In 1946, the county was liberated and the church was closed. In 1980, the Inland Mission Church merged with the Seventh-day Adventist Church to form the Huo County Church.
In 1989, according to the religious freedom policy, the old Christian church site occupied by the public security department was returned. In May 1990, the Christian Three-self Patriotic Movement committee of Huozhou City was established, directed by An Shixue. Since then, both the China Inland Mission Church and the Seventh-day Adventist in the city had been using the cathedral, and the former held their services on Sunday and the Seventh-day Adventists on Saturday.
In 1991, when Fengzhang and other parts of the city were hit by hailstorms, churchgoers donated money and clothes. In July, there were 11 registered Christian venues. On May 11, 1998, the first meeting of the second TSPM committee was held, and the new leadership was elected.
As of 2010, there were 1500 Christian believers in Huozhou, and more than 3000 religious worshippers.
(Originally published by Gospel Times, the article refers to the books The Complete Works of Linfen Administrative Districts and Annals of Huozhou City.)
- Translated by Nicolas Cao
霍州市位于山西省中南部，据《一统志》记载，县（现为市）名以县东霍山为名。现属临汾市管辖，位于临汾、晋中盆地交界，扼山西南北，总面积765平方公里。物产丰富，是山西省能源重化工基地之一。历史悠久，早在数十万年前，境内就有古人居住，属旧石器早期人类文化。
1877年，山西遭受特大旱灾，英国传教士李提摩太来山西考察赈灾，同时也把基督教传入山西。1880年，山西平阳府襄陵人席胜魔在古炭市巷开办戒烟局，藉戒烟之举劝人信仰基督教，这是基督教传入霍州之始。
1885年，有挪威籍史、任二女传教士在霍县境内正式设堂传教，当时基督教在民众中已有一定基础，传教活动范围主要在城关、大王村、源头、桃花渠一带。1900年，有法国籍贺师娘捐银在县城观坡街北侧盖起一所教会医院。
1909年，汾西县团柏人王秉鈞牧师组织信徒捐银，加上使用庚子赔款，先后在观坡街北侧，西至太清观，东至节孝祠，北接北播寺，盖起了大小礼拜堂和饭厅各一座，加之原有教会医院房舍，形成了拥有大小房间130间，窑洞九孔、占地面积九亩一九分的教会大院。
是年冬，英国新教威斯敏德教会捐银在教会医院建起了崇真女子小学校，由英籍盖群英、冯宝珠、冯贵珠三位女士任教，由于社会上当时教育不普及，在教会学校求学者甚多，除了本县以外，还有河北、陕西等地的学生来投考就学，最多时学生有160余人。
盖群英既当校长又传教。该校分初小、初中、师范三部，其后不久，李有娃、张开泉与开办了一所鸿文学校，学生人数约40人左右。
1929年，受全面接受普及小学影响，这两所学校一度停办，后又复学开课。1937年，抗日战争爆发，基督教会所办的学校才彻底停办。
1925年，到抗日战争爆发，先后来霍州传教的英籍师牧师和史牧师夫妇，此间，教会曾组织宣传妇女解除缠足陋习。
1927年，当地五名基督徒发起购置了一块土地，作为基督教会又一活动场所。院外挂“霍汾中华基督教会”牌子，该教会印发传单、发表宣言，不准洋人进院主持礼拜 。抗日战争期间，该院还保护过许多难民和抗日进步人士。
1934年，霍县基督教会有信徒154人，其中男性93人。1938年正月，日军侵占霍县城，当时主持教会会务的澳大利亚籍杜恩斯牧师（女）与英籍史牧师夫妇开办了难民收容所，使城内未能逃出城的民众，免受日军蹂躏。同年，史牧师调离。
1934年，本县张望村人秦玉鸿和城内郭学泉牧师负责主持教会事务，住进观坡教会大院。1946年，由郭和段进步（女）主持教会事务。
县城解放后，教会停止活动。1958年，进行了社会主义改造，郭学泉代表信徒无条件将全部房产申请接受改造，从此观坡街街基督教的大院被县委机关使用。
在派系情况上，霍县基督教派系较多，境内除了内地会外，还有基督复临安息日会。1946年，县境解放，教会停止活动。1980年内地会与基督复临安息日会合并，成立霍县基督教会。
1989年，根据宗教自由政策，公安部门占用的基督教会旧址退还教会；1990年5月成立了霍州市基督教三自爱国运动委员会，主任安士学，此后城内内地会和安息日会信徒都在大教堂活动，内地会在礼拜日礼拜，安息日是礼拜六。
1991年，市境内冯张等地遭受雹灾，教会信徒捐款和捐衣物等。是年七月，共有11处接受登记的基督教活动场所。1998年5月11日，霍州市基督教三自爱国运动委员会二届一次会议召开，选举了新一届领导班子。
截至2010年，霍州市共有基督教信徒1500人，另有信众3000余人。
（本文在写作中参阅《临汾政区大全》《霍州市志》）
注：本文作者为福音时报特约撰稿人。
山西省霍州市基督教传入略记
Huozhou City is located in the south-central part of the Shanxi Province. According to the Records of Unification, the county (now the city) is named after the Huoshan in the east of the county. Under the jurisdiction of Linfen City, Houzhou is located at the junction between Linfen and Jinzhong Basin, with a total area of 765 square kilometers (0.18 acres). Rich in natural resources, it is one of the primary energy and heavy chemical bases in Shanxi Province. As early as hundreds of thousands of years ago, there were ancient people living in the territory, which belonged to the early paleolithic human culture.
In 1877, Shanxi suffered a period of severe drought. The British missionary Timothy Richard visited Shanxi to assist with the relief efforts while introducing Christianity to the northern China province at the same time. In 1880, Xi Shengmo, a native of Xiangling who later became Pastor Hsi, Pingyang Prefecture, Shanxi Province, set up a smoking cessation bureau in Gutan City to persuade people to convert to Christianity by quitting smoking. This was the beginning of the introduction of Christianity into Huozhou.
In 1885, two female Norwegian missionaries whose Chinese surnames were Shi and Ren set up a church in Huoxian County. At that time, Christianity had established a certain foundation among the people, and the scope of missionary activity was mainly in Chengguan, Dawang Village, Yuantou, and Taohua Canal. In 1900, a female missionary from France, donated money to build a mission hospital on the north side of Guanpo Street in the county.
In 1909, Pastor Wang Bingjun, a resident of Tuanbai, Fenxi County, appealed for believers to donate funds. This sum of money, together with the Boxer Indemnity, was then used to build a chapel and a dining hall. In addition to the original church hospital, the church consisted of 130 rooms and nine cave dwellings, covering an area of about nine mu (1.48 acres).
During the winter months, the British Protestant Westminster Abbey donated silver to build Chongzhen Female Primary School, with three British female teachers, Alice Mildred Cable, Francesca French, and Evangeline French. Since education was not universal in society at that time, there were many students in missionary schools. In addition to the county, there were also students from Hebei, Shaanxi, and other places who came to apply for education. It was estimated that there were more than 160 students.
Alice Mildred Cable was both the headmaster and a missionary. The school was divided into three departments: primary school, junior high school, and normal school. Soon after that, Li Youwa and Zhang Kaiquan started Hongwen School with about 40 students.
In 1929, influenced by the full acceptance of the universal primary school, the two schools were closed for a time, and then reopened. In 1937, when the Anti-Japanese War broke out, the schools run by Christian churches were completely closed.
From 1925 to the outbreak of the Second Sino-Japanese War in 1937, the British Pastor who Chinese last name was Shi and his wife came to Huozhou frequently. During this period, the church had produced educational material to relieve the bad habit of foot-binding for women.
In 1927, five local Christians together purchased a piece of land as another site for the Christian church. A sign which read “Huofen Christian Church in China” was hung outside the hospital. The church issued leaflets and declarations, and foreigners were not allowed to enter the hospital to conduct worship services. During the War of Resistance against Japanese Aggression, the academy also protected many refugees and progressors.
In 1934, the Christian Church of Huo County had 154 followers, 93 of which were men. In the first month of 1938, the Japanese occupied Huo County, then presided over the church affairs of the Australian Pastor Dunes (female), and the British pastor Shi and his wife opened a refugee shelter, providing safety for the people who could not escape from the city to avoid the ravages of the Japanese. That same year, Shi was transferred.
In 1934, Qin Yuhong, a resident of Guanxiang Village in the county, and Guo Xuequan, a pastor in the city, took charge of the church affairs and lived in the Guanpo Church compound. In 1946, Guo and Duan Jinbu (female) presided over the church affairs.
After the liberation of the county in around 1949, the church ceased its activities. In 1958 when the socialist transformation was carried out, Guo Xuequan unconditionally applied for the transformation of all the houses on behalf of the believers. From then on, the Guanpo Street Christian compound was used by the county party committee.
In terms of denominations, there were many Christian denominations in Huo County. In addition to the Inland Church, there is the Seventh-day Adventist Church. In 1946, the county was liberated and the church was closed. In 1980, the Inland Mission Church merged with the Seventh-day Adventist Church to form the Huo County Church.
In 1989, according to the religious freedom policy, the old Christian church site occupied by the public security department was returned. In May 1990, the Christian Three-self Patriotic Movement committee of Huozhou City was established, directed by An Shixue. Since then, both the China Inland Mission Church and the Seventh-day Adventist in the city had been using the cathedral, and the former held their services on Sunday and the Seventh-day Adventists on Saturday.
In 1991, when Fengzhang and other parts of the city were hit by hailstorms, churchgoers donated money and clothes. In July, there were 11 registered Christian venues. On May 11, 1998, the first meeting of the second TSPM committee was held, and the new leadership was elected.
As of 2010, there were 1500 Christian believers in Huozhou, and more than 3000 religious worshippers.
(Originally published by Gospel Times, the article refers to the books The Complete Works of Linfen Administrative Districts and Annals of Huozhou City.)
- Translated by Nicolas Cao
Brief History of Christianity in Huozhou City, Shanxi Province
