Xiamen was the first city to introduce Christianity in southern Fujian more than 150 years ago. Houxi Christian church, built in 1926, was the largest Christian church in the Jimei District.
The site selection of Houxi church reflects the early history of the Christian mission in Houxi. Before the church was built, the Reformed Church in America had sent missionaries to rent a private house in Jielu of Houxi, and the Guankou Church of London Missionary Society also preached in Xiadian. At that time, the spread of the “three denominations” (Reformed Church in America, London Missionary Society and Presbyterian Church) was based in Xiamen. The “three denominations” divided the division of labor and cooperation and spread to all parts of southern and western Fujian. A small church was formed when there were about ten believers. As the number of believers increased, it was imperative to build the church. The two churches of Jielu and Xiadian were divided over the location. After that, three representatives from the Reformed Church in America, the London Missionary Society and the local church each formed a site selection group and divided the preaching area. At first, it was planned to divide the mission area by the mountain, but later it was decided to divide it by the river, and then planned to build the Houxi Chapel in Jielu, which was reported to the Xiamen District Council for approval. From 1924 to 1925, two elders (Yang Jinlian and Yang Qianli) went to Yangon, Myanmar, to collect more than 7,000 silver dollars from overseas Chinese. Xu Chuncao and Yang Jiushi donated 200 silver dollars and bought 40 long chairs with backrests and a platform, which are still preserved today.
Houxi (old) church is located in Jielu of Houxi, covering an area of 731 square meters, with a total construction area of 441 square meters.
The Houxi church was actually a fusion of the Reformed Church in America and the London Missionary Society.
After liberation, Christians of Houxi church actively participated in the “Three-Self Patriotic Movement” (self-governance, self-support, and self-propagation). Between the Great Leap Forward in 1958 and the Cultural Revolution, the church was occupied, clerics were criticized and denounced, and all religious activities were stopped. After 1979, the new religious policy was implemented and Christian activities gradually returned to normal. In 1995, the church was registered as a place for religious activities.
Houxi church (the old church), built in 1926, had a solid brick and wood structure. Affected by the Cultural Revolution, the church was used as a warehouse by Houxi Water Conservancy Central Station. Because it was close to the stream, the foundation sank, the wall cracked and the beams of the main hall was eroded by ants, making it a dangerous building. So Houxi Church decided to rebuild it and acquired 2586 square meters of construction land located in Houxi. With a total investment of more than 4.3 million yuan, the church complex, pastor’s building, bell tower, a large chapel and so on had been built. On October 23, 2004, the foundation stone laying ceremony of the new Houxi church was held. On October 27, 2012, the new Houxi church with a capacity of more than 1,000 people was completed.
Xiamen Houxi Christian church currently has one pastor, one unordained pastor and one officer, 380 members and seekers.
9Reference: The Proceedings of the Great Conference of Chinese Christianity in Southern Fujian
- Translated by Nicolas Cao
厦门是闽南基督教最早传入的地区，150多年来厦门基督教传入与发展。
1926年兴建的后溪基督教堂，是厦门岛外最大的基督教堂。
后溪礼拜堂的选址，反映了早期后溪地区基督教布道的历史印迹。教堂兴建之前，厦门“三公会”（美归正教会、英伦敦公会、英长老会）的美归正教已派传道人员在后溪街路租私房布道，英伦敦会下属的灌口教会也在下店进行布道。英美“三公会”的传播当时皆以厦门为基地，然后分工合作，划分地区传播，向闽南闽西各地发展，教徒满十人左右即组成一个小教会。随着信徒的增加，建堂势在必行。围绕选址问题，街路、下店两方的意见不一。后由美归正教会、英伦敦教会及本地各派1名代表，组成三人小组进行选址并划分布道区域。初拟以山为界划分布道区，后决定以溪为界划分灌口、后溪教会的布道区，并决定在街路兴建后溪礼拜堂，报请厦门区会批准。1924~1925年由杨金练、杨谦利两长老到缅甸仰光向华侨募捐七千多银元，许春草、杨就是捐资200银元，添置40条长靠背椅及讲台一张，保留至今。
后溪（旧）礼拜堂就座落在后溪镇街路。，占地面积731平方米，总建筑面积441平方米。
建堂后的后溪堂会，实际上是美归正教会与英伦敦会的融合。
解放后，后溪堂基督教徒积极参加“三自革新”（自治、自养、自传）运动。“1958年的大跃进”至“文化大革命”期间，教堂被占用，神职人员遭批判，宗教活动停止。1979年后，落实宗教政策，基督教徒活动逐渐恢复正常。1995年，依法登记为教徒活动场所。
1926年建成的后溪礼拜堂（旧堂）结构坚固，为砖木结构，受“文革”影响，该教堂被后溪水利中心站挪作仓库之用，因临近溪边，地基下陷，墙体破裂，主堂屋梁被蚂蚁侵蚀，已成危房。于是，后溪教会决定异地重建。取得位于后溪的2586平方米的建设用地。共投入430多万元先后建成了教堂综合楼、牧师楼、钟楼、大型礼拜堂等。2004年10月23日举行了后溪新堂奠基典礼，2012年10月27日，容纳1000多人的后溪礼拜堂新堂落成。
厦门后溪基督教教堂现有神职人员3人（牧师、传道各1人、办公室干事1人），教徒和慕道友380人。
参考资料：《中华基督教闽南大会议录》
厦门岛外最大的基督教堂——后溪基督教堂
Xiamen was the first city to introduce Christianity in southern Fujian more than 150 years ago. Houxi Christian church, built in 1926, was the largest Christian church in the Jimei District.
The site selection of Houxi church reflects the early history of the Christian mission in Houxi. Before the church was built, the Reformed Church in America had sent missionaries to rent a private house in Jielu of Houxi, and the Guankou Church of London Missionary Society also preached in Xiadian. At that time, the spread of the “three denominations” (Reformed Church in America, London Missionary Society and Presbyterian Church) was based in Xiamen. The “three denominations” divided the division of labor and cooperation and spread to all parts of southern and western Fujian. A small church was formed when there were about ten believers. As the number of believers increased, it was imperative to build the church. The two churches of Jielu and Xiadian were divided over the location. After that, three representatives from the Reformed Church in America, the London Missionary Society and the local church each formed a site selection group and divided the preaching area. At first, it was planned to divide the mission area by the mountain, but later it was decided to divide it by the river, and then planned to build the Houxi Chapel in Jielu, which was reported to the Xiamen District Council for approval. From 1924 to 1925, two elders (Yang Jinlian and Yang Qianli) went to Yangon, Myanmar, to collect more than 7,000 silver dollars from overseas Chinese. Xu Chuncao and Yang Jiushi donated 200 silver dollars and bought 40 long chairs with backrests and a platform, which are still preserved today.
Houxi (old) church is located in Jielu of Houxi, covering an area of 731 square meters, with a total construction area of 441 square meters.
The Houxi church was actually a fusion of the Reformed Church in America and the London Missionary Society.
After liberation, Christians of Houxi church actively participated in the “Three-Self Patriotic Movement” (self-governance, self-support, and self-propagation). Between the Great Leap Forward in 1958 and the Cultural Revolution, the church was occupied, clerics were criticized and denounced, and all religious activities were stopped. After 1979, the new religious policy was implemented and Christian activities gradually returned to normal. In 1995, the church was registered as a place for religious activities.
Houxi church (the old church), built in 1926, had a solid brick and wood structure. Affected by the Cultural Revolution, the church was used as a warehouse by Houxi Water Conservancy Central Station. Because it was close to the stream, the foundation sank, the wall cracked and the beams of the main hall was eroded by ants, making it a dangerous building. So Houxi Church decided to rebuild it and acquired 2586 square meters of construction land located in Houxi. With a total investment of more than 4.3 million yuan, the church complex, pastor’s building, bell tower, a large chapel and so on had been built. On October 23, 2004, the foundation stone laying ceremony of the new Houxi church was held. On October 27, 2012, the new Houxi church with a capacity of more than 1,000 people was completed.
Xiamen Houxi Christian church currently has one pastor, one unordained pastor and one officer, 380 members and seekers.
9Reference: The Proceedings of the Great Conference of Chinese Christianity in Southern Fujian
- Translated by Nicolas Cao
The Largest Christian Church in Jimei: Houxi Christian Church
