Recently, I came across a passage in the Moments of WeChat stating, "Thanks to the help of the Lord, the Committee of Dongbanhou Church of Zhangzhou will commemorate its centenary, along with convening a meeting to amend the Annals of the Zhangzhou Church."
Historical records reveal that on September 23, 1847, Pastor John Van Nest Talmage and other missionaries from the Reformed Church in America (RCA) made their initial visit to Zhangzhou to lay the groundwork for spreading the gospel.
In 1850, British Presbyterian pastors, including William Chalmers Burns, frequently sailed to spread the gospel from Xiamen to Shima and Zhangzhou. In April 1853, they spent two weeks in Zhangzhou. Subsequently, the Presbyterian Church secured a rental house in downtown Zhangzhou to serve as a chapel.
In May 1850, the Reformed Church in America (RCA) and the British Presbyterian Church made the decision to employ missionaries such as Yu Anding and Lu Die to work in Zhangzhou. However, due to the uprising of the Small Swords Society in Zhangzhou at that time, Yu tragically lost his life, resulting in the suspension of church establishment efforts.
On June 24, 1866, the Southern Fujian Christian Church was established in Shima, with Pastor Cartairs Douglas assuming leadership. After learning of Zhangzhou's notable progress in evangelism and the emergence of believers, Cartairs Douglas expressed his desire to serve as a preacher in Zhangzhou. Following the official appointment of Cartairs Douglas to this role with the approval of the Reformed Church in America (RCA), the number of faithful followers grew rapidly.
On December 18, 1871, with the endorsement of the Chief Executive Council of Shima, the Dongbanhou Church was formally established in Zhangzhou, and a chapel was constructed.
In 1874, a church capable of accommodating 500 people was erected on Xinhua West Road in Xiangcheng District. In 1882, Zheng Pengcheng became its pastor, describing the congregation as "a flock of well-nurtured sheep, their spirits refreshed." Two years later, Pastor Zheng applied for the position of pastor at Xiamen Zhushu Church and was succeeded by Cai Gengguang (the pastor of Xinjie Church) two years after that.
In 1890, the Tianbao, Shancheng, and Longshan branches merged to form the Tianshan Church. In 1813, the Guhu Church was established anew.
In 1916, internal disputes arose within the Dongbanhou Church, leading to the resignation of Pastor Wang, who then relocated to Southeast Asia. Consequently, the congregation of the Dongbanhou Church became scattered. However, following the appointment of Huang Canghai in 1920, the church's affairs regained their vitality. The Xintang and Guhu branches integrated into the church, resulting in a rapid increase in followers.
Upon recognizing the dilapidated state of the old church, the congregation initiated public prayer gatherings every morning and evening, beseeching divine intervention for the reconstruction of the church. The congregation advocated fundraising, and a new church was constructed in 1923.
The new church boasted a seating capacity exceeding 1,000 individuals. Completed in June 1925, the Dongbanhou Church stood as one of the largest churches in Fujian Province at that time. The construction cost amounted to 20,000 Mexican dollars (equivalent to approximately $8,000 at the time), all of which were raised by the Chinese community. Presently, the entire architectural complex remains remarkably preserved in its original form, classified as a municipal cultural heritage site.
In 1923, the Reformed Church in America (RCA) provided financial support for the reconstruction and expansion of the parsonage building. Subsequently, in 1942, the construction of the Baiyun Building was completed. Dongbanhou Church encompasses a total area of 2,614 square meters.
Furthermore, during the era of the Republic of China, Dongbanhou Church served as the site where patriotic soldiers initiated a coup and where the Southern Fujian Revolutionary Committee was established following the entry of the East Route Army of Workers and Peasants' Red Army into Zhangzhou.
Prior to May Day, as per the statements of Zhangzhou CC&TSPM's chairman and president, as well as the senior pastor of Dongbanhou Church, Zhuang Jingcheng, the centenary celebration of Zhangzhou Dongbanhou Church is planned to take place in late October 2023.
- Translated by Nicolas Cao
回顾将举行建堂百年庆典的福建的一教堂的历史。
近日的朋友圈披露：“感谢主的帮助”，漳州市基督教东坂后礼拜堂堂委上个月召开“建堂百年庆典筹备会议、《漳州基督教志》修订补充工作会……”。
史料记载，1847年9月23日，美国归正教公会传教士打马字等初访漳州，为传布福音预备。
1850年期间，英国长老会的宾为霖等牧师就经常乘福音船从厦门到石码、漳州一带传道。1853年4月，他们还在漳州走访了两个星期。不久后，教会便在漳州市中心租了一间房子作小礼拜堂。
同年5月，美国归正教公会与英国长老会决定聘请传道余安定和卢爹等人常驻漳州。由于当时漳州地区有小刀会之乱，余安定传道因故被杀，设教之事也因而中止。
1866年6月24日，闽南基督教会成立，集于石码，由杜嘉德牧师担任会长。在得知漳州布道成果显著，且已有人信道后，杜嘉德自请愿往漳州担任传道。经公会同意正式委派，到此服务，其间信徒日增。
1871年12月18日，经石码长执会核准，在漳州古时叫“东坂后”的地方正式成立基督教东坂后堂会，建小礼拜堂。
于1874年在芗城区新华西路兴建可容纳500多人的大礼堂。1882年，郑鹏程任牧师，“会众如群羊得牧，精神倍见焕发”，二年后，郑牧应聘厦门竹树堂，改新街堂蔡耿光牧师继任。
1890年，天宝、山城、龙山三支会组建天山堂会。1813年添增古湖社支会。
1916年间，教会两派不合，王牧辞退去南洋，此时会友四散。至1920年春堂会新聘黄沧海就任后，“会务亦有如从前活泼之气象”，新塘、古湖二支会合至本堂管理，信徒日增。
在发现原旧堂“巳属朽腐，更宜改造”后，教会每日早晚作公共祈祷会等，为本堂重建祈祷。诸会友提倡筹款，于1923年开建新的礼拜堂。
新建的礼拜堂大堂可容纳1000多人。在当时福建省最大的教堂之一的东坂后礼拜堂于1925年6月落成，全部由中国人筹集，造价20000墨西哥大鹰洋（约当时的8000美元）。现整座建筑群仍基本保持原建时的模样，为市级文物保护单位。
1923年，由基督教美国归正教会出资重建并增建牧师楼，1942年又建成百运楼。教堂范围总占地面积已达2614平方米。
另外，民国时期，该教堂还是爱国将士发动政变的地方，也是工农红军东路军进漳后成立“闽南革命委员会”所在地。
五一节前，据漳州市基督教两会主席、会长、东坂后基督教堂庄静城主任牧师说，漳州基督教东坂后建堂百年庆典“初定2023年十月下旬”举行。
福建漳州基督教东坂后礼拜堂将举行建堂百年庆典
Recently, I came across a passage in the Moments of WeChat stating, "Thanks to the help of the Lord, the Committee of Dongbanhou Church of Zhangzhou will commemorate its centenary, along with convening a meeting to amend the Annals of the Zhangzhou Church."
Historical records reveal that on September 23, 1847, Pastor John Van Nest Talmage and other missionaries from the Reformed Church in America (RCA) made their initial visit to Zhangzhou to lay the groundwork for spreading the gospel.
In 1850, British Presbyterian pastors, including William Chalmers Burns, frequently sailed to spread the gospel from Xiamen to Shima and Zhangzhou. In April 1853, they spent two weeks in Zhangzhou. Subsequently, the Presbyterian Church secured a rental house in downtown Zhangzhou to serve as a chapel.
In May 1850, the Reformed Church in America (RCA) and the British Presbyterian Church made the decision to employ missionaries such as Yu Anding and Lu Die to work in Zhangzhou. However, due to the uprising of the Small Swords Society in Zhangzhou at that time, Yu tragically lost his life, resulting in the suspension of church establishment efforts.
On June 24, 1866, the Southern Fujian Christian Church was established in Shima, with Pastor Cartairs Douglas assuming leadership. After learning of Zhangzhou's notable progress in evangelism and the emergence of believers, Cartairs Douglas expressed his desire to serve as a preacher in Zhangzhou. Following the official appointment of Cartairs Douglas to this role with the approval of the Reformed Church in America (RCA), the number of faithful followers grew rapidly.
On December 18, 1871, with the endorsement of the Chief Executive Council of Shima, the Dongbanhou Church was formally established in Zhangzhou, and a chapel was constructed.
In 1874, a church capable of accommodating 500 people was erected on Xinhua West Road in Xiangcheng District. In 1882, Zheng Pengcheng became its pastor, describing the congregation as "a flock of well-nurtured sheep, their spirits refreshed." Two years later, Pastor Zheng applied for the position of pastor at Xiamen Zhushu Church and was succeeded by Cai Gengguang (the pastor of Xinjie Church) two years after that.
In 1890, the Tianbao, Shancheng, and Longshan branches merged to form the Tianshan Church. In 1813, the Guhu Church was established anew.
In 1916, internal disputes arose within the Dongbanhou Church, leading to the resignation of Pastor Wang, who then relocated to Southeast Asia. Consequently, the congregation of the Dongbanhou Church became scattered. However, following the appointment of Huang Canghai in 1920, the church's affairs regained their vitality. The Xintang and Guhu branches integrated into the church, resulting in a rapid increase in followers.
Upon recognizing the dilapidated state of the old church, the congregation initiated public prayer gatherings every morning and evening, beseeching divine intervention for the reconstruction of the church. The congregation advocated fundraising, and a new church was constructed in 1923.
The new church boasted a seating capacity exceeding 1,000 individuals. Completed in June 1925, the Dongbanhou Church stood as one of the largest churches in Fujian Province at that time. The construction cost amounted to 20,000 Mexican dollars (equivalent to approximately $8,000 at the time), all of which were raised by the Chinese community. Presently, the entire architectural complex remains remarkably preserved in its original form, classified as a municipal cultural heritage site.
In 1923, the Reformed Church in America (RCA) provided financial support for the reconstruction and expansion of the parsonage building. Subsequently, in 1942, the construction of the Baiyun Building was completed. Dongbanhou Church encompasses a total area of 2,614 square meters.
Furthermore, during the era of the Republic of China, Dongbanhou Church served as the site where patriotic soldiers initiated a coup and where the Southern Fujian Revolutionary Committee was established following the entry of the East Route Army of Workers and Peasants' Red Army into Zhangzhou.
Prior to May Day, as per the statements of Zhangzhou CC&TSPM's chairman and president, as well as the senior pastor of Dongbanhou Church, Zhuang Jingcheng, the centenary celebration of Zhangzhou Dongbanhou Church is planned to take place in late October 2023.
- Translated by Nicolas Cao
Church in Fujian to Celebrate Centenary
