Located at 132 Jiefang Road, Hangzhou, Zhejiang, Sicheng Church was built in 1924 to commemorate Zhang Chengzhai, the first Chinese pastor of Hangzhou. This year 2024 marks its 100th anniversary.
Zhang, who was born in Ningbo, Zhejiang, in 1839, enrolled in further education at the Ningbo Biblical Institute (transliteration) at the age of 14 and underwent baptism the following year. After graduating, he preached in the areas of Zhenhai, Shangyu, and Shaoxing.
In 1864, Zhang and American missionary David D. Green arrived in Hangzhou from Ningbo and temporarily resided in an Anglican church. In December, they rented a place for a chapel. That same year, their eldest son, Zhang Baoqing, was born, later becoming a renowned physician in Hangzhou.
The following year, Zhang Chengzhai moved to Hangzhou with his family. In 1866, Green and Chinese Christian Xie Xingdong established a branch in Hangzhou and recommended Zhang as an elder. In 1868, Zhang rented a house as a preaching place, being appointed as a pastor at the Pishi Lane Chapel, known as the first pastor of Hangzhou.
In 1872, American missionary D.N. Lyon came to Hangzhou and, together with Zhang, purchased a three-room hall for use as a chapel and the pastor's residence. Due to an increase in believers, in 1890, they started building the Pishi Church at 35 Pishi Lane, and Zhang donated a bell tower. In 1903, they completed the move to the new church for worship.
In 1902, due to illness, Zhang resigned and passed away on August 22, 1917, at the age of 78.
In 1921, the congregation at Pishi Church increased to 141 people, and they discussed building a new church. To commemorate his father, Zhang’s son, Dr. Zhang Baoqing, led the donation of ten thousand silver dollars (one silver dollar was about 250 yuan), and an additional twenty thousand silver dollars were raised domestically. They also raised three hundred thousand dollars abroad, totaling six hundred thousand dollars. In 1924, they rebuilt the original site of the 1872 Fengle Bridge Church (the current site of Sicheng Church).
The construction was completed in 1927, and in memory of Rev. Zhang Chengzhai, it was named Sicheng Church ("sicheng" means commemorating Chengzhai). On Easter Sunday in 1930, the congregants moved into the new church, appointing Fan Guangrong as the senior pastor.
(The article is reposted with permission from the Wechat public account: "Searching for the Missionary's Footsteps".)
- Translated by Abigail Wu
小引：位于杭州上城区解放路132号的基督教“思澄堂”，其建造时间为1924年，建好后为纪念杭州第一位华人牧师张澄斋，故命名为“思澄堂”，今年正好是100周年。
1839年，张澄斋出生于宁波。14岁时，张澄斋在宁波传教士创办的甬北圣经书院深造，翌年受洗归主。毕业后，先后在镇海、上虞、绍兴一带传道。
1864年，张与美国传教士葛链从宁波来到杭州暂住在一圣公会内，12月租一场所作为礼拜堂。是年，大儿子张葆卿出生，后成为杭州名医。
次年，张澄斋携家眷来到杭州。1866年葛琏与华人基督徒谢行栋在杭州成立支会，举荐张澄斋为长老。1868年，张租房设立布道所，推举为牧师，在皮市巷堂举行了按牧典礼，成为该堂第一任牧师，也被誉为“杭州第一牧师”。
1872年美国宣教士来恩赐（D.N.Lyon）来杭，与张购得三开间大厅，作为礼堂及牧师住宅。1890年因信徒增多，在皮市巷35号开建皮市堂，张独立捐建钟楼一座。1903年完成迁入新堂礼拜。
1902年，张澄斋因病辞职，于1917年8月22日安息主怀，享年78岁。
1921年，皮市教堂人数增加到141人，众人商议再建新堂。为纪念其父张澄斋牧师其子张葆卿医生带头捐献一万银元，在国内募捐二万银元。向国外募得三万元，共六万元，1924年在原1872年丰乐桥教堂的地方重新建造（思澄堂现址）。
1927年竣工，为纪念张澄斋牧师，遂取名“思澄堂”。1930年复活节正式迁入新堂礼拜，聘请范光荣为主任牧师。
文章蒙允转载自公众号：寻找传教士的足迹
钩沉|杭州第一位华人牧师：张澄斋
Located at 132 Jiefang Road, Hangzhou, Zhejiang, Sicheng Church was built in 1924 to commemorate Zhang Chengzhai, the first Chinese pastor of Hangzhou. This year 2024 marks its 100th anniversary.
Zhang, who was born in Ningbo, Zhejiang, in 1839, enrolled in further education at the Ningbo Biblical Institute (transliteration) at the age of 14 and underwent baptism the following year. After graduating, he preached in the areas of Zhenhai, Shangyu, and Shaoxing.
In 1864, Zhang and American missionary David D. Green arrived in Hangzhou from Ningbo and temporarily resided in an Anglican church. In December, they rented a place for a chapel. That same year, their eldest son, Zhang Baoqing, was born, later becoming a renowned physician in Hangzhou.
The following year, Zhang Chengzhai moved to Hangzhou with his family. In 1866, Green and Chinese Christian Xie Xingdong established a branch in Hangzhou and recommended Zhang as an elder. In 1868, Zhang rented a house as a preaching place, being appointed as a pastor at the Pishi Lane Chapel, known as the first pastor of Hangzhou.
In 1872, American missionary D.N. Lyon came to Hangzhou and, together with Zhang, purchased a three-room hall for use as a chapel and the pastor's residence. Due to an increase in believers, in 1890, they started building the Pishi Church at 35 Pishi Lane, and Zhang donated a bell tower. In 1903, they completed the move to the new church for worship.
In 1902, due to illness, Zhang resigned and passed away on August 22, 1917, at the age of 78.
In 1921, the congregation at Pishi Church increased to 141 people, and they discussed building a new church. To commemorate his father, Zhang’s son, Dr. Zhang Baoqing, led the donation of ten thousand silver dollars (one silver dollar was about 250 yuan), and an additional twenty thousand silver dollars were raised domestically. They also raised three hundred thousand dollars abroad, totaling six hundred thousand dollars. In 1924, they rebuilt the original site of the 1872 Fengle Bridge Church (the current site of Sicheng Church).
The construction was completed in 1927, and in memory of Rev. Zhang Chengzhai, it was named Sicheng Church ("sicheng" means commemorating Chengzhai). On Easter Sunday in 1930, the congregants moved into the new church, appointing Fan Guangrong as the senior pastor.
(The article is reposted with permission from the Wechat public account: "Searching for the Missionary's Footsteps".)
- Translated by Abigail Wu
Story of Zhang Chengzhai: First Chinese Pastor of Hangzhou
