In a She ethnic minority village located at Changtai District, Zhangzhou City, Fujian Province, there is a newly-built Gospel Church.
Mr. He Jiadian, a former educated youth (zhiqing) who once stayed in Gaoceng Village, Changtai District, for six years, told me that the village originally had eight village communities and is the only inhabited area in Changtai District for She ethnic minority, who live in only one of the village communities. More than a hundred years ago, Christians from Zhuangzao Village in Longjuan Town, Anxi County, moved to Gaoceng Village and built a beautiful homeland together with their She ethnic compatriots. During special periods, Christian villagers here "still gathered to sing hymns and read the Bible."
According to the Christianity in Zhangzhou compiled and printed by Zhangzhou Municipal CC&TSPM in 2021, there were two churches and three meeting points in Changtai District. In 1870, missionaries from the London Missionary Society went to evangelize in Changtai, first renting private houses for preaching. Later, they moved to the outskirts of the county town to share the gospel, establishing Wuan Church in the district. In 1883, Christianity was introduced to Yanxi Town, with Yanxi Church built in 1902. These were the two churches in Changtai District at that time.
With the gospel spreading to Fangyang and Lindun, respectively in 1888 and 1899, Changtai District currently has three meeting points in Fangyang Village of Fangyang Town, Lindun Industrial Zone, and Xinchun Village of Banli Township.
The historical book claims, "Banli Meeting Point (formerly known as Lusi Church) is located in the second group of Xinchun Village. In 1892, a missionary from the London Missionary Society (LMS) came to sell the Bibles and promote the gospel, with He Chu and others converting to the Lord. In the same year, the missionary was sent by LMS to reside there and rented a temporary preaching place in Banli. In 1893, Rev. Chen Chaoju visited this place and baptized four people. In 1894, a house was rented in Xincuo Corner for worship, with five people baptized. Lusi Church was established because there were 12 believers. In 1901, Mr. Yan Jingbo came to preach in the church and also set up a school. In 1906, a branch church was established in Gaoceng Village, belonging to Banli Church." The book later reads, "The branch church in Gaoceng Village was later closed due to the small number of believers."
He Jiadian mentioned in his article, "More than a hundred years ago, Christianity was spread to this remote and backward mountain village. The generations of villagers in Lunzaiwei Village have always maintained a simple faith. After the mountain people moved down the mountain, the original dilapidated meeting place was rebuilt into a spacious and beautiful church. When we visited, we coincided with the villagers worshiping and even saw some old friends I had not seen for decades."
- Translated by Abigail Wu
福建省漳州市长泰区畲族村有一间福音堂。
曾在漳州长泰高层村挿队6年的老知青何家天先生告诉我说高层村原有8个自然村社，是漳州市长泰区唯一的少数民族畲族的聚居地，畲族同胞只住在其中一个村落。一百多年前，安溪县龙涓乡庄灶村一带信仰基督教的乡民移居到长泰坂里高层村，和畲族同胞共同建设美好家园。特殊时期，这里信教村民“仍坚持聚会吟诗读经……”
2021年漳州市基督教两会编印的《漳州基督教》一书介绍：现长泰区基督教有二堂三（聚会）点。1870年，英国伦敦会派人进入长泰传教，先租用民房布道；后迁至县城西门外租屋布道，后为长泰武安教堂。1883年，福音传入岩溪镇，1902年岩溪教堂建堂。这就是长泰区二个教堂。
1888年，1899年岩溪教堂分别将福音传入枋洋、林墩，在2地分设两个传道所。长泰区基督教现在设有三个聚会点，分别是位于坊洋镇枋洋村的枋洋聚会点、位于长泰林墩工业区的林墩聚会点和位于坂里乡新春村的坂里聚会点。
“长泰坂里基督教聚会点(原名鹭教会)位于坂里乡新村二组，1892年，英国伦敦会柯得露到该地分售圣书、宣传福音，何楚等人信主。同年，英国伦敦会派柯得露常驻该地，在坂里圩租用临时布道所。1893年，牧师陈朝举巡视该地，施洗4名。1894年，改在新厝角租礼拜堂，增加洗礼5名。因信徒人数有12名，故成立鹭鸶教会。1901年，颜镜波到堂传道，兼设义学。1906年，在高层村分设支堂，隶属坂里教会。”据《漳州基督教》介绍，高层村支堂“后因信徒不多停办”。
何家天先生在他写的一文中提到，“早在一百多年前，基督教就传到这个偏僻边远的小山村，仑仔尾村几代村民一直保留淳朴的信仰。山村搬迁山下后，原有破旧聚会场所，重建了宽敞漂亮的礼拜堂。我们参观时恰逢村民在做礼拜，还见到几十年未见的村民朋友……”
畲族乡村里的基督教堂———记福建省漳州市长泰区坂里高层村福音堂
In a She ethnic minority village located at Changtai District, Zhangzhou City, Fujian Province, there is a newly-built Gospel Church.
Mr. He Jiadian, a former educated youth (zhiqing) who once stayed in Gaoceng Village, Changtai District, for six years, told me that the village originally had eight village communities and is the only inhabited area in Changtai District for She ethnic minority, who live in only one of the village communities. More than a hundred years ago, Christians from Zhuangzao Village in Longjuan Town, Anxi County, moved to Gaoceng Village and built a beautiful homeland together with their She ethnic compatriots. During special periods, Christian villagers here "still gathered to sing hymns and read the Bible."
According to the Christianity in Zhangzhou compiled and printed by Zhangzhou Municipal CC&TSPM in 2021, there were two churches and three meeting points in Changtai District. In 1870, missionaries from the London Missionary Society went to evangelize in Changtai, first renting private houses for preaching. Later, they moved to the outskirts of the county town to share the gospel, establishing Wuan Church in the district. In 1883, Christianity was introduced to Yanxi Town, with Yanxi Church built in 1902. These were the two churches in Changtai District at that time.
With the gospel spreading to Fangyang and Lindun, respectively in 1888 and 1899, Changtai District currently has three meeting points in Fangyang Village of Fangyang Town, Lindun Industrial Zone, and Xinchun Village of Banli Township.
The historical book claims, "Banli Meeting Point (formerly known as Lusi Church) is located in the second group of Xinchun Village. In 1892, a missionary from the London Missionary Society (LMS) came to sell the Bibles and promote the gospel, with He Chu and others converting to the Lord. In the same year, the missionary was sent by LMS to reside there and rented a temporary preaching place in Banli. In 1893, Rev. Chen Chaoju visited this place and baptized four people. In 1894, a house was rented in Xincuo Corner for worship, with five people baptized. Lusi Church was established because there were 12 believers. In 1901, Mr. Yan Jingbo came to preach in the church and also set up a school. In 1906, a branch church was established in Gaoceng Village, belonging to Banli Church." The book later reads, "The branch church in Gaoceng Village was later closed due to the small number of believers."
He Jiadian mentioned in his article, "More than a hundred years ago, Christianity was spread to this remote and backward mountain village. The generations of villagers in Lunzaiwei Village have always maintained a simple faith. After the mountain people moved down the mountain, the original dilapidated meeting place was rebuilt into a spacious and beautiful church. When we visited, we coincided with the villagers worshiping and even saw some old friends I had not seen for decades."
- Translated by Abigail Wu
History of Christianity in She Ethnic Village of Zhangzhou City
