Protestant church in Dalian, China From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia
Yuguang Street Church (simplified Chinese:玉光街礼拜堂; traditional Chinese:玉光街禮拜堂) is a Protestant church in Dalian, China. It is the former Dalian Anglican Church (traditional Chinese:大連聖公會教堂; simplified Chinese:大连圣公会教堂; Japanese: 大連聖公会教会) and its church building is now a Historical Protected Building of Dalian City.[1][2]
Yuguang Street Church (Dalian, China), with Zhongshan Square and Dalian World Trade Center Building in the background
From 1905 to 1945, the southern half of the present-day Greater Dalian was Japan's leased territory. Due to the Anglo-Japanese Alliance at that time, the British Consulate General was given a location at Zhongshan Square, the best place in downtown Dalian, and an Anglican church was built in its premises. It was a black brick building.
At the end of the Second World War, all Japanese-owned buildings were confiscated by the Chinese, the religious buildings were never used as such, but as Britain owned the half of this church, it was left as a Christian church and was renamed "Yuguang Street Church".
During the Cultural Revolution of 1966-1977 when all religious activities were suppressed, the stained glass windows were smashed broken and the church was used as a place for the children's extracurricular activities.
In 2001, it was listed as one of Dalian City's 100 or so Protected Historical Buildings.
Address: No. 2, Yuguang Street, Dalian City, Liaoning Province 116001
Except for the Anglican altar which was taken away and the stained glass windows that were smashed broken and replaced by regular windows, the building is almost as it was in 1928.
The cornerstone on the right of the church entrance can be read in English (on the left side of the stone) and Japanese (on the right side, written vertically),[3] as:
The Cornerstone of Yuguang Street Church, Dalian, China (Photo taken in 2013)
TO THE GLORY OF GOD
THIS STONE WAS DEDICATED.
MAY 6TH. 1928
BY
FRANCIS LUSHINGTON NORRIS D.D.
BISHOP IN NORTH CHINA
Weekly services are held on Friday evening (for the youth) and three times on Sunday.
Baptism is done usually on Sunday a week or two before Christmas Day or Easter.
A Christmas program including the 50-member chorus is held on Christmas Eve. On Christmas Day, no service is held, but the song and dance programs are held from morning till a little after noon.
