Wednesday, November 25, 2020

Shanghai Duolun Cultural Street - Hongde Tang Church

Hong-de Tang Church 鸿德堂

Also known as The Fitch Memorial Church, it was constructed in 1928, in memory of George Field Fitch, an American missionary who helped the Chinese established their modern printing and publishing industry. Fitch was also one of the leaders of the American Presbyterian Press.

George applied for duty as a Presbyterian missionary in China and was sent to Shanghai in 1870. After 18 years of mission work, he was put in charge of the Presbyterian Mission Press in Shanghai, which was the largest publishing house in the Far East at that time. Shanghai grew and became one of the greatest and most cosmopolitan cities in the world. The Fitch home hosted visiting missionaries from every denomination. His wife, Mary, supervised mission schools and cofounded a shelter for young girls who had been sold into prostitution. When George and Mary died, Hongde Tang Church was built in their memorial as they were loved by all.
(http://www.bobfitch.com/in_Search_of_Wisdom/Chap._I__Origins.html)

The Hongde Tang Church is the most uniquely designed church in Shanghai. It actually looks like a Chinese temple or palace. It sits along the famous Duolun Culture Street in Hongkou District, together with the residences of some of Shanghai's most famous literature writers. 












 

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