The spirit of Christmas
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Jingling Church. |
The best choir:
Jingling Church 景灵堂
The choir at this Christian church is of a high standard and is well known within the church community. The choir has more than 100 members. Only those who have excellent singing skills and can memorize popular hymns are allowed to join the Sunday service.
Madam Soong Mei-ling used to be a member of the choir and her father was once a priest at this church. The Soong family, one of the most powerful families of 20th century China, attended Sunday service here.
The church was established in 1924 and was named after Young John Allen, a missionary from the United States. It was the largest Christian church in Shanghai in its day. Its name was changed in the 1980s.
Tel: 021-6324-3021
Address: 135 Kunshan Road, Hongkou district 虹口区昆山路135号
Christmas worship: 7:00 pm on Dec 24, 9:30 am and 7:00 pm on Dec 25
The largest Catholic church:
Xujiahui Catholic Cathedral
徐家汇天主堂
This landmark cathedral, of which the official name is St Ignatius Cathedral, at the bustling Xujiahui commercial area, is known as "the small Vatican in Shanghai".
The cathedral of French gothic style can hold 3,000 people. It was built in 1905, and was the largest of its kind at that time in Asia. There were more than 10,000 believers registered with the cathedral, many of them orphans raised in the church.
The two bell towers on both sides of the main hall are 54 meters high and the church is decorated with delicate portraits, statues and colorful glass windows.
It underwent major repairs 30 years ago after many of its musical instruments, sacrificial altars and holy statues were destroyed during the "cultural revolution" (1966-76).
Tel: 021-6438-2595
Address: 158 Puxi Road, Xuhui district 徐汇区蒲西路158号
Christmas mass: 7:00 pm, 8:30 pm and 10:00 pm (English) on Dec 24, and 7:00 am, 10:00 am and 6:00 pm on Dec 25
