2017 marks the 90th founding anniversary of Sicheng Church, a historical Christian Church in Hangzhou. A series of monthly celebrations to commemorate are scheduled in the next five months.
The celebrations, which are to be held from this May to September, will include a cultural tour on Christianity in the city, lectures on the history of the church in Hangzhou, business fellowship, exhibition of historical pictures and relics of Christianity in Hangzhou.
The only old church in urban Hangzhou has a history of 90 years with the original faith background of Presbyterian Church in the United States of America. At first, a missionary couple from the United States preached the Gospel in 1859 and a Chinese pastor named Zhang Chengzhai set up a local preaching station in 1868. Four years later, he purchased a house and used it as a chapel.
With the rise in the number of believers, a new church construction was started at the former church site in 1924 and completed three years later, costing around sixty thousand silver dollars. It was given the name "Sicheng Church" in memory of Rev. Zhang.
The Chinese-style church has a cross plan, with the outside wall made of grey bricks and the pine beams are laid out symmetrically. Currently, the regular church attendance reaches around 500 believers. Besides Sunday services, it holds a gathering for young believers, a Bible study and prayer meeting, a seekers' class, chorus practice, fellowship for over 50 service and care teams and an English salon regularly. Besides these services, it carries out two baptism services annually and ministries including weddings, funerals, preaching and visitations.
Translated by Karen Luo
