Xiamen was the first city to introduce Christianity in southern Fujian more than 150 years ago. Houxi Christian church, built in 1926, was the largest Christian church in the Jimei District.
The site selection of Houxi church reflects the early history of the Christian mission in Houxi. Before the church was built, the Reformed Church in America had sent missionaries to rent a private house in Jielu of Houxi, and the Guankou Church of London Missionary Society also preached in Xiadian. At that time, the spread of the “three denominations” (Reformed Church in America, London Missionary Society and Presbyterian Church) was based in Xiamen. The “three denominations” divided the division of labor and cooperation and spread to all parts of southern and western Fujian. A small church was formed when there were about ten believers. As the number of believers increased, it was imperative to build the church. The two churches of Jielu and Xiadian were divided over the location. After that, three representatives from the Reformed Church in America, the London Missionary Society and the local church each formed a site selection group and divided the preaching area. At first, it was planned to divide the mission area by the mountain, but later it was decided to divide it by the river, and then planned to build the Houxi Chapel in Jielu, which was reported to the Xiamen District Council for approval. From 1924 to 1925, two elders (Yang Jinlian and Yang Qianli) went to Yangon, Myanmar, to collect more than 7,000 silver dollars from overseas Chinese. Xu Chuncao and Yang Jiushi donated 200 silver dollars and bought 40 long chairs with backrests and a platform, which are still preserved today.
Houxi (old) church is located in Jielu of Houxi, covering an area of 731 square meters, with a total construction area of 441 square meters.
The Houxi church was actually a fusion of the Reformed Church in America and the London Missionary Society.
After liberation, Christians of Houxi church actively participated in the “Three-Self Patriotic Movement” (self-governance, self-support, and self-propagation). Between the Great Leap Forward in 1958 and the Cultural Revolution, the church was occupied, clerics were criticized and denounced, and all religious activities were stopped. After 1979, the new religious policy was implemented and Christian activities gradually returned to normal. In 1995, the church was registered as a place for religious activities.
Houxi church (the old church), built in 1926, had a solid brick and wood structure. Affected by the Cultural Revolution, the church was used as a warehouse by Houxi Water Conservancy Central Station. Because it was close to the stream, the foundation sank, the wall cracked and the beams of the main hall was eroded by ants, making it a dangerous building. So Houxi Church decided to rebuild it and acquired 2586 square meters of construction land located in Houxi. With a total investment of more than 4.3 million yuan, the church complex, pastor’s building, bell tower, a large chapel and so on had been built. On October 23, 2004, the foundation stone laying ceremony of the new Houxi church was held. On October 27, 2012, the new Houxi church with a capacity of more than 1,000 people was completed.
Xiamen Houxi Christian church currently has one pastor, one unordained pastor and one officer, 380 members and seekers.
9Reference: The Proceedings of the Great Conference of Chinese Christianity in Southern Fujian
- Translated by Nicolas Cao
