Langzhong, a county-level city under the administration of Nanchong City in Sichuan Province, is home to the renowned Langzhong Ancient City, a popular tourist destination that attracts countless visitors annually.
Situated at No. 5 Yangtianjing Street in Langzhong City, the St John's Cathedral (currently known as the Gospel Church) is one of the largest churches in southwest China, featuring a blend of Chinese and Western architectural styles.
The St John's Cathedral was founded by Bishop William Cassels, a missionary from the Church of England and a member of the "Cambridge Seven." Born in Porto, Portugal, on March 11, 1858, Cassels graduated from St John's College, Cambridge, and was subsequently ordained as a priest, serving as a curate at All Saints' South Lambeth.
In February 1885, Cassels, along with six other Cambridge University graduates—Charles Studd, Montague Beauchamp, Stanley P. Smith, Arthur T. Polhill-Turner, Dixon Edward Hoste, and Cecil H. Polhill-Turner—departed England for China. The group later became known as the "Cambridge Seven." On March 18, they arrived in Shanghai and commenced missionary work in China.
Cassels preached in Shanghai, Shanxi, Shaanxi, and other regions before ultimately selecting Sichuan as his mission field. In 1886, he entered Sichuan. By 1895, the Church of England had established the Diocese of Western China, and Cassels was consecrated as its bishop in a ceremony at Westminster Abbey. Through the efforts of Cassels and his colleagues, including Montague Beauchamp, another member of the Cambridge Seven, Christianity in Sichuan flourished. Seven mission stations were established in locations such as Mianzhou, Mianzhu, Chengdu, and Hanzhou, alongside the founding of hospitals.
In his later years, Cassels focused his ministry in Langzhong, in northeastern Sichuan, where his preaching significantly increased the number of local believers. Inspired by this growth, he envisioned building a church to serve the community. In 1913, he initiated plans for St John's Cathedral in Langzhong, designed to accommodate 2,000 people. The cathedral was completed by the end of 1914 and became the largest church in southwest China. On December 20, St John's Cathedral held its dedication ceremony, presided over by Bishop Logan Roots, who oversaw the diocese of Hubei, Hunan, Jiangxi, and Anhui Provinces. The ceremony drew nearly 1,500 congregants, with about 2,000 attempting to enter the church to witness the historic event.
Historical records indicate that the Langzhong Church (possibly the Trinity Church, the first Anglican church established in Langzhong) oversaw seven deaneries and 22 parishes, organizing church activities across more than 30 counties and cities in northern and eastern Sichuan, including Chongqing. The church managed a network of 119 churches with 4,918 believers. Cassels's wife, Mary Louisa Cassels (Legg), became his dedicated co-worker. Alongside supporting his missionary efforts, she contributed to the establishment of hospitals and schools.
The church is designed in the shape of a cross, oriented west to east, and features a distinctive tiled roof and unique patterns on its doors and windows. Beside the main entrance are two bell towers, each constructed with 32 spiral steps of bluestone and blue bricks. The exterior walls, built with ancient blue bricks, bear Chinese inscriptions reading "Anglican-Episcopal Province of China" and "Gospel Church."
St John's Cathedral has faced historical disasters but has miraculously survived unscathed. On July 16, 1941, during a Japanese air raid on Langzhong, four bombs were dropped on the cathedral. Three exploded near the church without causing any damage to its structure, while the fourth remains buried beneath a pillar on the south side of the building. This unexploded bomb has been chemically treated to ensure it poses no threat.
Despite enduring a century of trials, the cathedral's overall structure remains intact. On December 27, 2002, the Sichuan Provincial People's Government designated it a provincial cultural relic protection unit. The Wenchuan earthquake on May 12, 2008, caused significant damage to the building. However, through concerted efforts and three years of restoration, the cathedral has been restored to its former glory.
(Originally published by the Gospel Times, the article has been edited under permission and the author is a believer at a church in Xiamen, Fujian.)
- Edited and translated by Poppy Chan
