[Rural Church Series] Century-old Church of Lishui, Zhejiang

Juxi Church
1/3Juxi Church (photo: CCD contributor: Zhou Hongwei )
The former Juxi Church, 1985
2/3The former Juxi Church, 1985 (photo: CCD contributor: Zhou Hongwei )
The original Juxi Chapel
3/3The original Juxi Chapel (photo: CCD contributor: Zhou Hongwei )

Juxi Church sits in the north of Liandu District, Lishui, Zhejiang. 

Historical evidence shows that Juxi Village was a memorial place for Red Army martyrs. In the summer of 1930, armed guerrillas that claimed to be Red Army put forward a slogan "fighting tyrants and dividing the land". The army joined the Chinese Workers' and Peasants' Red Army and conducted guerrilla warfare against the Kuomintang. In commemoration of the martyrs, the local government made a monument. 

Founded in 1916, the church was named "Independent Church".  Rev. Cui from Switzerland was the pastor-in-residence. 

Covering an area of 150 square meters (0.037 acres), the mud-and-wood church was constructed in 1918 and had a garden and a baptistry with an area of 100 square meters (0.024 acres). It had over 100 members who were mainly from the Lin and Jie families. 

Unfortunately, it was closed from 1950 to 1980 due to the Cultural Revolution. During that period, the congregation was scattered and gathered in their homes. 

It was reopened in 1985, but the garden and baptismal pool were occupied for residential living. The congregation packed the main hall. 

In 2008, a new facility was built at an expense of about 700,000 yuan and occupied an area of 200 square meters (0.049 acres). With a construction area of 420 square meters (0.1 acres), the two and a half-story main hall can hold approximately 300 people. Brother Zhou Yusheng is the current leader.  

- Translated by Karen Luo

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