Teng Shih K'ou Congregational Church ( zh, t=燈市口公理會教堂, w=Têng Shih K'ou Kung-li-hui Chiao-t'ang, p=Dēngshìkǒu Gōnglǐhuì Jiàotáng), often simply referred to as the Teng Shih K'ou Church (), was a

Congregational Congregational churches (also Congregationalist churches or Congregationalism) are Protestant churches in the Calvinist tradition practising congregationalist church governance, in which each congregation independently and autonomously runs its ...

church Church may refer to: Religion * Church (building), a building for Christian religious activities * Church (congregation), a local congregation of a Christian denomination * Church service, a formalized period of Christian communal worship * Chris ...

located at Dengshikou (Teng Shih K'ou) in Dongcheng District,

Beijing } Beijing ( ; ; ), alternatively romanized as Peking ( ), is the capital of the People's Republic of China. It is the center of power and development of the country. Beijing is the world's most populous national capital city, with over 21 ...

. It was the largest Protestant church in Beijing until it was demolished during the

Cultural Revolution The Cultural Revolution, formally known as the Great Proletarian Cultural Revolution, was a sociopolitical movement in the People's Republic of China (PRC) launched by Mao Zedong in 1966, and lasting until his death in 1976. Its stated goal ...

History

Built in 1864, as part of Bridgman Girls' College founded by

Eliza Jane Gillett Bridgman Eliza Jane Gillett Bridgman (1805–1871) was a pioneer educational Christian mission, missionary in China. She was born in Derby, Connecticut, to Canfield and Hannah Gilett. Graduating at age sixteen, she became an assistant teacher at the boardin ...

, the Teng Shih K'ou Church was the oldest of the

American Board Mission The American Board of Commissioners for Foreign Missions (ABCFM) was among the first American Christian missionary organizations. It was created in 1810 by recent graduates of Williams College. In the 19th century it was the largest and most imp ...

churches in Beijing. According to Sidney D. Gamble, it was "a beautiful example of Gothic architecture". The membership roll of the church included some three hundred families, notable for its well-trained pastor and a large number of well-to-do congregants. The church was under the care of Henry Blodget (1825–1903), before being burnt down in 1900 during the

Boxer Rebellion The Boxer Rebellion, also known as the Boxer Uprising, the Boxer Insurrection, or the Yihetuan Movement, was an anti-foreign, anti-colonial, and anti-Christian uprising in China between 1899 and 1901, towards the end of the Qing dynasty, by ...

. In 1902, it was rebuilt by

William Scott Ament William Scott Ament (Chinese Names: 梅子明 and 梅威良 Mei Wei Liang) (14 September 1851 – 6 January 1909 in San Francisco) was a missionary to China for the American Board of Commissioners for Foreign Missions (ABCFM) from 1877, and wa ...

. During the

Republican era Republican Era can refer to: * Minguo calendar, the official era of the Republic of China It may also refer to any era in a country's history when it was governed as a republic or by a Republican Party. In particular, it may refer to: * Roman Re ...

(1912–1949), the church was involved in numerous charitable activities. For instance, a speech in English given by

Nellie Yu Roung Ling Nellie Yu Roung Ling ( zh, t=裕容齡, w=Yü Jung-ling, p=Yù Rónglíng; 188216 January 1973), also spelt Nelly, was a Hanjun Plain White bannerwoman and dancer, who is considered "the first modern dancer of China". She was the younger daught ...

took place at the church in 1921, in aid of the "School for Poor Children" charity funds. In 1958, in order to support the

Great Leap Forward The Great Leap Forward (Second Five Year Plan) of the People's Republic of China (PRC) was an economic and social campaign led by the Chinese Communist Party (CCP) from 1958 to 1962. CCP Chairman Mao Zedong launched the campaign to reconstruc ...

campaign, the sixty or so churches in Beijing were forced to combine their worship services at four facilities, Teng Shih K'ou Church being one of them. During the

(1966–1976), the church was demolished by

Red Guards Red Guards () were a mass student-led paramilitary social movement mobilized and guided by Chairman Mao Zedong in 1966 through 1967, during the first phase of the Cultural Revolution, which he had instituted.Teiwes According to a Red Guard lead ...

References

{{coord missing, Beijing Former Congregational churches Destroyed churches Churches in Beijing Churches destroyed by arson Rebuilt churches Protestant churches in China 19th-century churches in China 20th-century churches in China Gothic Revival church buildings in China Churches completed in 1864