Gothic cathedral stands as testament to community spirit and architectural pride
Xujiahui Cathedral is both an architectural marvel and a cultural legacy of Shanghai. The home of the Catholic Diocese of Shanghai pierces the sky with its towering Gothic spires.
Before 1851, Xujiahui was home to only a modest chapel built by believers, inadequate for the grand ceremonies of major festivals. Recognizing the need for a more substantial place of worship, the Jesuits began building a formal church that year.
The completed edifice, later known as Old Xujiahui Church, was dedicated to St Ignatius of Loyola, the founder of the Jesuit order. It could accommodate more than 200 worshippers.
The church was structurally sound and esthetically unique, blending some Greek ornamentation with Chinese lanterns, creating a harmonious East-West style.
The church was a significant landmark in Shanghai, its Chinese-style rear wall, courtyard and gate embodying traditional Chinese architecture.
In its early days, Xujiahui’s Catholic community was small, numbering only about 40. However, the tumult of the Taiping Rebellion (1850-64) sent many believers seeking refuge in the area.
By the 1880s, with the community flourishing, the French Jesuits envisioned a grander structure to accommodate the growing flock. Fundraising for the new cathedral began in 1886, with British architect W.M. Dowdall undertaking its design in 1904.
Construction, which started two years later, was completed in September 1910, resulting in a brick and wood structure reminiscent of the grand cathedrals of medieval France. It was said to be able to accommodate more than 2,000 worshippers.
The grand opening and blessing of the Xujiahui Cathedral took place on October 22, 1910, followed by its