Baoding Catholic Church: A Building of Faith and History

Baoding Catholic Church was built in 1901 (the 24th year of the Guangxu reign of the Qing Dynasty) and expanded in 1910 (the 3rd year of the Xuantong reign of the Qing Dynasty) by a French missionary. It was named "St. Peter's Church." Baoding Catholic Church is located in the center of Baoding City, Hebei Province. To the south is the ancient Lotus Pond, to the east is the famous Buddhist temple Daci Pavilion, and to the west is the Zhili Governor's Office. The church is not only a place for religious activities but also a key cultural relic protection unit in Hebei Province. In 2023, it was included in the "Eighth Batch of 20th Century Architectural Heritage of China." The church is a typical Romanesque building, 54.3 meters long, 17.6 meters wide, and 20 meters high. Inside, 14 towering red columns support the roof, and the altar has 12 marble-carved stone columns symbolizing the 12 disciples of Jesus Christ. On the walls on both sides hang 14 beautiful biblical paintings depicting the story of Jesus Christ's suffering and crucifixion. In addition, Baoding Catholic Church has witnessed the integration and harmonious coexistence of Chinese and Western cultures throughout history. Since 1910, it has been the cathedral of the Catholic Diocese of Baoding, incorporating elements of Chinese architecture and demonstrating profound Chinese cultural heritage.