Shanghai Mu En Methodist Church

Mu En is arguably the most beautiful church in Shanghai. Its rhombus flower windows give it a sense of elegance and respect not usually found in many other Shanghai churches. A visit to Mu En (whose name means "bathed in grace" in Chinese) should allow you a few moments of peace and serenity before you return to the Shanghai streets.

Originally, named Moore Church, the church was established as a managing hall in 1887, by C.F. Reid, a missionary with the American Methodist Episcopal Church. In 1900, the managing hall was named Moore in memory of the assistance that Arthur J. Moore provided the organization.

Originally built at the intersection of Hankou Road Yunnan Road, the rapid spread of Christianity in Shanghai lead to a dramatic explosion of church membership in 1920. The church was simply too small to accommodate such a large influx of new followers, and in 1929, a new larger church began construction at 316 Xizang Zhong Road. Finishing construction in 1931, the church showed off a new modem style of architecture, glistening with the spirit of the age.

Because of Shanghai's special topographical considerations, many churches here do not face north and south, and Mu En is no exception. Mu En's orientation is arranged so that the front of the Church faces West, making it a daily witness to the Shanghai sunset At 3138 square meters, the Church's size is significant. Designed by the famous Hungarian architect, Laszlo Hudec, the church's makes free use of its planes and its shape, filling it with a simple and Heavenly mystery. When Mu En's construction was completed in 1931, it was widely admired as a magnificent work of architecture and the considered first among China's churches.

In 1936 money was donated to place a motorized five meter neon crucifix at the top of the spire. When the motor at the bot-tom of the crucifix was turned on, the crucifix slowly rotated and could be seen far and wide. Still there today, the neon cross has greatly increased the church's visibility, and helped spread its fame in and around Shanghai. Church services were halted during the Cultural Revolution, and for a time, the church was utilized as a subsidiary of Nanjing Middle School. Services resumed in 1979, allowing the sounds of prayer to once again reverberate throughout the Shanghai air.