The Shanghai Community Church

A diverse nightlife has started making incursions into Hengshan Lu's romantic splendor. More and more people come here to enjoy the early evening mist but overlook the living history on both sides of the road. The Shanghai Community Church is found on the central section of Hengshan Lu. A tall crucifix hides the front entrance. During the springtime, a thick blanket of ivy covers the wall like a green cape.

In the 1920's, a group of American Christians organized a choir group on Route Doumer (today's Donghu Lu). Deciding that they needed a more permanent place to conduct their choral activities, they had their first church built. Completed in 1920, the Americans constructed their church,

Unity Church, on Donghu Lu, and most of the church goers were Americans. In 1923, a more diverse group of internationals decided to build a church on Hengshan Lu. Construction was finished on March 8, 1925 and the church was called Shanghai Community Church. The church's neutral name reflects the church's tolerant nature and multi-denominational nature.

Shanghai Community Church's main entrance faces north. Its top is decorated with intersecting roof trusses, and its red brick structure, recalls old German pastoral ar-chitecture. When you walk inside you will be able to fully appreciate a more complete panoramic view of the structure. Both sides of the church have corridors with pointed arches and arched window frames. As the sun sets, golden shadows of light pour in through the windows. A walk out onto the polished stone terrace allows you to experi-ence the church's countryside simplicity.

As Shanghai Community Church's fame continues to spread, famous figures have begun showing up at church services. Among the long list of notables are former US president Jimmy Carter and his family. Moreover, religious figures like British Archbishop of Canterbury, Dr. Robert Runcie, famed warrior of peace, South Africa's Arch Bishop Desmond Tutu, and famous American evangelical, Dr. Billy Graham have all held religious services here. Today, church activities remain pretty typical, but it is still active with weekly Sunday services. The church's graceful musical tradition has also been preserved with a sixty member chorus. They perform peaceful worship music every Sunday as well as on Christmas and Easter. If you can make it to a Sunday service, you will have an opportunity to hear their moving and delightful sounds. We suggest taking a discrete recording device so that when you leave, you can take the music with you. Services are conducted by foreign nationals in English.

Travel Information

Address: Located at 53 Hengshan Lu in the Xuhui District (at the intersection of Hengshan Lu and Wulumuqi Nanlu). Walk north from the Hengshan Lu subway station to get here.

Telephone: 021-64376576

Hours of operation: The church is usually open. Church members will throw open the doors and welcome you in for Sunday services. Fixed Sunday service times at 7:30 am, 10:00 am, and 7 pm.