The Catholic Church on Weizhou Island is located in Shengtang Village in the northeastern part of the island, where 80% of the villagers are Catholic followers.
This Catholic Church, originally built in 1853 by the Paris Foreign Missions Society, remains a place of religious activity and is reputed to be a site where prayers are particularly effective.
Shengtang Village is about 8 kilometers from the town center and can be reached by renting a bicycle on the island. Visitors are welcome to freely explore the church, but they must remove their hats and maintain silence.
Upon entering the church, one might occasionally see couples taking wedding photos, while you can sit quietly inside and appreciate the exhibits and decorations, feeling the sacred atmosphere.
Despite its long history, the main structure of the church is well-preserved. At the time of construction, there was no steel or cement; the building materials were all sourced from the island’s coral, rocks, and lime, making it quite unique.
It is a typical French Gothic church from the Renaissance period, featuring a towering Romanesque spire. Compared to the surrounding low houses, the church stands out as particularly magnificent and eye-catching.
The church’s bell tower has a stone spiral staircase that allows a single person to ascend to the second floor.
Atop the tower hangs a large silver-alloy bell cast in 1889, which is rung by the bell-ringer every Sunday morning, drawing island residents to attend services.
The sanctuary features stained-glass windows, and the nave is adorned with large pointed arch windows, which are especially beautiful when sunlight streams in.
Exiting through the side door of the church, one can see century-old mango and jackfruit trees, and outside the church, there are many stalls selling goods, with a farmers’ market offering seafood in the afternoon.
Additionally, in the central part of Weizhou Island, in Chengzai Village, there is a smaller-scale Chapel of the Virgin Mary, which can be visited if one has time to spare.
The entire text is open all year round from 08:00 to 17:30.
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