Saint Peter's Church, Catholic church in Huangpu District, Shanghai, China
Saint Peter's Church is a Catholic church at 270 Chongqing Road in Huangpu District, Shanghai. Rebuilt in 1996, it occupies the third floor of a three-storey building, with the main hall under a Byzantine-style dome carried on four intersecting arches. The sanctuary is framed by a gilded niche with a triangular pediment on Corinthian columns, and the second floor holds the chapels.
The original church was built in 1933 to serve students of Aurora University, and it featured a Byzantine design with a central dome. During the Second Sino-Japanese War, the building became a refuge for people living in the surrounding area.
Services are held in English, French, German, and Korean, reflecting the makeup of Shanghai's international Catholic community. Attending a Sunday Mass gives a clear sense of how the congregation draws people from many different countries.
The church is on Chongqing Road, close to exit 6 of Xintiandi Metro station, so it is easy to reach on foot from the surrounding area. English-language services are held on Saturdays, which makes a visit straightforward for international travelers.
The 1995 rebuilding was funded by a 10 million yuan compensation payment from the elevated road project that forced the old church's demolition; the new structure was shifted slightly west of the original site and opened in July 1996, with Bishop Jin Luxian celebrating the reopening Mass.
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