Sacred Heart Cathedral of Shenyang, Gothic Revival cathedral in Shenyang, China
The Sacred Heart Cathedral, also called Nanguan or Xiaonan Catholic Church, is a pure Gothic brick cathedral at 40 Nanlejiao Road in Shenhe District. It faces south, measures 54 meters deep, and has twin towers 40 meters high; a large rose window fills the center of the facade. It was rebuilt from 1909 to 1912 to Henri Lamasse's design.
French architect Henri Lamasse designed this building, which was constructed using reparation funds from the Qing government following the Boxer Rebellion. Its completion marked the establishment of Catholic presence in this region of China.
Locals call it Nanguan or Xiaonan Catholic Church, after the southern gate district where it stands. Paul Pei was installed as Bishop of Shenyang in 2006 and appointed Metropolitan Archbishop in 2008. Mass is still celebrated in the cathedral, and a 23,000-square-metre sunken square laid out in front of it in 2000–2001 now serves as the gathering space.
The cathedral stands at 40 Nanlejiao Road in Shenhe District, facing south, with a 23,000-square-metre sunken plaza built in front of it between 2000 and 2001. The twin towers rise 40 metres and the nave runs 54 metres deep, so allow time to walk around the exterior as well as inside.
Before 1949 the cathedral was the tallest building in Shenyang, its twin spires rising 40 metres above the Nanguan district. The present structure replaced the 1878 church burned in July 1900, and was rebuilt with Boxer indemnity funds between 1909 and 1912.
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