Sheshan Catholic Church, also known as the Church of the Sacred Heart of Jesus, is a renowned Gothic church in Shanghai. Constructed during the 11th year of the Tongzhi Emperor’s reign (1872), it predates the 6th year of the Xianfeng Emperor’s reign (1856). The church is a two-story building with a Latin cross-shaped floor plan and a basilica-style nave.
The exterior features a single bell tower in Gothic style, with the bell tower located above the main facade entrance. The top of the tower is a pointed spire, housing three bronze bells inside. The exterior walls are made of alternating blue and red bricks, with pointed arches for doors and windows.
The interior of the church is adorned with clustered columns and pointed arch ribbed ceilings, all painted with gray board strips. The floor is paved with patterned tiles, and the stained-glass windows depict figures, flowers, and texts. There are three altars inside, with the main altar dedicated to the statue of the Sacred Heart of Jesus, standing over eight feet tall, displaying an exposed heart and open arms, symbolizing benevolence and brotherly love. The side altars feature statues of the Virgin Mary and St. Joseph holding Jesus, both purchased from France.
Sheshan Catholic Church in Shanghai
Sheshan Catholic Church, also known as the Church of the Sacred Heart of Jesus, is a renowned Gothic[...]
