The Catholic Churches of Guiyang

Guizhou, China

Guiyang, the capital of Guizhou, has been an important Catholic center in southwestern China since the 19th century. The province of Guizhou, a land of mountains and valleys, has been the scene of one of the Church's most moving martyrdom stories in China.

History of evangelization in Guizhou

The province of Guizhou was evangelized by the missionaries of the Society of Foreign Missions of Paris (MEP) in the 19th century. In 1846, the Apostolic Vicariate of Guizhou was established, covering a vast region of southwestern China. The missionaries had to overcome enormous geographical and climatic difficulties to reach remote mountain communities.

Guizhou's strategic position, as a gateway to the southwestern provinces, facilitated the spread of the Catholic faith. The missionaries established churches, schools and hospitals that became centres of evangelization.

The Cathedral of the Immaculate Conception of Guiyang

The Cathedral of Guiyang, dedicated to the Immaculate Conception, was built in 1876 by the French missionaries. The building, in a neo-Gothic style, was designed by the French architect Alfred Gaborit. The cathedral is 32 meters long and its tower is 25 meters high.

The interior of the cathedral houses a major altar of marble imported from Italy, as well as a series of vitrals representing scenes of the life of the Virgin Mary. The cathedral has been restored several times, the last time in 2001.

The martyrs of Guizhou

The province of Guizhou has given many martyrs to the Church. During the Boxer Rebellion (1900), several Chinese missionaries and faithful were killed. Among the best known martyrs are parents Pietro Cesari and Giovanni Battista Tornatore, missionaries of the MEP.

However, the best known martyrdom in Guizhou is that of the "martyrs of the persecution of 1858." During the Taiping Rebellion, many Chinese Catholics were killed by their faith. Among them are parents Jean- Pierre Néel and Mgr. Étienne Albrand, who were executed in Guiyang.

Persecution and survival

During the Cultural Revolution (1966- 1976), the Cathedral of Guiyang was desecrated and converted into a warehouse. The vitrals were destroyed and the sacred images burned. However, the clandestine Catholic community kept the faith alive, celebrating masses in private houses.

After the religious opening of the 1980s, the cathedral was restored and returned to worship. The Catholic community of Guizhou has kept alive its tradition of Marian devotion, especially to the Immaculate Conception and Our Lady of Perpetual Relief.

Guiyang today

At present, the diocese of Guiyang has an active Catholic community, including the faithful of the ethnic minorities of Guizhou. The cathedral celebrates daily masses and is a place of pilgrimage for the faithful of the whole province. The city of Guiyang, as an old border post, retains a rich Christian heritage that includes the cathedral and various parish churches.