The Catholic Churches of Wuhan

Wuhan, Hubei, China

Wuhan, the metropolis of the three rivers (Hankou, Wuchang and Hanyang), has been an important Catholic center in central China since the mid-19th century. The city houses several historical churches that witness the presence of faith in the Yangtsé River region.

History of evangelization in Hubei

The province of Hubei was initially evangelized by the Jesuits in the 17th century, but it was in the 19th century that the Hubei Mission was consolidated under the leadership of the missionaries of the Society of Foreign Missions of Paris (MEP). In 1856, the Apostolic Vicariate of Hubei was established, covering a vast region of central China.

Wuhan's strategic position, as a road crossing between North and South China, facilitated the spread of the Catholic faith. The missionaries established churches, schools and hospitals that became centres of evangelization.

La Catedral de San José de Wuhan

The Wuhan Cathedral, dedicated to San José, was built in 1876 in the Hankou district. The building, in a neo-Gothic style, was designed by the French architect Alfred Gaborit. The cathedral is 40 meters long and its two towers are 30 meters high.

The interior of the cathedral houses a major marble altar imported from Italy, as well as a series of vitrals representing scenes of the life of St. Joseph and the Virgin Mary. The cathedral has been restored several times, the last time in 1997 after the damage of the Cultural Revolution.

Other notable churches in Wuhan

Church of the Immaculate Conception (Wuchang): Built in 1880, this church served as the center of Catholic activity on the right bank of the Yangon. Its neo-Gothic architecture contrasts with the traditional Chinese temples around it.

Church of the Sacred Heart (Hanyang): Built in 1910, this church was the center of pastoral work among the workers of the Hanyang factories. During the communist persecution, she was converted into a school and then returned to veneration.

The martyrs of Hubei

Hubei province 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.

During the Chinese Civil War (1945-1949), the persecution intensified. Many priests and religious were imprisoned or executed. The Catholic community of Wuhan suffered especially during this period.

Faith in Wuhan today

At present, the diocese of Wuhan has an active Catholic community, although subject to the restrictions of the Chinese government. The Cathedral of San José celebrates daily masses and is a place of pilgrimage for the faithful of the whole province. The Catholic community of Hubei has kept alive its tradition of Marian devotion, especially to the Immaculate Conception and to St. Joseph.