Loutang Catholic Church

English printed on the sign

Loutang Catholic Church
Loutang Catholic Church, located in the north of Renmin Street, Loutang, was originally built in the reign of Emperor Kang Xi of the Qing Dynasty, and rebuilt in the third year (1877) of Emperor Guang Xu of the Qing Dynasty, and called Peter's Church. The Church was used for other purposes after the mid-twentieth century, and rebuilt in 1990 and recovered its religious activities. The entire courtyard is comprised of the main church and 7 subsidiary buildings, with an area of 4,000m2. The main church, located in the center of the courtyard and facing south, is a Chinese traditional architecture, which is of brick-wood structure, and with hill ceiling, and Chinese style tile roofing. There are three single-storey rooms in the west, which is facing east, and of brick-wood structure, with hill ceiling, and Chinese style tile roofing, six-step horizontal spacing between purlins, flat lifting-beam typed four-realm beam, typically representing the architectural style prevailing in late Ming Dynasty and early Qing Dynasty.

Our translation of the Chinese

Loutang Catholic Church stands at the northern end of Renmin Street in Loutang Town. It was first built during the Kangxi reign of the Qing dynasty and rebuilt in 1877, the third year of the Guangxu reign, when it was called St Peter's Church. For a period after the mid-20th century, it was put to other uses. It was restored in 1990, when religious activities resumed.

The entire compound comprises the main church and seven groups of surrounding ancillary buildings, occupying 4,000 square metres. The main church stands at the centre of the compound and faces south. It is a traditional Chinese building with a brick-and-timber structure, a flush-gable roof and small grey roof tiles.

The three single-storey rooms on the west side face east. They also have a brick-and-timber structure, flush-gable roofs and small grey tiles. Their timber framing has six purlin intervals and flat-section beams in a raised-beam system, including a main beam spanning four purlin intervals. The architectural style is that of the late Ming and early Qing periods.

Chinese text

娄塘天主堂，位于娄塘镇人民街北端。始建于清康熙年间，清光绪三年（1877）重建，称伯多禄堂。二十世纪中叶后一度改作他用。1990年重修并恢复宗教活动。整个院落由主堂及其周围的7组辅助建筑组成，占地面积达4000平方米。主堂位于院落中心，坐北朝南，为中国传统建筑，砖木结构，硬山顶，小青瓦屋面。西侧平房三间，坐西朝东，砖木结构，硬山式，小青瓦屋面，六步架，扁作抬梁式四界梁，为明末清初建筑风格。