Our Lady of Sorrows Church, Mengjiazhai

Mengjiazhai Catholic Church (孟家宅圣母七苦堂, Mèngjiāzhái Shèngmǔ Qīkǔ Táng), at 1295 Yangquan Road in Baoshan District, is a village parish that was moved to its present site in 1999.

Where did it begin?

The Baoshan District Gazetteer says the church, first called Our Lady of Sorrows, was founded in 1861. Before 1949 it was one of eight chapels in the parish of the Luke Church (路加堂) at Zhujiazhai, with about 130 parishioners in what was then Jiangwan district. Religious activity stopped in 1955.

How did it come back?

The diocese regained the property in 1990. Activity resumed in November 1992, and the church was formally registered in 1994. In 1999 it moved to its present site because of municipal construction. The new site covers 1,149 square metres, with 489.45 square metres of floor space; the church then had 250 parishioners.

A closure for repairs

A notice dated 2 July 2025 and signed by the church tells parishioners that all activity would stop from 8 July 2025 while the building was repaired, with completion expected on 8 July 2026, after about twelve months. During that time worshippers were asked to use other churches. Check whether the church has reopened before you visit.

What to look for

The building is a relocated and repaired church, so there is little historic fabric from 1861. If the notice of the repair is still posted, it dates the works.