Kunming Saint John Gospel Church
Kunming Saint John Gospel Church (昆明圣约翰堂) is one of the two Christian churches currently open in Kunming. This church features the traditional architectural style of the Reformation period, with a rectangular auditorium oriented north-south. It has no columned aisles and features arched windows on both side walls. The pulpit is located at the north end of the main hall, with the choir situated on the west side of the pulpit.
Historical Significance
An inscription is embedded in the wall at the entrance of Saint John Gospel Church, located at No. 12 Dongfeng West Road, Wuhua District. The inscription is made of marble and features two large marble tablets, inscribed in both Chinese and English, which read: “This hall is dedicated to God and commemorates the allied soldiers who died in China, 1937 to 1945.”
The church was built in 1915, based on the original Anglican Church established on Wanzhong Street. During the Anti-Japanese War, some “Anglican” believers from the American forces stationed in Kunming would come here for weekly worship.
When the renovation of the church was completed in 1946, urns containing the ashes of 17 Flying Tiger (飞虎队) pilots who sacrificed their lives during the Anti-Japanese War were hung on both sides of the church (these urns were taken away by the American consul when he left Kunming in 1948). In 1947, the original wooden structure of the church was dismantled, and a new brick and wood structure was built to accommodate hundreds of worshippers.
After its completion, the church was named the “Memorial Hall for American Troops Assisting in the War” (来华助战美军纪念堂). In 1948, the church on Wanzhong Street was transformed into a cathedral, named “Saint John Church.” The church follows the traditional architectural style of the Reformation period, featuring a rectangular auditorium oriented north-south, no columned aisles, arched windows on both side walls, a pulpit at the north end of the main hall, and a choir on the west side of the pulpit.
In 1958, the Anglican Church merged with other denominations, and Saint John Church was no longer used as a church. After 1962, Saint John Church was closed. In 1986, it was returned to the Christian “Two Associations” in Kunming and was later rebuilt.
Current Status
Currently, it is designated as a district-level cultural relic protection unit in Wuhua District.
Contact Information:
- Phone: 0871-63661235
Estimated Visit Duration:
- 1-3 hours
Admission Fees:
- Please consult the scenic area for specific details.
Opening Hours:
- 08:00 AM to 06:00 PM (January 1 – December 31, Monday – Sunday)
Location:
- No. 12 Dongfeng West Road, Wuhua District, Kunming, Yunnan Province (云南省昆明市五华区东风西路12号)
