Shanghai Holy Trinity Cathedral: From Colonial Landmark to Living Heritage
What you’re seeing in this video is a historic Christian church located on Jiujiang Road, Shanghai — the Holy Trinity Cathedral.
This church was originally designed by the famous British architect George Gilbert Scott in 1847, built in the Neo-Gothic architectural style.
Its foundation stone was laid in May 1866, and the church officially opened to the public on August 1, 1869 — over 150 years ago. (The information in this video is mainly sourced from **Wikipedia.)
The Holy Trinity Cathedral was once known locally as the “Red Church,” because of its distinctive red-brick exterior, a reflection of traditional Victorian-style British architecture.
After the founding of the People’s Republic of China in 1949, the church, which originally belonged to the Anglican Church, was transformed into a local Chinese Christian church.
During the Cultural Revolution, the cathedral suffered severe damage. Its spire was removed, its stained-glass windows and interior decorations destroyed, and its religious functions completely suspended. For many years, the building was repurposed — first as government offices, and later even as a cinema and administrative building.
In the modern era, the Holy Trinity Cathedral was restored to its former glory. In 2022, after a major renovation, it was reopened to the public. Today, the cathedral is managed by the Shanghai Christian Three-Self Patriotic Movement, known simply as the “Three-Self Church.”
If you’re visiting Nanjing Road or the Bund in Shanghai, take a short walk to Jiujiang Road and see this magnificent building for yourself. With its 150 years of history, the Holy Trinity Cathedral stands as a symbol of faith, heritage, and the enduring cultural fusion of East and West in Shanghai.