Shanghai Church

Before 1949 Shanghai was the forward base within China of many missions and Christian denominations. By 1952 most Western missionaries had left, and soon after all denominations were merged together under the leadership of the Three Self Patriotic Movement. Nowadays, the church in Shanghai growed faster and faster.

Number of Protestants in Shanghai

1950 44,000
1965 36,000
1985 46,000
1988 60,000
1990 80,000
1992 106,000
1993 120,000

These figures show that the number of Christians decreased from 1950 until the eve of the Cultural Revolution under the pressure of incessant political campaigns. However, by 1985 numbers had recovered to the 1950 figure. Since then there has been astonishing growth every year with thousands baptised. By 1993 Shanghai Protestants attending officially-registered churches was about three times the number in 1985, only eight years previously. These figures do not include the very large number of Christians who continue to meet in unregistered house-churches throughout Shanghai.

Shanghai is well-off in terms of trained pastors and facilities compared to most other places in China. In 1996 there were more than forty pastors and 120 elders and preachers ministering in the registered churches. Shanghai has a large theological seminary which is planning to move to brand-new premises.

A Thriving Protestant Church in Shanghai
Historical Shanghai Church Reborn
Church growth in Shanghai