The Mu'en Church, located at Xizang
Central Road in Shanghai downtown, was originally the Methodist church of
Shanghai.
First established in 1887, the church was
formerly named the Moore Church to memorize the great American donator Moore.
In 1929, the church was moved westward to the present
site.
The church was a new
gothic church designed by a European architect. The construction was completed
in 1931. It features a brick-and-wood structure. It has a big lobby, and the
central part is the main body of the church. It can accommodate about 1,000
people, with 560 in the hall, 380 in the balcony, and 60 in the choirs. The
rectangle pillars in the hall, the balusters in the balcony, and the bema are
covered with artificial stones. The concrete ribbed vault can be seen
inside the church. In 1936, an American Christian donated a cross of 5 meters
high illuminated by neon light when he visited the church. The cross was
installed on the top of the bell tower, making the church well known in Shanghai
and Fareast Asia then. In 1958, Christians of various denominational divisions
worshiped here together and officially named it the Mu'en Church.