Northern Church

The Xishiku Catholic Church, also called Xishiku Church (or Salvador Church, meaning Christ Church), is located west of Zhongnanhai, at Canchikou and west of the Ziguang Pavilion, so it is also called the Canchikou Church. The sanctuary was later moved to Xishiku Street as the Catholic North Church.
The Xishiku Church is now the largest Catholic Church in Beijing and the
Beijing Cardinal Bishop's office is also located here. The style of the building is in typical Gothic style and it is famous for its grand architecture. Originally, it was land bestowed by Emperor Kangxi of the Qing Dynasty who also hand-wrote the calligraphic plaque and couplets for the building. Two pavilions with green glazed tile roofs were built on each side in front of the church with stone columns and stone lions surrounding and guarding the place of worship resulting in the architectural style of Chinese gardens.
Built in 1890 by a French mission, the church was formerly the centre of a great complex of schools, orphanages and hospitals. The building has a tall, wide nave with side aisles, octagonal transepts and a huge sanctuary. There are many chandeliers and large, painted Stations of the Cross, antique stained glass and the remains of old wall decorations.