St. Michael's Church

Also known as Taijichang Catholic Church, it is the smallest Catholic church in downtown Beijing and the last Catholic church built in Beijing. Located in Dongjiaomin Lane, Dongcheng District, it was originally a French consulate and was built in the 27th year of Guangxu in the Qing Dynasty (1901). Created for French high priests (priests). The church is dedicated to Michael, the archangel Michael. On the north side of St. Michael's Church is a gray brick two-story Western-style building for the clergy. The church in the west is a Gothic building. Built on a high platform, it faces south from north to south, fourteen rooms deep from north to south, three rooms wide from east to west, and the main body is gray tile. There are two conical minarets in the south of the top of the hall. There are tower flowers carved around the tower. There are niches on both sides of the main entrance, which are the Hall of Sages. The east niche is dedicated to Joseph, and the west niche is dedicated to the Virgin. The roof of the church is sloping and covered with gray glazed tiles. The hall has stained glass windows. There are column supports, wooden floors, and a lectern in the north. The front is enshrined with the statue of "Miell". There are 10 brick bungalows on the east side of the sanctuary. The church was originally used by foreigners, and the priests were all French. In 1951, when foreign priests left the country, the Chinese were appointed priests of the church. In 1958, the church was used by Dongjiaominxiang Primary School. In 1986, the school moved out, and after renovation, it temporarily served as a nun, and resumed religious activities. Reopened in 1989.