Xincheng Catholic Church Introduction
Hidden among the alleys of Xincheng Township, the church resembles Noah's Ark. Notably, its predecessor was the Xincheng Shrine from the Japanese occupation period, thereby combining two different faiths into one building. Through historical evolution and the wisdom of the clergy, they have merged and thrived together. At Xincheng Park, after passing the entrance gate (formerly the first torii of the shrine), turn left and walk straight to the end, where you will find the second torii of the shrine, inscribed with "Catholic Church." From the torii, looking towards the worship path, you will see trees and flowers flourishing on either side, creating a serene and elegant atmosphere, with red stone lanterns standing next to the worship path. In front of the boat-shaped church, the walls are covered with vines, verdant and lush, with stone lanterns positioned on both sides, and the cross at the top faintly visible. Continuing forward, you will reach the third torii of the shrine ruins. In addition to the stone lanterns, there are also komainu statues flanking the torii, presenting a distinctly Japanese shrine architecture. Passing through the torii and walking to the end, the original main hall of the shrine has been transformed into the Blessed Mother Pavilion, with a statue of the Virgin Mary displayed in front, and several ancient pines towering towards the sky, creating a very tranquil environment. The Xincheng Catholic Church was built in 1956 at the original site of the shrine. The overall architectural beauty is considered the best in Eastern Taiwan, with long windows on both sides of the boat-shaped church adorned with stained glass, neatly aligned with a pebble wall covered in vines; the interior of the church is clean and simple, yet solemn and sacred. On the right side at the back, there is a baptismal font, originally a stone wash basin for cleansing hands and body, now placed inside the church, serving as holy water in the eyes of the faithful, while on the left is a small confession area. Because of history, the buildings of two different faiths have been combined here, allowing visitors to see the coexistence of torii gates and stone lanterns from the Japanese shrine alongside the cross and statue of the Virgin Mary of the Catholic Church, radiating a tranquil power of stability and peace.
