九州大学出版会 Kyushu University Press

Introduction

    This book presents a comprehensive history
of the development of Catholic Church architecture in Hong Kong from its birth
as a British colony in the mid-19th century and development as an international
financial hub throughout the 1900s, to its handover from British to Chinese
sovereignty in 1997, and subjection to a radical “mainlandisation” process in the
2020s. The author describes how the geopolitics of each period shaped the
architectural forms and usage of churches in ways that have radically distinguished them from their western
counterparts.

    The book also describes how the role of lay
Catholics in the building of churches in Hong Kong grew from almost nothing in
the 1950s, when most were refugees, to being one of dominance and
responsibility. As society matured in the late 20th century and Catholic lay
movements flourished worldwide with the development of new spiritualities,
consciousness of the significance of faith in everyday life among Catholics in
Hong Kong deepened profoundly. This book presents an in-depth study of Catholic
building professionals as a significant example, showing how architects,
engineers and builders pursued their spiritual growth through a deep
involvement in Church building projects.

    The 2020s left Hong Kong in a state of
profound political and social flux. The virtual trashing of the One Country,
Two Systems policy has seriously curtailed freedom, especially of speech and
media, and placed religion under extreme threat. Nevertheless, there are still
examples of Catholics striving to live out their faith. Those dedicated to
building and caring for churches in this Special Administrative Region of China
are the worthy subjects of this study.

Contents

Author

Ayako Fukushima, Ph.D., is a historian and Associate Professor at Kyushu University, Japan, as well as an honorary research associate at the Centre for Catholic Studies at the Chinese University of Hong Kong. Her research interests include the history of 19th and 20th century Church architecture in Japan and Hong Kong and theory of heritage conservation. Her publications in English include, “Demolition of tangible properties as an intangible practice” in World Heritage, Tourism and Identity: Inscription and Co-production, edited by Laurent Bourdeau and Maria Gravari-Barbas (Routledge, 2015).