St. Joseph's Church

The Church of St. Joseph in Shanghai was built between 1860 and 1861 on the territory of the French concession. It is believed that during the construction of the temple, Napoleon III provided serious financial assistance. In 1862 the temple was consecrated. The building was built of brick, the design was made in the Romanesque style with elements of Gothic architecture.

Until the 1920s, St. Joseph’s was the only Catholic church in the city. After the establishment of a Catholic diocese in Shanghai, a small museum was created in the temple. During the Cultural Revolution, the church was closed and used for other purposes for the next twenty years. In the late 80s, the temple was returned to the faithful. Today, the Church of St. Joseph is one of the most interesting monuments of religious architecture in Shanghai.