The renovation work has begun, and local Catholic church-goers should be able to attend church beginning in October, after a lapse of 52 years, said Wang Chunqing, deputy head of Hulan County in Harbin.

The church was built in 1908 by a French clergyman. Covering an area of 560 square meters, it includes the main church building, built in Gothic style, and two church-related buildings, built in Baroque style. The 30-meter high Gothic building bears a striking resemblance to the well-known Notre Dame de Paris in France.

Bao Guangjin, a priest with the Harbin Patriotic Catholic Association, said that the Hulan Catholic Church was unique in that its style reflects that of Notre Dame de Paris. Fourteen French and four Chinese priests used to live in the church, said Bao.

In 1951, the local Catholic church organization ceded ownership of the oriental "Notre Dame de Paris" to the Hulan government, and religious activities came to an end.

Local governments in China began returning churches to local religious groups in 1980, in line with the policy of the central government.

In May, the local government of Hulan signed a contract with the Harbin Patriotic Catholic Association ceding the property rights and rights to the use of the church to the association free of charge.

"The delivery is the implementation of the central government's policy on religious affairs and also reflects China's protection of people's religious freedom," said Wang.

The embossment around the arched gateway of the church is still telling religious stories after nearly a hundred years. The two belfries stand upright among green trees, and images portraying biblical stories on the arched doorway and windows are faintly visible.

The weather-beaten church is in need of urgent reparations after 52 years of neglect, the most urgent work involving the reparation of cracks in walls and floors.

The Harbin Patriotic Catholic Association, in charge of the restoration work, has collected 1.2 million yuan (US$145,000) for the project.

In addition, the local government of Hulan is sparing no effort to help the local Catholic group with the reparations, said Wang Chunqing. The local church group has been exempted from 17 taxable items related to the delivery and reparation work totaling over 100,000 yuan (US$12,000). The middle school beside the church has been moved to give the church more space.

As a measure of good will, the government has decided to invest 2.7 million yuan (US$326,000) to build a 20,000 sq. meter square complete with fountains, grass and flowers, around the church to enhance its beauty.

(Xinhua News Agency June 26, 2003)