When the Christians of Xinzhou in northern Shanxi Province gathered in the home of their pastor late last month they gave thanks for being able to meet a deadline in their decades-old quest to have their century-old church returned to them.

They had been required to prove title to the land and chapel buildings that are under threat of being torn down to make way, ironically, for a new Buddhist temple, which is already well under construction.  They met the government imposed deadline by just two days.

The documents submitted to the authorities on June 23 not only provide proof of the sale of the land in 1889, but they also reveal the fascinating story of the lives of British Baptist missionaries.

The 65-page document, prepared by Dr. Henry Zhang of Purdue University in the US on behalf of the local Christians, details the lives of a pastor Herbert Dixon, his wife Elizabeth and their colleagues. Their correspondence shows they spent a decade happily proselytizing in the far-flung region before being brutally murdered during the Boxer Rebellion in 1900.

Fastidious bookkeepers

Dixon may have believed he was on a mission from God but he was also a fastidious, detailed record keeper as required by his church's bosses back home. His original correspondences with the Baptist Missionary Society included a plea for funds to build a church and establish a variety of mission services.

The China sub-committee of the Baptist Mission Society agreed with Dixon's request. Its minutes spelled out exactly what was expected to be built for their 1,500 pounds investment. "The erection of new premises at this station, to consist of Chapel, Hospital, Opium Refuge, Schools, Accommodation for Teachers, and Inquirers' Room for Women's work, and two Dwelling houses for European Missionaries, at an estimated cost, including the needful land, of 1,500 sterling."

In letters to his daughters in England, Dixon reported on his mission's progress. "The Chapel has just been roofed in and begins to look quite nice; it will seat about 400 easily, and will cost about ￡250."

Dixon's wife Elizabeth also wrote loving letters to her girls that provide details on the size and goals of the mission.  "My work has been chiefly among the women and girls. I started a boarding school for native girls. I have only 10 pupils at present but others are coming. Our women's class on Wednesdays has been very well attended, indeed every branch of the work is prospering and we have much cause for thankfulness."

Prudence Dixon Bell, the great granddaughter of missionary Herbert Dixon. Photo: Courtesy of Dixon Bell

Unaware of approaching danger

Dixon's letters held in the archives of the Baptist Mission Society give no hint he was aware of the growing political threat that would take his life, and the lives of his wife and six other missionaries in the summer of 1900.

Another diary, Dixon's last, tells the harrowing tale of his attempted escape from Boxers. The eight missionaries fled their church compound and were hidden by the local faithful. When that arrangement grew too dangerous they fled into the surrounding mountains. 

While in hiding they learned that 46 other missionaries had been executed in Taiyuan, Shanxi's capital. Dixon recounted what he had been told: "Ms Lovett was the last one killed and she carried her little son Jack in her arm to the execution ground. She asked a question that no one can answer, 'We came to China to bring the good news of salvation through Jesus Christ to you for your good and we never intended to harm you. Why do you treat us in this way?'"

After 28 days on the run Dixon and his confreres were finally captured and murdered. Their mission had been burned to the ground. His final diary entry expresses no regret about his life in China.

By 1910 the mission had been rebuilt as cost reports stored in the archives of the Baptist Mission Society show. 

Church used as dormitories

The buildings on mission property have changed hands and function many times since the middle of 20th century. It was taken over by Japanese troops during WWII and it housed soldiers from the Kuomintang and the Red Army.  In 1951, the site was confiscated by the local government and used as a hospital and school. It has served as worker dormitories for the past several decades.

The legacy of the original missionaries also includes intangibles, such as the many people in Xinzhou who still call themselves Christian.

"When I was a child, I went there to worship with my grandmother. And when Japanese soldiers came many of us hid there," said Wang Liang, a 93-year-old local villager.  

In 2006, Dixon's great granddaughter, Prudence Dixon Bell, visited Xinzhou and the mission compound and urged local church leaders to apply to the Xinzhou Religious Affairs Bureau for the return of the church property. 

"We were told by officials that it was impossible and they even accused us of using foreign forces to threaten them, which was very hurtful to us," Li Yantang, an elder of the local church, told the Global Times.

Construction suspended

In May this year church leaders were informed that a Buddhist temple from Wutai Mountain had purchased the property for 6.5 million yuan ($1 million) and a new temple was to be built.

The local church immediately asked the government to stop the planned demolition of the church, saying the 100-year-old deed to the property should be recognized by law. 

In an emergency meeting on May 26, the Xinzhou government agreed to suspend construction and gave the church group a month to provide proof of ownership.

The construction site of the newly building temple in Xinzhou Shanxi Province. Photo: Courtesy of Xinzhou Church

Zhang, the Purdue University scholar has studied the history and stories of foreign missionaries in Shanxi Province for more than 12 years.

A week after hearing of the local government's month-long moratorium on demolition, Zhang found likely proof that might save the mission compound. He dug through the archives of the Baptist Mission Society in London, and found photographs, letters, minutes of meetings and bills of sale. They showed the land was bought from the local government for ￡50 and the cost of construction was ￡1,500. 

Dixon Bell showed Zhang original diaries detailing her great grandfather's good deeds in healing and educating the men, women and children of Xinzhou.

She also wrote an open letter to the local government asking the mission compound be saved. "It is clear that this land belonged to the church and was paid for by the missionaries of the time. Based on the documents that we have found so far, I feel extremely sad that this should be happening, but living so far away I can only ask for your help in this matter. I am asking you to return the land to the Christians of Xinzhou."


The last known picture of the Dixon family before departing for Shanxi, China in 1898

Support from 14 scholars

In a phone interview, Dixon Bell told the Global Times that she has twice contacted the Chinese Embassy in Britain but has yet to receive a response. "I really think justice needs to be served in this case," she said, alluding to her great grandparents gruesome deaths.

Dixon Bell has some serious support in her crusade. Fourteen scholars from China, Britain and United States have also penned an open letter to the Xinzhou government. They are led by Shi Zongheng, a senior researcher from Religion Research Institute of the Chinese Academy of Social Sciences. He believes the Xinzhou government should give the property back to the local church. 

"The land belonged to the church and they have proof to show they have rights to it," Shi told the Global Times.

Shi said the mission compound should be resurrected as a memorial to missionaries and to protect the city's cultural heritage. "It's a history that people should not forget," Shi said.  

The director of Xinzhou's Religious Affairs Bureau, Du Chunlin, curtly told the Global Times that he didn't know when the government would decide the fate of the church and abruptly hung up the phone.

Temple unaware of church's history

An official with the Pushou Temple in Wutai Mountain, told the Global Times the temple was not aware of the history of the church when they purchased the land from government. The assistant to the temple master, Yan Liang, said she sympathised with the church leaders but wouldn't say if her temple might be willing to share the land with the Christians. Yan says they are waiting for the government to make a decision, which she said the temple will respect.

Li Yantang, the Xinzhou church elder, said his group is also waiting patiently. "We have given them all the proof and we've been told the local government is waiting for a decision from a higher government department to make the decision."