Cheng Jingyi
Encyclopedia
Cheng Jingyi was an articulate pastor of an independent church in Beijing who came to hold every high office in the mainstream Sino-foreign Protestant
establishment in the 1920s and 1930s. He was also the founder of the Church of Christ in China
. Cheng was born in a Christian family of Manchu descent in Beijing, 1881. His father was a pastor of the London Missionary Society
congregation in China. Since his early childhood, Cheng had received conventional educational and later studied at the Anglo-Chinese Institute, formed by the London Missionary Society in Beijing. After graduating in 1896, Cheng attended the Theological institute held in Tianjin
, fully graduating by 1900.
In 1903 Cheng Jingyi assisted the London Missionary Society pastor George Owen in his efforts to revise and proofread the Chinese New Testament
. Due to health reasons, pastor Owen needed to return to Britain to continue his translation work and he also invited Cheng Jingyi to go along with him. Cheng stayed in Britain for five years and, apart from the fact that his English skills had improved, the missionary couple Mr. and Mrs. Eliot Curwin left a profound impact on his faith.
In 1906, after having completed the revision of the Bible translations, he took a theological course at the Glasgow Bible College. Upon graduating in 1908, Cheng returned to Beijing's Hutong
church and was formally ordained as a pastor at the age of twenty seven. Soon, he eanabled the local church congregation in which he was pastoring to be self-supporting and refused to accept any foreign funds from overseas Christians.
Shortly thereafter, Cheng was to play an important role in Chinese Protestant history. During the 1910 World Missionary Conference held in Edinburgh
, Cheng Jingyi was one of the three delegates representing the Chinese church and delivered a proposal which advocated for the creation of a totally independent and ecumenical Chinese church body which transcends all interdenominational labels. His speech left a deep impression on all the attendants present and at the conclusion of the conference, he was elected as one of the members of the newly established Continuation Committee.
Protestantism in China
Protestant Christianity entered China in the early 19th century, taking root in a significant way during the Qing Dynasty. Some historians consider the Taiping Rebellion to have been influenced by Protestant Christian teachings. Since the mid-20th century, there has been an increase in the number...
establishment in the 1920s and 1930s. He was also the founder of the Church of Christ in China
Church of Christ in China
The Church of Christ in China was the largest Protestant organization in Nanjing. The church's history goes back to 1922, when several Protestant denominations in China decided to unite...
. Cheng was born in a Christian family of Manchu descent in Beijing, 1881. His father was a pastor of the London Missionary Society
London Missionary Society
The London Missionary Society was a non-denominational missionary society formed in England in 1795 by evangelical Anglicans and Nonconformists, largely Congregationalist in outlook, with missions in the islands of the South Pacific and Africa...
congregation in China. Since his early childhood, Cheng had received conventional educational and later studied at the Anglo-Chinese Institute, formed by the London Missionary Society in Beijing. After graduating in 1896, Cheng attended the Theological institute held in Tianjin
Tianjin
' is a metropolis in northern China and one of the five national central cities of the People's Republic of China. It is governed as a direct-controlled municipality, one of four such designations, and is, thus, under direct administration of the central government...
, fully graduating by 1900.
In 1903 Cheng Jingyi assisted the London Missionary Society pastor George Owen in his efforts to revise and proofread the Chinese New Testament
New Testament
The New Testament is the second major division of the Christian biblical canon, the first such division being the much longer Old Testament....
. Due to health reasons, pastor Owen needed to return to Britain to continue his translation work and he also invited Cheng Jingyi to go along with him. Cheng stayed in Britain for five years and, apart from the fact that his English skills had improved, the missionary couple Mr. and Mrs. Eliot Curwin left a profound impact on his faith.
In 1906, after having completed the revision of the Bible translations, he took a theological course at the Glasgow Bible College. Upon graduating in 1908, Cheng returned to Beijing's Hutong
Hutong
Hutongs are a type of narrow streets or alleys, most commonly associated with Beijing, China.In Beijing, hutongs are alleys formed by lines of siheyuan, traditional courtyard residences. Many neighbourhoods were formed by joining one siheyuan to another to form a hutong, and then joining one...
church and was formally ordained as a pastor at the age of twenty seven. Soon, he eanabled the local church congregation in which he was pastoring to be self-supporting and refused to accept any foreign funds from overseas Christians.
Shortly thereafter, Cheng was to play an important role in Chinese Protestant history. During the 1910 World Missionary Conference held in Edinburgh
Edinburgh
Edinburgh is the capital city of Scotland, the second largest city in Scotland, and the eighth most populous in the United Kingdom. The City of Edinburgh Council governs one of Scotland's 32 local government council areas. The council area includes urban Edinburgh and a rural area...
, Cheng Jingyi was one of the three delegates representing the Chinese church and delivered a proposal which advocated for the creation of a totally independent and ecumenical Chinese church body which transcends all interdenominational labels. His speech left a deep impression on all the attendants present and at the conclusion of the conference, he was elected as one of the members of the newly established Continuation Committee.