Photography American Methodist Mission

A black-and-white photograph showing the Methodist Mission buildings at the American embassy or legation, part of Beijing’s Legation Quarter (Dongjiaominxiang 東交民巷). Between 1861 and 1959, the latter was established in the area of the Inner City (Neicheng 内城), east of present-day Tiananmen Square (Tiananmen Guangchang 天安門廣場), and south of the Forbidden City (Gugong 故宫 or Zijincheng 紫禁城). The territories of each legation were surrounded by a wall. In the legations, foreign powers built various infrastructures – from churches, hospitals, barracks, post offices and schools to banks, and hippodromes.

Today, the Methodist Church limits its missions on the Asian continent to the Philippines, Mongolia, and part of Southeast Asia, but in the past it was spread throughout Asia. Its activities in China began in 1847 with the establishment of the Central Conference of China. The Methodist Church developed greatly in China and in the following years led two missions, one in the north and one in the south. Both had to be closed in 1949, as did the missions in Manchuria and Siberia.

The photograph is the 55th of 449 photographs of Beijing and its surroundings in the album of Ivan Skušek Jr., purchased during his stay in Beijing (1914–1920). In the handwritten inventory of the album, the photograph is referred to as Amerik. Meth. Mission. (DZ, MV)