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Amidst numerous stunning churches in Nam Dinh province, Xuong Dien Church stands out for being entirely crafted from wood and adorned with a gleaming layer of gold, enough to mesmerize distant travelers at first glance.
Xuong Dien Church – A Unique Wooden Church Covered in Gold in Nam Dinh
Xuong Dien Church was constructed since July 2018 and has now become a destination not only for the local Catholic community but also for travelers from afar. The church's overall appearance measures 62 meters in length, 20 meters in width, with two transepts spanning 32 meters each, and two bell towers soaring at 39.5 meters high, featuring stairs tiled with natural stone.
The church's architectural design includes a system of 4 roofs, comprising upper and lower roofs, entirely tiled with fish scale tiles. The church space features 10 rafters, 4 rows of columns, with two main rows of columns towering approximately 11-12 meters high and two side rows reaching 6.8 meters high, divided into 11 spacious bays for preaching sessions.
The outer walls of Xuong Dien Church are constructed with bricks, while the interior is lined with wood to harmonize with the entire system of rafters and columns. Following the European Gothic style like many other churches in Vietnam, the church distinctly showcases the characteristics of Catholic churches but is also infused with elements of Eastern style. A highlight of the church is its three holy arches adorned with gold.
The amount of timber required to build the church is estimated at around 1,300 cubic meters, mainly consisting of South African yellowwood and ironwood. The cost of hiring craftsmen to erect and carve the wooden columns amounts to over 4 billion Vietnamese dong, and it takes approximately 3 years to complete all wooden elements.
Over 85% of the construction funds for the church are contributed by parishioners, with the remainder coming from parishioners from distant villages and charitable organizations. Every week, parishioners diligently come to sweep and clean the wooden pillars and the holy altar, ensuring that the church is always immaculate and maintaining the necessary solemnity.
Xuong Dien parish currently has over 4,500 believers, with the Xuong Dien church serving as the main religious center. On major holidays like Christmas, the church attracts a large number of worshippers for activities and festive celebrations. Moreover, many non-religious tourists also visit the church to admire its beauty and take photos, hoping for a peaceful new year.
According to Mytour
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Reference: Mytour Travel Guide
MytourJanuary 12, 2023
