Nanchang, Archdiocese of

NANCHANG, ARCHDIOCESE of. — On 19 Aug. 1879, the apostolic vicariate of Kiangsi, which comprised the civil province of the same name, was divided into the apostolic vicariates of northern and southern Kiangsi. The former (28 Aug. 1885) was further divided, giving rise to that of eastern Kiangsi (v. YÜKIANO); on 25 Aug. 1920 it ceded 2 civil subprefectures Kian (v.) and took the name of apostolic vicariate of Kiukiang, after the principal city, the seat of the Ordinary; on 3 Dec. 1924 it was given the name of N., after the city to which the apostolic vicar had meanwhile transferred his residence. On 11 Apr. 1946, with the establishment of the episcopal hierarchy in China, N. was raised to a metropolitan archdiocese, with the suffragan dioceses of Kanchow, Kian, Nancheng, and Yükiang. From the beginning it has been entrusted to the Congregation of the Mission.

It has an area of 46,000 sq. km.; on 30 June 1948 it had approximately 5,000,000 inhabitants, of whom 29,717 were Catholics and 1,217 catechumens; approximately 8,000 Protestants and 1,200 Muslims. The missionary personnel, besides the archbishop, consisted of 20 Lazarists and 17 Chinese secular priests; 60 sisters,

of whom 48 were indigenous; 25 catechists, 49 teachers, 10 baptizers, 9 physicians, and 65 nurses. It had 1 minor and 1 major seminary; 4 districts with 25 parishes, 21 primary stations, and 416 secondary stations; 10 churches and 92 chapels. Its institutions included: 3 hospitals, 3 medical dispensaries, 3 orphanages, and 2 homes for the elderly; 11 elementary schools, 3 middle schools, 2 vocational schools, and 25 schools of prayer and elementary instruction.

The Christian origins of N. date back to the end of the 16th century and are shared with those Kian (v.). Father Matteo Ricci also passed through N. and preached there. Evangelization was hindered by almost continuous persecutions, which claimed not a few victims.