YENCHOW, DIOCESI of. - In the south-central part of the Shensi province, a vicariate apostolic of Northern Shensi (v. SIAN) was held for a long time from 1934 to 1937, established on January 8, 1886, by division of the vicariate apostolic of Northern Shensi, and was the first of the missions entrusted to the Society of the Divine Word in China. On December 3, 1924, it received its current name from the city of Y. It underwent a first division on February 11, 1925, Tsingtao (v.), a second on December 13, 1933, Yangku (v.), and a third on November 12, 1934, for that of Tsachow (v.). On April 11, 1946, it was elevated to a suffragan diocese of Tsinan.
It covers an area of approximately 30,000 sq. km. As of June 30, 1947, out of a population of approximately 3,500,000 inhabitants, there were 58,400 Catholics; 83 priests, of whom 13 were Chinese; 13 major seminarians, 19 lay brothers (5 of whom were Chinese); and 67 native and 64 foreign sisters. Among the institutions were 6 hospitals, 20 dispensaries, 2 orphanages, 1 boys' and 1 girls' college, and 140 schools. At Y. there was also a major seminary common to the missions of Y., Tsingtao, Ichow, Tsachow, and Yangku.
The religious of the Divine Word began their activity at Polichwang, now part of the mission of Yangku, where they arrived in 1882 and found a nucleus of 150 Christians. Despite many difficulties caused by the Boxer persecution, World War I and II, and other local causes, the excellent preparation of the Verbiti, guided by Bishops Johann B. von Anzer (1886-1903) and Augustin Henninghaus (1903-1936), imparted vigorous momentum to the missionary movement: as of June 30, 1947, the Christians of Y., of the three missions that arose from it (Tsingtao, Yangku, Tsachow), and of Ichow, which arose from Tsingtao, numbered 202,565. Bishop Anzer, in an attempt to bring the faith to the city of Tsachow, was subjected to the insults of a mob incited by the authorities, then flogged and tied to a tree (1903); the same fate befell Fr. Joseph Freinademetz, who died in a reputation for holiness in 1908. On November 2, 1897, in a village in the Küyeb district, now part of the mission of Tsachow, Fathers Franz Nies and Richard Henle were killed.