Bell tower (Campanile) of the Roman Catholic Cathedral [1904-1947]

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Submitted by David on Thu, 2019-09-19 21:53

Current condition:

Demolished / No longer exists

Date Place completed:

c.1904-01-01 (Month, Day are approximate)

Date Place demolished:

c.1947-12-31 (Month, Day are approximate)

Though the Cathedral was completed in 1888, the separate bell tower (also known as a campanile) wasn't finished until 1904.

The China Mail, 1904-03-05, page 4:

Inauguration of New Bells.

The five new bells which arrived here some time ago from Italy for the Roman Catholic Cathedral, will be inaugurated by the blessing of the bells to-morrow, Sunday, the 6th inst., at 4.30 p.m. The Right Rev. Bishop Piazzoli will perform the ceremony. Three of the bells were the gift of Mrs E. L. Rozaario, Dr Antonio Gomez, and Francisco Tze Yiat, and the other two were subscribed for by the Chinese Roman Catholic and Portuguese community.

The China Mail, 1904-04-04, page 4:

New Church Bells.

The first peal of the new bells at the Roman Catholic Church rang out yesterday, and at once the excellent tone was noted. The occasion was the Easter Sunday service, which was conducted by Bishop Piazzoli.

Nicholas Maestrini describes what happened to the tower during the war. First the Japanese requisitioned the bells, to be taken away and melted down for use in their war effort. Then the Bishop Valtorta sold the now redundant wooden beams that hd supported the bells. They were sold as firewood, to raise money for his charitable works feeding the poor. The tower ended the war without any roof or bells.

A UNESCO award document describing the cathedral noted the tower was demolished in 1947.