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Chinese United Methodist Church, San Francisco Chinatown

At the corner of Washington and Stockton Streets, the Chinese United Methodist Church fuses restrained neoclassical symmetry with a distinctive East Asian silhouette. Its stuccoed façade and deep cornices evoke early 20th-century American institutional design, while the gold-tipped, pagoda-style cupola affirms its cultural identity. The contrast between minimal ornamentation and bold roofline symbolism reflects the church’s mission: rooted in faith, shaped by community, and grounded in bicultural expression. Originally built in 1911, this church has long served as a spiritual and social anchor for Chinese Americans in San Francisco, its architecture quietly honoring both Methodist tradition and Chinese heritage.

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Uploaded on July 17, 2025