Architectural Surprises (Elise Bahnson, Late 1940)

During 1940, missionary architect Elise Bahnson toured Denmark for the D.M.S., giving talks about the Manchurian missions. Although ordinarily her home leave (furlough) would have ended in November, 1940, because of the German occupation of Denmark, she was unable to return to Siuyen to collaborate with Anna Bøg in the work with the women.

In December, 1940, Elise Bahnson wrote an article about her architectural work in Manchuria that D.M.S. published in the missionary newspaper in early 1941. It was a short piece where, among other things, she related some of the difficulties she had in seeing her designs realized in Manchuria because of changes made by the local congregation. This was a common occurrence for Christian architects working in China.

In 1937, Bahnson had written:

"During the year, I have been helping with the design of churches in Feng-Huang-Ch'eng, Antung, Dairen, and Sui-Hua. The drawings were not always followed as made, for example in Feng-Huang-Ch'eng. For D.M.S., I have also helped plan buildings, such as the Danish School, the alterations of the mission station in Antung, and the extension in Hsin-Ching."

The buildings in Siuyen and Pitsaikou, where Elise Bahnson's drawings were implemented without alteration, were cleanly designed structures that very subtly allude to both Asian and Scandinavian architecture. They seem to communicate stability and permanence, which no doubt was Bahnson's wish for the Christians in Manchuria.

We know from Kirsten Berggreen Buch that the women missionary's residence that Elise Bahnson built in Siuyen is still standing. Miss Buch told us, "There is a very little part of the hospital left, but the nice building built by Elise Bahnson . . . is now used by a 'cadre', [a Communist] official. (It is too solid a building to give back to the church. . .)."

Here is what Elise Bahnson had to say in December, 1940:

"It has been a great joy throughout the years that I could assist the congregations and missions. It has been mainly design work. Beyond that, I supervised [the construction] at the Siuyen mission station and the church and evangelist school and seminary in Pitsaikou. [I supervised] at Pitsaikou once a month [while] Rev. Aagaard Poulsen provided daily supervision and accounting.

"Port Arthur Church was the first that approached me about design. I must say, however, that various surprises awaited me when I saw the building constructed. Three important changes had been made. The tower had been designed with a pitched roof and corbiestep gables similar to the wings. Since they wanted a Cross raised high above the church and town -- and idea the Manchurian Christians love -- they had completed the tower with a pyramidal roof. Also, they wanted to use the space in the tower for the congregation council meetings, so they moved the bell onto the roof and placed four small garrets in the sound apertures. An arched roof resting on columns over the door of the main entrance, and other things I heard about, were among the little surprises. Since there are building professionals among the friends of D.M.S. around the country, I wanted to write this little addendum.*

"My final examination at the Academy of Arts twenty-five years ago was a design for a church with a parish house, deaconess residence, and minister's residence. That became a banner over God's plan for the use of my practical training in service in the mission field.

"How delightful it has been during the past year to move around the country and meet with the faithful friends of D.M.S. who support the work before God's Throne.

"There are many old church buildings that have closed. Apparently, people have left them. Where can the Danish people hear the eternal Word, which is everlasting when all else passes away? Would that the bells that call in the New Year would speak of God's goodness towards Denmark.

"'God's goodness leads to repentance.' That saying is not by any means just for us these days. If we, his people, were more completely turned toward him in prayer for all who are baptized to hear him, then we could be better used by him."

Thus, while Elise Bahnson had been building churches in Manchuria, churches had been closing in Denmark. In reading this piece written by Bahnson in December, 1940, one senses the sadness she felt over the growing secularization of Denmark, especially when compared to the growth and excitement in the young church in Manchuria. One wonders what she would have to say now, 70 years later, when the secularization of Scandinavia has become nearly complete.

Sources:
Bahnson, Elise, D.M.S. Arsberetning for 1937, p. 132.
Bahnson, Elise, "En Berigtigelse og en Tilføjelse", Dansk Missionsblad, Vol. 108, Nr. 2; January 10, 1941; pp. 22-23.
Buch, Kirsten Berggreen; letter to the authors, dated August 11, 1999.

Images:
Top: The Evangelist School and Seminary in Pitsaikou.
Bottom: Interior of the Church at Pitsaikou.
Both photographs are from the 1941 article cited above.
All D.M.S. items used with permission.
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*"Addendum" - This article apparently followed an earlier one about architecture in Manchuria published sometime in 1940 that we have not yet accessed. We will try to obtain and post it.