A Quantitative Study of “The Unification of Worship” in the Late Three-Self Patriotic Movement

In 1958, a campaign known as the "Unification of Worship" echo to the “Great Leap Forward”, abruptly became a central task for regional Three-Self Patriotic Movement committees committees. During this movement, churches were closed, denominations were abolished, and the organizational functions of denominational institutions were swiftly absorbed by regional Three-Self Patriotic Movement committees, which was regarded as a way of "decolonization." During this campaign, nearly 90% of churches were removed. This study seeks to provide a comprehensive quantitative assessment of “the Unification of Worship” across different city types and denominational backgrounds, and evaluate its long-term impact on Chinese Christianity, offering new insights into the relationship between religious policy and church distribution.