A group of architects and cultural experts have sent a petition sent to the prime minister, minister of Culture, Sports and Tourism and chairman of Nam Dinh Province’s People’s Committee to stop the destruction of Bui Chu Church.
Bui Chu Church
In the letter, the architects said that after a two-day examination of the church, they found only minor damage caused by rain and damp.
Priest Vu Dinh Hieu announced Bui Chu Church would undergo repairs from May 13 this year.
However, having read the plan approved by church authorities, the architects found the task would involve destroying the whole building and rebuilding it in a different shape and size, with a new wooden frame and pillars.
Cultural researcher Tran Hau Yen The said that the 135 year-old flower-shaped ironwork is among the church’s outstanding decorations, so destruction of the site would obviously harm them. The church also has sophisticated wooden carvings which need to be preserved.
The added that Cua Bac Temple was successfully restored because it used the original materials and the architecture was maintained.
Meanwhile, representatives from travel firms said that Bui Chu Church would be used as tourist site.
“Churches and pagodas are often attractive destinations for visitors. Bui Chu Church has great potential for tourism,” Nguyen Tien Dat, deputy director of TransViet.
Bui Thi Nhan, managing director of Ecohost which operates tours to Nam Dinh Province, said that Bui Chu Church has Baroque architectural style. “Since the information about the church’s renovation, many people have rushed there,” Nhan said.
Nam Dinh is also home to many other old churches along with untapped potential destinations such as traditional handicraft villages.
“Nam Dinh Province has not yet paid attention to tourism promotion. It could be a place to connect Ha Long City in Quang Ninh Province and Ninh Binh Province,” Nhan noted.