Barnabas Fund, 11 September 2018
Chinese authorities shut down one of the largest unofficial churches in Beijing on Sunday 9 September.
The church has been permitted to operate for years with relative freedom, but since church leaders refused a request from authorities to install CCTV cameras inside the building in April the church has come under growing pressure.
The government introduced new religion regulations governing church registration in February.
As many as 1,500 people attend the church’s five weekly services. Police officers are now guarding the building. Prior to the church being shut down the congregation had been threatened with eviction.
China’s Communist government only recognises state-registered churches, which are closely monitored.