ABSTRACT
In ancient China widows often married again, especially young widows, though some philosophers already argued against it. A number of Christian widows chose, like Candida Xu, to follow their inclinations and devote themselves totally to God and Christian service. In all, during the years she was a widow, Candida Xu paid the costs of construction or conversion to religious use of more than thirty churches and chapels in the lower Yangzi River region and nine in the other provinces of China, some of them known by name, but many not. Candida Xu always felt that Yunnan weakened her son’s faith because the province was far away and while there, he was without Christian or home influence. Besides family and serving maids who lived under her direction and tutelage, Candida Xu supported in her home a group of young Christian women who led lives of prayer and Christian service.
