明洪武十(shi)九(一三(san)八六年(nian)(nian)(nian))為(wei)(wei)防(fang)海上(shang)倭寇入侵,信國(guo)公(gong)湯和大(da)將軍督筑(zhu)奉城(cheng)城(cheng)墻,將原是(shi)鄉間(jian)小庵(an)的萬佛(fo)(fo)(fo)閣(ge)(ge)就地重建于(yu)(yu)北門月城(cheng)灣內。因此(ci),當地有(you)(you)“先有(you)(you)萬佛(fo)(fo)(fo)閣(ge)(ge),后有(you)(you)奉城(cheng)鎮(zhen)”之說。明代的萬佛(fo)(fo)(fo)閣(ge)(ge),氣度不凡,環垣踞(ju)堞(die),面山(shan)枕流(liu),勝(sheng)境之妙,冠(guan)于(yu)(yu)諸剎。后歷(li)經乾隆二(er)十(shi)二(er)年(nian)(nian)(nian)及民國(guo)六年(nian)(nian)(nian)的二(er)次修繕,佛(fo)(fo)(fo)閣(ge)(ge)更增(zeng)添了(le)大(da)殿三(san)楹,東西禪室各二(er)楹,后有(you)(you)地藏殿,前有(you)(you)彌勒殿,金碧(bi)輝(hui)煌,蔚為(wei)(wei)壯觀。萬佛(fo)(fo)(fo)閣(ge)(ge)幾經歷(li)史(shi)興衰,于(yu)(yu)文(wen)革期間(jian)被毀,一九八九年(nian)(nian)(nian)重建。如今(jin)的萬佛(fo)(fo)(fo)閣(ge)(ge)由萬佛(fo)(fo)(fo)樓、鐘樓與鼓(gu)樓組成,閣(ge)(ge)內裝置(zhi)電梯(ti),形成殿中有(you)(you)殿的格(ge)局,莊嚴(yan)氣派,佛(fo)(fo)(fo)韻(yun)悠長。萬佛(fo)(fo)(fo)閣(ge)(ge)的建筑(zhu)很有(you)(you)特色,依城(cheng)傍(bang)水,由低漸高,尤為(wei)(wei)特別(bie)是(shi)后法堂樓閣(ge)(ge)建在(zai)古(gu)城(cheng)墻上(shang),別(bie)具一格(ge)。大(da)殿的鉗狀套(tao)式(shi)梁(liang)木結構鑲(xiang)接縝(zhen)密,渾然一體,堪(kan)稱(cheng)古(gu)建筑(zhu)的一絕,被定為(wei)(wei)奉賢區區級文(wen)物保護單位。
萬(wan)(wan)佛閣(ge)在六百多年(nian)前原是鄉間(jian)小(xiao)(xiao)庵。據民(min)間(jian)傳說,元朝(chao)末年(nian)有一富家女子(zi)抗婚外避,削(xue)發為尼。父母(mu)聞(wen)訊(xun),后(hou)悔莫及。后(hou)出資在此建(jian)立(li)了個小(xiao)(xiao)小(xiao)(xiao)的(de)尼眾(zhong)(zhong)庵堂,取(qu)名萬(wan)(wan)佛閣(ge)。民(min)眾(zhong)(zhong)為該女子(zi)的(de)剛(gang)烈(lie)秉性所(suo)感(gan)動,紛紛到此禮拜燒香。洪武年(nian)間(jian)為防海上(shang)倭寇(kou)的(de)入侵,信國公湯和大將軍,督筑奉城(cheng)(cheng)城(cheng)(cheng)墻(qiang),又(you)將萬(wan)(wan)佛閣(ge)就地重擴建(jian)在北(bei)門的(de)月城(cheng)(cheng)灣內。后(hou)戰亂等原因(yin)。先后(hou)幾(ji)次(ci)重建(jian),現(xian)留有《修建(jian)萬(wan)(wan)佛閣(ge)碑記》則有詳(xiang)細記載。
1994年3月萬(wan)(wan)佛(fo)閣大(da)雄寶殿(dian)(dian)佛(fo)像(xiang)開光慶典(dian)(dian),2003年11月萬(wan)(wan)佛(fo)樓落成(cheng)及萬(wan)(wan)佛(fo)開光慶典(dian)(dian)。隨著時間的(de)推移,萬(wan)(wan)佛(fo)閣逐(zhu)漸(jian)恢復,成(cheng)了(le)名副其實萬(wan)(wan)佛(fo)閣。寺(si)院氣勢宏偉,全寺(si)有(you)天(tian)王殿(dian)(dian)、大(da)雄寶殿(dian)(dian)、萬(wan)(wan)佛(fo)堂、萬(wan)(wan)佛(fo)樓等建筑組成(cheng)。