據滄(cang)縣志記(ji)載:“水月寺原在城(cheng)外西南角,觀燈橋以西,后周廣順年(nian)(nian)公(gong)元953年(nian)(nian)始(shi)建(jian)。明(ming)宣德(de)十年(nian)(nian)僧(seng)人澤(ze)安移建(jian)于城(cheng)北(bei)鹽場東(dong)側。明(ming)正統十七(qi)年(nian)(nian)僧(seng)人澤(ze)一(yi)重修(xiu),清(qing)乾隆五十四年(nian)(nian),州人宋成文(wen)、董寶仁等繼(ji)而重修(xiu),光(guang)緒二(er)十一(yi)年(nian)(nian)駐(zhu)防(fang)樂軍梅東(dong)益等又重修(xiu)……可謂吾邑之冠。”
據(ju)說(shuo),因清同治年間運(yun)河發大(da)水,在(zai)鹽場附近決口,洪(hong)水從寺(si)廟越(yue)過,故以諧(xie)音更名為(wei)水月寺(si)。當時僅是一小廟,香(xiang)火(huo)不(bu)盛,寺(si)內方丈性然(ran),為(wei)重修并(bing)擴(kuo)大(da)廟宇(yu),曾斷(duan)手(shou)化(hua)緣以表誠心。
經過五、六年時間(jian),他在市(shi)內(nei)各(ge)商家鋪戶(hu)和周圍各(ge)鄉(xiang)村大(da)戶(hu)人家,化得一(yi)筆巨(ju)資,同時得到駐(zhu)防滄州的統領導(dao)范(fan)天貴(gui)及梅東益等(deng)的大(da)力支持,開始(shi)重修擴建。其規模更加壯(zhuang)觀,氣勢更加宏偉。整個水(shui)月寺(si)(si)有山門(men)(前殿(dian))、次(ci)殿(dian)、大(da)殿(dian)、后(hou)殿(dian)為(wei)三(san)(san)進(jin)院落,均有東西配殿(dian)。還有東西兩個跨(kua)院、山門(men)門(men)匾(bian)水(shui)月寺(si)(si)三(san)(san)個唐隸大(da)字,為(wei)駐(zhu)滄統領范(fan)天貴(gui)手書(shu),他本一(yi)介武夫,為(wei)附庸風雅(ya),他從(cong)重修廟宇(yu)之日(ri)起,便(bian)悉(xi)心習(xi)書(shu)練(lian)字,等(deng)三(san)(san)年后(hou),寺(si)(si)廟竣工,水(shui)月寺(si)(si)三(san)(san)字也揮筆練(lian)就。
前殿(dian)(dian)(dian)內兩側有(you)(you)泥塑的(de)(de)(de)頭抵屋頂的(de)(de)(de)身軀(qu)魁偉、橫(heng)眉(mei)怒目、叱咤(zha)風(feng)云(yun)(yun)的(de)(de)(de)哼哈二將,高約兩丈(zhang),十(shi)(shi)分威(wei)嚴。次殿(dian)(dian)(dian)當中(zhong)有(you)(you)相(xiang)背而塑前后可(ke)(ke)(ke)觀的(de)(de)(de)兩尊大(da)(da)(da)佛(fo)(fo),一是(shi)(shi)(shi)“大(da)(da)(da)肚(du)能容(rong),容(rong)天(tian)下難容(rong)之(zhi)事,慈顏常(chang)笑,笑世間可(ke)(ke)(ke)笑之(zhi)人”的(de)(de)(de)彌勒佛(fo)(fo),再(zai)是(shi)(shi)(shi)著(zhu)盔披甲,手執紫金(jin)(jin)降(jiang)魔杵(chu)的(de)(de)(de)韋陀(即護法神、類鬧天(tian)宮(gong)中(zhong)的(de)(de)(de)二郎神楊(yang)戩)。兩側還(huan)有(you)(you)四大(da)(da)(da)天(tian)王坐(zuo)象高約一丈(zhang)五尺。有(you)(you)的(de)(de)(de)伏虎、有(you)(you)的(de)(de)(de)玩蛇(she)、有(you)(you)的(de)(de)(de)弄(nong)劍、有(you)(you)的(de)(de)(de)彈琵(pi)琶。可(ke)(ke)(ke)謂威(wei)風(feng)凜(lin)凜(lin)、氣勢逼人。此(ci)(ci)殿(dian)(dian)(dian)可(ke)(ke)(ke)穿堂而過(guo)直通大(da)(da)(da)雄(xiong)寶殿(dian)(dian)(dian)。此(ci)(ci)殿(dian)(dian)(dian)高達十(shi)(shi)二丈(zhang)八尺,登上七步臺階可(ke)(ke)(ke)見殿(dian)(dian)(dian)前平臺正中(zhong)有(you)(you)高約五丈(zhang)的(de)(de)(de)千(qian)斤大(da)(da)(da)鼎。殿(dian)(dian)(dian)內正中(zhong)有(you)(you)三(san)(san)尊赤金(jin)(jin)鍍身的(de)(de)(de)大(da)(da)(da)佛(fo)(fo),為南海觀音、西(xi)天(tian)如(ru)來、釋迦牟尼之(zhi)坐(zuo)象。高約一丈(zhang)六尺,面前三(san)(san)張供桌有(you)(you)香爐、蠟(la)千(qian)、佛(fo)(fo)罄之(zhi)類,大(da)(da)(da)殿(dian)(dian)(dian)兩側有(you)(you)降(jiang)龍(long)、伏虎、長眉(mei)、長臂、醉、睡等十(shi)(shi)八羅漢(han),如(ru)真(zhen)人大(da)(da)(da)小,栩栩如(ru)生(sheng)。東西(xi)北三(san)(san)面墻壁(bi)有(you)(you)立體懸(xuan)空泥塑和壁(bi)畫(hua),據說是(shi)(shi)(shi)由兩位著(zhu)名民(min)(min)間藝人,一是(shi)(shi)(shi)滄縣杜林劉(liu)環師傅,一是(shi)(shi)(shi)青縣西(xi)程村馬黑師傅,各自承包打對作,竟相(xiang)獻藝,雕塑彩繪而成(cheng)。其內容(rong)是(shi)(shi)(shi)反映西(xi)天(tian)如(ru)來佛(fo)(fo),從誕生(sheng)、成(cheng)長出家,并率幾百名弟子(zi)傳經的(de)(de)(de)過(guo)程。但見煙云(yun)(yun)縹渺、海島仙山、奇峰古(gu)洞(dong),流云(yun)(yun)飛(fei)瀑,宛若(ruo)神話(hua)仙境。東西(xi)兩側還(huan)有(you)(you)香齡溫席、王祥臥魚、丁香割肉等24孝(xiao)民(min)(min)間傳說故事。并配有(you)(you)花卉翎毛、山水人物等多種裝飾(shi)圖案(an),可(ke)(ke)(ke)謂是(shi)(shi)(shi)妙手奇塑,巧奪天(tian)工,技藝精湛,令(ling)人嘆為觀止。后殿(dian)(dian)(dian)內有(you)(you)一精致(zhi)銅塑千(qian)手千(qian)眼(yan)佛(fo)(fo),造型奇特(te),精藝絕倫(lun)。