明(ming)洪武(wu)十九(jiu)(一(yi)三(san)八六年)為防(fang)海上(shang)倭寇(kou)入(ru)侵,信國公湯和大將軍督筑(zhu)(zhu)奉(feng)城(cheng)城(cheng)墻(qiang),將原(yuan)是(shi)鄉間(jian)小(xiao)庵的萬(wan)(wan)(wan)佛(fo)(fo)(fo)閣就地(di)重建(jian)于(yu)北門月(yue)城(cheng)灣內。因此,當地(di)有(you)“先有(you)萬(wan)(wan)(wan)佛(fo)(fo)(fo)閣,后(hou)有(you)奉(feng)城(cheng)鎮(zhen)”之(zhi)(zhi)說。明(ming)代的萬(wan)(wan)(wan)佛(fo)(fo)(fo)閣,氣(qi)(qi)度不凡,環垣(yuan)踞堞,面山枕流,勝境之(zhi)(zhi)妙,冠于(yu)諸(zhu)剎。后(hou)歷經乾隆(long)二(er)十二(er)年及民國六年的二(er)次修繕,佛(fo)(fo)(fo)閣更增(zeng)添了(le)大殿(dian)(dian)三(san)楹(ying),東西禪室各二(er)楹(ying),后(hou)有(you)地(di)藏(zang)殿(dian)(dian),前有(you)彌勒殿(dian)(dian),金碧(bi)輝(hui)煌(huang),蔚為壯觀(guan)。萬(wan)(wan)(wan)佛(fo)(fo)(fo)閣幾(ji)經歷史興衰,于(yu)文革期間(jian)被毀(hui),一(yi)九(jiu)八九(jiu)年重建(jian)。如今的萬(wan)(wan)(wan)佛(fo)(fo)(fo)閣由(you)萬(wan)(wan)(wan)佛(fo)(fo)(fo)樓、鐘(zhong)樓與鼓樓組(zu)成(cheng),閣內裝置電梯,形(xing)成(cheng)殿(dian)(dian)中(zhong)有(you)殿(dian)(dian)的格局,莊嚴氣(qi)(qi)派,佛(fo)(fo)(fo)韻悠長。萬(wan)(wan)(wan)佛(fo)(fo)(fo)閣的建(jian)筑(zhu)(zhu)很有(you)特色(se),依城(cheng)傍(bang)水(shui),由(you)低(di)漸(jian)高,尤(you)為特別是(shi)后(hou)法堂樓閣建(jian)在古城(cheng)墻(qiang)上(shang),別具(ju)一(yi)格。大殿(dian)(dian)的鉗狀套式梁木結構(gou)鑲(xiang)接(jie)縝(zhen)密,渾然一(yi)體,堪稱古建(jian)筑(zhu)(zhu)的一(yi)絕,被定為奉(feng)賢(xian)區區級文物保(bao)護單位。
萬(wan)(wan)佛閣(ge)在六(liu)百多(duo)年前原是鄉間小庵。據民間傳說(shuo),元朝末年有一(yi)富家(jia)女子抗(kang)婚外避,削發為(wei)尼。父母聞訊,后(hou)悔(hui)莫(mo)及。后(hou)出(chu)資在此建立了個小小的(de)尼眾庵堂,取名萬(wan)(wan)佛閣(ge)。民眾為(wei)該女子的(de)剛烈秉性(xing)所感(gan)動,紛紛到此禮拜燒香。洪武年間為(wei)防海上倭寇的(de)入侵,信國(guo)公湯和大將軍,督筑(zhu)奉城城墻,又將萬(wan)(wan)佛閣(ge)就地重擴建在北(bei)門的(de)月城灣內。后(hou)戰亂等原因。先后(hou)幾次重建,現留有《修建萬(wan)(wan)佛閣(ge)碑記》則有詳(xiang)細記載。
1994年(nian)(nian)3月(yue)萬(wan)佛(fo)閣(ge)大雄寶(bao)殿(dian)佛(fo)像開(kai)(kai)光(guang)慶典,2003年(nian)(nian)11月(yue)萬(wan)佛(fo)樓(lou)(lou)落成及(ji)萬(wan)佛(fo)開(kai)(kai)光(guang)慶典。隨著時間(jian)的推移(yi),萬(wan)佛(fo)閣(ge)逐漸恢復,成了名副其實萬(wan)佛(fo)閣(ge)。寺院氣勢宏偉,全寺有天(tian)王(wang)殿(dian)、大雄寶(bao)殿(dian)、萬(wan)佛(fo)堂、萬(wan)佛(fo)樓(lou)(lou)等建筑組成。