CHURCHES
(Continuation)
The Chapel was intended for services in the English and Chinese languages. An old newspaper file states that the opening took place in February 1845. An old Directory (1860) definitely states, also that the Union Chapel was in Hollywood Road.
137
Dr. Legge was formally inducted as the first Pastor in 1849. The Church records state that the second Union Church was erected in Staunton Street in 1865, though another old reference puts the date back to July 1863, the new church being erected, it states on the site of the former St. Andrew's School (which had been opened in 1855 and was closed in 1861). This reference evidently gives an incorrect date as a directory for 1864 (published in 1863) gives the Union Chapel as being still at Hollywood Road.
The corner stone of the present Union Church in Kennedy Road, was laid in 1890, and services commenced in the new building in 1891. The Church Hall was erected in 1897.
Dr. Legge was connected with the Union Church until 1873. He had been its mainspring, and was also one of the foremost educationists of his time in the Colony.
Here is another note on St. John's Cathedral, from an old file dated June, 1873:
"The St. John's Cathedral thanks to a donation of $5,000 from the Home Government has been restored and is now a large and handsome edifice. The addition of a lectern and other needed requirements, the gift of old Colonials in England, is a valuable acquisition and much appreciated. The Rev. R. H. Kidd, Colonial Chaplain, almost solely performs the services.
A reader who is connected with missionary work at Canton writes, with reference to the recent mention of the foundation of the Union Church (see 7-9-33) and the suggestion that it is possibly the oldest founded Protestant body in the Colony dating back to 1842-43 that he has noted in the Canton Register for August 2, 1842, and the Canton Press for August 6, 1842 that there is a notice of the dedication of a Protestant house of worship in China, called the Queen's Road Chapel, Hongkong" which formally dedicated on Sunday, July 17, of that year. He suggests that the building was for Chinese Christians.
I am glad of the opportunity of referring to this old chapel. It is not known at present when it went out of use, and the premises must have been pulled down a good many years ago. I have an old reference which definitely identifies it as a Baptist mission Chapel opened in Queen's Road on July 7 (not 17th) 1842, by the Rev. J.L. Schuck, by subscriptions obtained from the foreign residents and visitors. It would seem that the place was a general house of worship, not necessarily for Chinese Christians only. The Baptist denomination, as such, does not appear to have continued to have its own chapel for very long, and people of the Baptist persuasion at present worship with the Wesleyans or at the Union Church.
Perhaps some other reader might be able to give us a more complete history of this old Queen's Road Chapel? So far I have only been able to trace reference to this mission up to the Sixties. It is referred to as the American...
CHURCHES
(Continuation )
The Chapel was intended for services in the English and Chinese languages. An old newspaper file states that the opening took place in February 1845. An old Directory (1860) definitely states, also that the Union Chapel was in Hollywood Road.
137
Dr. Legge was formally inducted as the first Pastor in 1849. The Church records state that the second Union Church was erected in Staunton Street in 1865, though another old references puts the date back to July 1863, the new church being erected, it states on the site of the former St. An- Drew's School ( which had been opened in 1855 and was closed in 1861 ). This reference eveidently gives an incor- rect date as a directory for 1864 ( published in 1863 ) gives theUnion Chapel as being still at Hollywood Road.
The corner stone of the present Union Church in Kennedy Road, was laid in 1890, and services commenced in the new building in 1891. The Church Hall was erected in 1897.
Dr. Legge was connected with the Union Church until 1873. He had been its mainspring, and was also one of the foremost educationists of his time in the Colony.
Here is another note on St. John's Cathedral, from
an old file dated June, 1873:
" The St. John's Cathedral thanks to a donation of $5,000 from the Home Government has been restored and is now a large and handsome edifice. The addition of a lectern and other needed requirements, the gift of old Colonials in England, is a valuable acquisition and guch appreciated. The Rev. R. H. Kidd, Colonial Chaplain, almost solely performs the services.
A reader who is connected with missionary work at Can- ton writes, with reference to the recent mention of the foundation of theUnion Church (see 7-9-33 ) and the sug- gestion that it is possibly the oldest founded Protestant body in the Colony dating back to 1842 - 43 that he has noted in theCanton Register forAugust 2, 1842, and the Canton Press forAugust 6, 1842 that there is a notice of the dedication of a Protestant house of worship in China, called the Queen's Road Chapel, Hongkong " which forma- lly dedicated on Sunday, July 17, of that year. He suggests that the building was for Chinese Christians.
I am glad of the opportunity of referring to this old chapel. It is not known at present when it went out of use, and the premises must have been pulled down a good many year ago. I have an old reference which defi- nitely identifies it as a Baptist mission Chapel opened in Queen's Road on July 7 not 17th) 1842, by the Rev. J.L. Schuck, by subscriptions obtained from the foreign residents and visitors. It would seem that the place was a general house of worship, not necessarily for Chinese Christians on- ly. The Baptist ́denomination, as such, does not appear to have continued to have its won chapel for very long, and people of the Baptist persuasion at present worship with the Wesleyans or at the Union Church.
Perhaps some other reader jight be able to give us a more complete history of this old Queen's Road Chapel ? So far I have only been able to trace reference to this mission up to the Sixties. It is referred to as the American
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