Old Hong Kong-5 — Page 139

CHURCHES

(Continuation)

138

Baptist Missionary Union in 1847, with the Rev. W. Dean as the resident minister of the Hongkong Station at that time. In 1860 the American Baptist Union is still in existence with Rev. H. A. Sawtelle in charge, but the chapel is not mentioned, and the Baptists appear to have worshipped in the Union Chapel, then situated at Hollywood Road. There's reference at this period to a Seamen's Bethel situation given as "Hongkong Harbour" with Rev. James C. Beecher as pastor. There was only one service here, every Sunday at 11 a.m. By the end of 1863 there is no further reference to either the Bethel or the Baptist Mission in the directories of that period.

The ecclesiastical history of Hongkong goes back to its earliest years, for the material and spiritual needs of the community were provided as soon as possible, such amenities as banks, regular shipping services, and so forth, following later. In dealing with Protestant denominations, we have seen that the Anglican Church had its beginnings in 1843, and in a mat-shed on the north-east corner of what is now the Murray Parade ground, while the Union Church commenced services the same year in the house of Rev. Dr. Legge (see 2-9-33 and 7-9-33).

It was also seen that the oldest Protestant place of worship was the Baptist Chapel, opened in July 1842, in Queen's Road (see 11-9-33). St. John's Cathedral, having been completed in 1849, is the oldest Christian place of worship of any size still standing in the Colony, and enjoys that somewhat unique distinction, practically all the other early religious buildings having since been replaced by more modern structures. The Baptist Chapel was long ago demolished and has never been rebuilt.

Actually, the recent opening to services of the Church of England mortuary chapel in the Protestant cemetery at Happy Valley makes this little building the most venerable of all local places of worship, as it was erected in 1845, at the time the new cemetery was first laid out.

It is interesting to recall that at one time a separate Presbyterian place of worship existed (now, of course, merged in the Union Church). It is on record that Presbyterian services were held in 1847 and 1848, in a bungalow at the back of the old Hongkong Club, which latter place used to be on the site of the present King's Theatre. This places the bungalow in question on the lower portion of the site now occupied by the Morning Post Building, and comprising the offices of the Hongkong Telegraph.

As might be expected, the Roman Catholic missions were early in the field, having a well-matured diocese at Macao to serve as headquarters, and their oldest place of worship of any pretensions was for some years the Catholic Church at the lower part of Wellington Street, erection of which was commenced as far back as June, 1842, on a site granted by the Government. This church had the unfortunate experience of being destroyed by a huge fire on October 19, 1850, which also burned down a number of buildings in the vicinity. The church was rebuilt later, when other Roman Catholic places of worship were erected and came into use. One of the oldest of these is St. Joseph's Church, in Garden Road, which was rebuilt in 1876.