ENG-1957 — Page 354

Chapter 19: Religion

THE Anglican Diocese of Hong Kong, which includes Macau, covers nine recognized parish churches and eight mission chapels. In three of these worship is conducted in English, and in the remainder in Chinese. St. John's Cathedral, opened in 1849, was established as a Cathedral Church by Letters Patent from Queen Victoria in 1850.

During 1957 the Anglican Church was occupied with the Silver Jubilee of the Bishop. The central activity was a two months mission to the Diocese by the Franciscan Evangelist, the Rev. Michael Fisher, Warden of St. Francis House in Cambridge University. A Jubilee Fund for church, school and hospital extension with a target of $1,000,000 had passed $800,000 by the end of the year. Two Chinese parishes each passed $100,000 in their contributions to this Fund. In addition, the Diocesan Girls' School and St. Paul's Co- Educational College raised a total of more than $250,000 towards their plans for rebuilding and extension

The 150th Anniversary of the landing at Macau of Dr. Robert Morrison, the date which marks the start of Protest- ant missionary activity in China, was commemorated early in September, when special services were held, one in the old graveyard by the Memorial Church, Macau, and one in the new Kowloon Hop Yat Church. An Exhibition of documents, pictures, etc. illustrating Morrison's life and work, particular- ly as a Biblical translator, was staged at the Fung Ping Shan Library and, together with the Lecture delivered by the Vice- Chancellor of the University, Dr. L. T. Ride, aroused wide- spread interest.

The English-speaking Free Churches are represented by the Methodists, whose Church is on the Island; by other denominations grouped together in the two Union Churches;