Tamsui Church Introduction
Tamsui is the base for the development of the Presbyterian Church in northern Taiwan, with the greatest contributions coming from Canadian missionary Dr. Mackay. After arriving in Tamsui on March 9, 1872, Dr. Mackay actively began his missionary work. He also learned Min Nan language and local culture, using the rented house not only as a hospital but also as a place for preaching. In 1873, he baptized the first batch of believers, but due to the lack of a church, the ceremony was held in the rented residence. To expand the mission, he often led students to preach in various places, establishing churches and entrusting them to students to oversee. Despite many setbacks, the church was able to spread throughout northern Taiwan, with the first church in the north being established in Wugu, while the Tamsui Church was later transformed from the residence of the physician of the Mackay Memorial Hospital and is now a designated historical site. Dr. Mackay passed away in 1901, ushering the church into a new era. Due to practical needs and expansion requirements, the church was rebuilt in 1915 in a North American style, made of bricks and white plaster, commonly referred to as the White Chapel, with a bell tower situated above the front entrance. In 1928, due to insufficient capacity, it was decided to renovate the building. The funding for the construction came from church members, students, and various donors, with the majority provided by Dr. Mackay’s son, Mackay Kwan-Lin, who applied for assistance from the Canadian mother church and personally designed and supervised the construction. The renovation was completed on September 3, 1933. The Tamsui Chapel features a Gothic-style spire with buttresses, decorated with small caps on the column heads, while the exterior walls are built with clean water bricks. The interior uses reinforced concrete columns and floors, supported by a large span steel roof, with wooden panels as the ceiling, and a towering bell tower on the left. In 1986, due to the difficulties in maintaining the traditional tile roof, it was completely renovated to use imported aluminum corrugated sheets, and the traditional glass was replaced with stained glass. The front of the church depicts the Holy Trinity: the Father, the Son, and the Holy Spirit, while the bell tower reflects Christian doctrines such as the "Five Loaves and Two Fish" and "Gethsemane Prayer." The church has become a famous tourist attraction, perfectly complementing the scenic views of Tamsui.
