Tamsui Church Introduction
Tamsui is the base for the development of the Presbyterian Church in Northern Taiwan, with the greatest contributions credited to Canadian Presbyterian minister Mackay. Dr. Mackay arrived in Tamsui on March 9, 1872, and actively began missionary work. He also learned Min Nan and local culture. The originally rented house served not only as a hospital but also as a place for missionary activities. In 1873, he baptized the first batch of believers in the rented residence due to the absence of a church. To expand the mission, he frequently led students to various places for evangelism, establishing churches that were supervised by students. Despite many difficulties, he succeeded in spreading the church throughout Northern Taiwan, with the first church in the north located in Wugu. The Tamsui Church was later renovated from the physician's dormitory of the Mackay Memorial Hospital and is now a designated historic monument. In 1901, Mackay passed away, 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, featuring brick walls with a white plaster finish, commonly referred to as the White Chapel, with a bell tower positioned above the main entrance. In 1928, due to inadequate space, it was decided to rebuild. The construction funds came from donations by church members, students, and various associations, most of which were provided by Mackay's son, Thomas, who applied for subsidies from the Canadian mother church and personally designed and supervised the construction. The reconstruction was completed on September 3, 1933. The Tamsui Chapel features a Gothic-style spire, with buttresses and decorative finials on the capitals of the columns. The exterior walls are made of exposed brick, and the interior uses reinforced concrete columns and slabs, supported by a large-span steel roof, with wooden boards forming the ceiling. To address maintenance issues with traditional roofing tiles, the roof was entirely renovated in 1986 using imported aluminum corrugated sheets, and traditional glass was replaced with colored stained glass. The front of the church showcases the Holy Trinity – the Father, the Son, and the Holy Spirit, while the bell tower depicts the Christian doctrines of the "Five Loaves and Two Fish" and "Gethsemane Prayer." The church has harmonized with the scenic beauty of Tamsui, becoming a famous tourist attraction.
