Tamsui Church Introduction
Tamsui is the base for the development of the Presbyterian Church in northern Taiwan, with the greatest contribution attributed to Dr. George Mackay from the Presbyterian Church in Canada. After arriving in Tamsui on March 9, 1872, Dr. Mackay actively engaged in missionary work, learning Minnan language and local culture. The house he originally rented served not only as a hospital but also as a place for evangelism. In 1873, he baptized the first group of believers, conducted in the rented residence since there was no church. To expand the mission, he often led students to various places to preach, establish churches, and have the students take charge. Despite experiencing many setbacks, the church managed to spread throughout northern Taiwan, with the first church in the northern region located in Wugu. The Tamsui Church was later reconstructed from the physician's dormitory of Mackay Memorial Hospital and is now designated as a county historic site. Dr. Mackay passed away in 1901, leading the church into a new era. Due to practical needs and expansion, the church was rebuilt in 1915 in the North American style, featuring brick construction with white plaster walls, commonly known as the White Chapel, with a bell tower situated above the main entrance. In 1928, due to insufficient space, it was decided to rebuild the church. The funding for the construction was largely raised from church members, students, and various friend groups, with most coming from Dr. Mackay's son, Mackay Hsiang Rui-lian, 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, decorated with small caps at the column heads, built from exposed brick on the exterior. The interior uses reinforced concrete columns and slabs, supported by a large-span steel structure, with wooden boards forming the ceiling. The left side has a towering bell tower. In 1986, due to the difficulty of repairing traditional roof tiles, the roof was fully renovated with imported aluminum corrugated sheets, and traditional glass was replaced with colored stained glass. The front of the church depicts the Holy Trinity of the Father, Son, and Holy Spirit, while the bell tower illustrates the Christian doctrines of "Loaves and Fishes" and "Gethsemane Prayer." The church, in harmony with Tamsui's scenery, has become a famous tourist attraction.
