Qihou Church Introduction
Cijin, due to its important geographical location as a harbor export area, is the earliest developed region by Han Chinese in Kaohsiung, featuring the oldest streets, temples, and schools in Kaohsiung. After the Qing Dynasty's conflict with the Anglo-French Allied Forces in 1865, the Port of Dagou (Kaohsiung Harbor) was opened for trade, and Dr. John Knox, a Scottish Presbyterian missionary, came to this place to preach and established the Dagou Presbyterian Church, which is the earliest and also the first Presbyterian church in Taiwan. In 1935, the church was remodeled into a Romanesque-style building, with a yellow-brown pebbled exterior that is simple and elegant. Amidst the bustling Cijin market, it serves as a tranquil corner and is a shared memory for many regarding Cijin. Due to the deterioration over time, the structure of the old church was damaged, and the Qihou Church, which has been established for over a hundred years, was rebuilt in 2013, preserving the arches and window sills of the old church while adding a Gothic-style spire to become a majestic seven-story building. In response to the booming tourism in Cijin, Qihou Church promotes evangelism by providing facilities for visitors, including drinking water and sanitation, and offers a variety of activities for people of all ages to participate in. Entering the serene church, visitors can see models of the old church for nostalgic reflection and can also bask in the religious atmosphere to enjoy moments of peace and beauty.
