Yilan Card Church Introduction
The history of the Presbyterian Church in Taiwan can be traced back to 1865 when Dr. James Laidlaw Maxwell from the United Kingdom arrived in southern Taiwan, and in 1872, Dr. George Mackay from the Canadian Presbyterian Church came to northern Taiwan to engage in medical missionary work. During a time when Taiwan faced political and economic difficulties, the church provided local residents with significant support in healthcare, education, and spiritual matters, becoming a center of faith in many areas. The Presbyterian Church in Taiwan was introduced to the Yilan tribe in 1950, with individuals such as Zhu Lanmei converting from other denominations. At that time, Evangelist Chen Zhifeng and Pastor Lin Chuanming assisted the church in spreading the gospel. As the number of congregants grew, the original gathering place could no longer accommodate all attendees. Consequently, the following year, congregants decided to independently fund and build a church, and in 1953, they completed a chapel with a cement tile roof. In 1974, a typhoon damaged the original church structure, leading to plans for a new church building. The current church, designed by Mr. Lai Ming-te, is a one-story brick structure that mimics the appearance of a small European country church. The main visual features a white exterior, with a Gothic-style roof, and crosses and angel sculptures are placed at the roof’s peak and on both sides of the main entrance. Another version of the story claims that during discussions about the church's appearance, Mr. Lai used small cards he had collected as a child, basing the architectural design on the styles depicted on those cards, which is how it got its name; it is one of the most architecturally vibrant churches along the east coast. In 2003, it was designated a "Historical Building" by the Taitung County Government. With the increase in popularity, more people visit the Yilan tribe at the northern end of Chenggong Township to glimpse the Card Church. It has not only attracted domestic filmmakers for shooting but also in August 2012, a local musician from Chenggong, known as "Reed," released a new album named "The Bell Sounds of the Card Church." The album cover was designed by internationally renowned designer "Hsiao Ching-yang," referencing the church's exterior, and won the award for "Best Album Packaging" that year, further adding an artistic and romantic atmosphere to the Card Church.
