Ilan Bay Card Church Introduction
The history of the Presbyterian Church in Taiwan can be traced back to 1865 when Dr. James Laidlaw Maxwell from the UK arrived in southern Taiwan, and in 1872 when Dr. George Leslie MacKay from the Canadian Presbyterian Church came to northern Taiwan to carry out medical missionary work. During a time when Taiwan faced political and economic challenges, the church provided significant medical, educational, and spiritual support to the local residents, becoming a faith center in many areas. The Presbyterian Church in Taiwan was introduced to the Iwan tribe in 1950 (the 39th year of the Republic of China) with individuals like Zhu Lansheng and others converting from different denominations. At that time, there were also evangelists like Chen Zhifeng and Pastor Lin Chuanming assisting with the church's evangelistic efforts. As the number of congregants grew, the family gathering places could no longer accommodate all those attending. Therefore, the following year, the congregation decided to fund and build a chapel, which was completed in 1953 (the 42nd year of the Republic of China) with a cement roof. In 1974 (the 63rd year of the Republic of China), a typhoon damaged the original church building, leading to plans for a new church. The current church was designed by Mr. Lai Mingde and is a brick single-story building that mimics the style of a European country chapel. The main visual feature is its white exterior, and the roof showcases Gothic architectural styles, with crosses and angel sculptures at the roof peaks and on either side of the main entrance. There is also a saying that during discussions about the church’s appearance, Mr. Lai Mingde pulled out small cards he had collected as a child, and the architectural design was created based on the styles on those cards, hence the chapel was nicknamed the "Card Chapel." It is one of the most architecturally colorful churches along the east coast. In 2003 (the 92nd year of the Republic of China), it was designated as a "Historic Building" by the Taitung County Government. With its increasing popularity, more and more people visit the Iwan tribe at the northern end of Chenggong Township to catch a glimpse of the Card Chapel. It has not only attracted local filmmakers to shoot movies there; in August 2012 (the 101st year of the Republic of China), a local musician from Chenggong Township named "Reed" also named his new album "The Bell of the Card Chapel." The album cover was designed by internationally renowned designer "Shiao Ching-yang," referencing the church's exterior, and it won the award for "Best Album Packaging" that year, adding literary and romantic atmosphere to the Card Chapel.
