Ilan 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, when Dr. George Leslie Mackay of the Canadian Presbyterian Church came to northern Taiwan to carry out medical missionary work. During Taiwan's politically and economically difficult times, the church provided significant medical, educational, and spiritual support to the local residents, becoming a center of faith in many areas. The Presbyterian Church in Taiwan entered the Iwan community in 1950, with individuals such as Zhu Lanmei converting from other denominations. At that time, there were also Evangelist Chen Zhifeng and Pastor Lin Chuanming assisting in evangelistic efforts. As the number of believers gradually increased, the family gathering place could no longer accommodate all attendees. The following year, the congregation decided to raise funds and undertake the construction of a chapel, completing a cement-roofed chapel in 1953. In 1974, a typhoon damaged the original church structure, leading to plans for a new church. The new church, designed by Mr. Lai Ming-te, is a brick building that mimics the architectural style of a European countryside chapel, featuring a white exterior as the main visual base, a roof with Gothic architectural elements, and crosses and angel sculptures at the roof peaks and the sides of the main entrance. There is also a story that during discussions about the church's appearance, Mr. Lai referenced small cards he collected in his childhood to create the architectural blueprint, thus earning its nickname and becoming one of the most architecturally significant churches along the East Coast. In 2003, the Taitung County Government designated it as a "historical building." With the increasing popularity, more and more people visit the Iwan community at the northern end of Chenggong Township to glimpse the appearance of the "Card Chapel." It not only attracts local directors for filming but also, in August 2012, local musician "Luhui" named his new album "The Bell of the Card Chapel" and invited internationally known designer "Hsiao Ching-yang" to design the album cover based on the church's appearance, which won the "Best Album Packaging" award that year, adding an artistic and romantic aura to the Card Chapel.
