Page:Twentieth Century Impressions of Hongkong, Shanghai, and other Treaty Ports of China.djvu/339

Rh and anthems are in regular use. The full cathedral choir sings matins and evensong on alternate Sundays, with the exception of certain festivals, when the complete choir attends both services. All other services are more or less of a congregational character, and under existing circumstances only a small section of the choir is able to be present at these.

The first organ was erected in the cathedral in 1860, and was dedicated on Christmas Day of that year, the organist being Mr. C. F. A. Sangster. The splendid instrument now in use was erected in 1887, and was opened on June 21st of that year, "on which date" says a brass memorial affixed to the pillar in front of the organ, "the Acting Governor (Major-General W. G. Cameron, C.B,), and the members of the Legislative Council attended a solemn service of thanksgiving in celebration of the fiftieth anniversary of the Accession of Queen Victoria." It is a three-manual organ, with between forty and fifty stops, and was built by the well-known London firm of Messrs. Walker &amp; Sons. The present organist is Mr. Denman Fuller, F.R.C.O., L.R.A.M., who succeeded Mr. A. S. Ward in 1905.

The cathedral is now lighted by electricity, and in summer time punkahs are used to keep the temperature as low as possible. The pews of teak-wood and rattan are roomy and comfortable, and every seat is provided with books for the use of members of the congregation. The excellent custom is followed of leaving the building open to all seeking a retreat for quiet meditation.

The idea that Kowloon should have its own church was mooted in 1897, but it was not until 1904, when a grant of land fronting the Robinson Road had been made by the Government, and Sir Paul Chater had generously undertaken the entire cost of the building, that St. Andrew's Church was commenced. The late bishop of the diocese, the Rt. Rev. J. C. Hoare, D.D., performed the ceremony of laying the foundation stone on December 13, 1904, and on October 6, 1906, the church was dedicated by the Ven. Archdeacon Banister. A melancholy interest attaches to this date, for it was that fixed by Bishop Hoare for the consecration of the church; but his death, in the typhoon of September 18th, made it necessary for another to consummate the work which he had so much at heart. The church, though small, does not lack dignity. It is built of granite and red brick, in the Early English Gothic style of architecture, and is a fine example of modern work. The spire contains a peal of tubular bells, and the interior of the church, with its capacity for three hundred persons (though at present there is seating accommodation for two hundred only), is graced by a handsome east window, also given by Sir Paul Chater, representing the Crucifixion and the Last Supper, with figures of St. Peter and St. Andrew. The small marble shafts around the main columns are of Grecian marble, direct from Athens. The late Bishop Hoare made himself responsible for the provision of the holy table, pulpit, prayer-desks, and choir and chancel seats; the Rev. F. T. Johnson for the font and for communion vessels, which communicants at the cathedral and Peak church were invited to present; the hon. architect (Mr. Bryer) gave the brass eagle lectern; Messrs. Wilks and Jack undertook to collect for and subscribe to the installation of the electric light; the Hon. Mr. E. Osborne contributed to and collected for the bells; and there were many other generous helpers. A vestry, consisting of the chaplain and elected lay-members, directs the affairs of the church. The chaplain is the Rev. Arthur Joseph Stevens, B.A., who also, pending the day when Kowloon becomes wholly responsible for the support of its chaplain, holds the position of Assistant Chaplain of St. John's Cathedral.



THE RIGHT REV. GERARD HEATH LANDER, D.D., fifth Bishop of Victoria, was educated at Trinity College, Cambridge, and at Ridley Hall, and was ordained in 1884 to the curacy of St. Bride's, Liverpool. Afterwards he was appointed to St. Benedict, Liverpool, and subsequently to St. Philip's, Litherland. In 1894 he was appointed Hon. Canon of Liverpool, and, in 1895, Vicar of St. Cyprian, Liverpool. On June 29, 1907, St. Peter's Day, he was consecrated Bishop of Victoria, in the parish church of St. Mary, Lambeth, and was enthroned in the cathedral church of St. John, Hongkong, on Saturday, November 23, 1907. He succeeded Bishop Hoare, who came to China in 1875, was appointed Bishop of Victoria, on June 11, 1898, and lost his life in the typhoon of September 18, 1906, while out with four of his Chinese students, preaching and teaching. When last seen he was kneeling in prayer on the deck of his small yacht, the Pioneer.

THE ARCHDEACON OF HONGKONG, the Ven. William Banister, came out to China in the year 1880. He was educated privately, and at the Church Missionary College, Islington, London. He was ordained deacon in 1879, and priest in 1880, by the Bishop of London. From 1879 to 1880 he was Curate of St. Mary's, Bulderstone, near Blackburn, Lancs., under the late Archdeacon of Blackburn. He was sent to Foochow, and was for some years located at Ku Ching in the charge of a large missionary district with its manifold operations. In 1893 he was given direction of the Church Missionary Society's Theological College, Foochow, and remained there until 1897, when he was appointed to Hongkong and became secretary of the Church Missionary Society for South China. In 1902 he was appointed Archdeacon of Hongkong by the Bishop of Victoria.

THE REV. FREDERICK TRENCH JOHNSON, M.A., Chaplain of St. John's Cathedral, Hongkong, is a son of the Rev. Canon Johnson, Rector of Carbury, County Kildare, Ireland. Born in 1872, he was educated at Trinity College, Dublin, where he subsequently took his degree, and in 1896 he was appointed Curate of Holy Trinity, Belfast. Two years later he came out to the Colony as assistant chaplain, and in 1902 he succeeded the Rev. R. F. Cobbold on that gentleman's resignation of the chaplaincy.



The existing Anglican cathedral is the fourth church which has stood upon the site, and dates back to 1869. The first building, dedicated to the Holy Trinity, collapsed in a storm in 1850, only three years after the foundation stone was laid. The congregation had but a very short while before been assembled within the church, and as a thank-offering to God for their escape they rebuilt the church, which was opened again in the following year. In 1860 it was decided, at a general meeting of the congregation, that a large and permanent church, worthy of the port, should be built on the site of the old building. Accordingly the old church was pulled down, and a temporary structure for services was erected near the side of the compound. The outcome of the effort was the church as it stands to-day, with the exception of the tower, the foundation stone for which was laid in 1891. The new building was opened for service in 1869, and in 1875 it was elected by Bishop Russell to be his cathedral, the Rev. C. H. Butcher being appointed dean.

The cathedral was designed by Sir Gilbert Scott, and is a cruciform structure of beautiful proportions, except that the chancel is shorter than was intended by the architect. There is some good modern glass, the chapel lights being especially worthy of note; and one of the most interesting windows is that in the south aisle to the memory of the Hongkong cricketers, who were wrecked on their return voyage after an inter-port cricket match. In the are several memorial slabs, some of which were transferred from the earlier churches. The building presents an imposing exterior, which is seen to great advantage in the spacious compound by which it is surrounded. The close, bounded by the Kiangse, Kiukiang, Hankow, and Honan Roads, contains also The Deanery, the Cathedral School, and other houses.

The patronage of the cathedral was formerly in the hands of the Foreign Office, but now it is vested in three trustees, who are elected annually by the British subscribers to the establishment, and have certain powers in regard to the appointment of incumbents and in respect of all disbursements. The funds of the cathedral are derived from an endowment, supplemented by pew-rents and voluntary offertories.

The present incumbent, the Very Rev. A. J. Walker, M.A. (Cantab.), was appointed by the trustees in 1903, and was made dean by the bishop in the following year. His assistant chaplain is the Rev. R. G. Winning, B.A., now acting as chaplain-in-charge during his absence on leave.