Page:Twentieth Century Impressions of Hongkong, Shanghai, and other Treaty Ports of China.djvu/344

336 THE UNION CHURCH, HONGKONG.

The establishment of the Union Church, which is the centre of religious life among nonconformists in the Colony, was due to the initiative and religious fervour of Dr. Legge, a man of scholarly attainments and the well-known author of "Chinese Classics." He came to Hongkong as an agent for the London Missionary Society in 1843, and at once opened his house to Europeans for worship and speedily promoted the building of a chapel. A basis of agreement was drawn up which was Protestant, evangelical, and undenominational, and, an appeal having been made for funds in reply to which two-thirds of the cost of the building were supplied from outside the Colony, a church was erected in Wellington Street, and opened in 1845. Four years later Dr. Legge formally undertook the pastorate and, with the exception of an interval between 1867 and 1870, continued his ministration continuously until 1873. His services throughout the whole of this period, were highly appreciated, and under his direction the small struggling Church gradually grew in strength. The building in Wellington Street, becoming dilapidated and too small for the requirements of the community, a second structure was raised in 1865, in Staunton Road. Sunday-school work was commenced in 1872, and, in various ways, the Church became so firmly established that in 1880, with full and grateful acknowledgment of the assistance which had so constantly been rendered by the London Missionary Society during the previous thirty-five years, the members decided to make it self-supporting and independent in financial matters. Ten years later, the neighbourhood of Staunton Road being considered unsuitable for a European church, the present edifice in Kennedy Road, and a commodious manse adjoining, were opened in 1891. A church hall was added six years later. In 1893 a ladies' committee was elected, and in 1894 a Christian Endeavour Society was formed. Both of these continue to contribute largely to the furtherance of the general objects of the Church. In 1902 a literary club was started which, from its inauguration, has attracted talent from all sections of the Colony, its weekly meetings during the winter are largely attended and highly appreciated. In 1904 the Hongkong and New Territory Evangelisation Society was inaugurated as a joint effort on the part of the Union Church and the To Tsai (London Missionary Society, Chinese) Church, to evangelise the local populations under the British flag. Very remarkable success has attended this effort, both on the mainland and on the adjacent islands. Sunday-school work is now carried on in three districts with marked benefit.

The present church buildings are centrally situated and commodious. A tower rises above the cruciform structure, which accommodates 500 worshippers, and around the walls are tablets commemorating the eminent scholarship of Dr. Legge and Dr. Chalmers and the services of Dr. Young, all three of whom, at different periods, were ministers of the church. Altogether there have been thirteen pastors, as well as the famous Dr. Eitel, who rendered much appreciated interim service, and the Rev. T. W. Pearce, who still does so. The present minister is the Rev. C. H. Hickling, who recently returned from Europe for a second term of service by the hearty desire of the congregation. Besides ministering to the church under his charge he acts as one of the chaplains to the Navy and Army for the Colonial Government, and also shares in the services conducted in the Peak church, which has numbered among its members some of the most esteemed residents in the Colony.

THE UNION CHURCH, SHANGHAI.

The Union Church, situated in Soochow Road, near the British Consulate, is a graceful structure of blue-grey and red brick, in the Early English style of architecture, with an open-timbered roof and an octagonal shingled tower. As the name implies, the congregation consists of a union of all Free Church denominations. The Rev. Dr. Medhurst, of the London Missionary Society, took the initiative in its formation as early as 1845. For many years services were held in a chapel in the Shantung Road, but at length the unsuitableness of the neighbourhood and the growing requirements of the congregation made necessary the acquisition of a new site. A building committee was formed towards the close of 1882; funds were raised by means of a bazaar and an appeal to the public; and the present site was acquired for the sum of Tls. 20,945·65. The new church was erected by Mr. Dowdall, at a cost of about Tls. 9,000, and was opened for divine service on July 4, 1886. New school premises, lecture hall, class-rooms and manse were built on land adjoining the church in 1889, and the church itself was enlarged to its present size in 1901. The minister is the Rev. C. E. Darwent, M.A., who came to the Settlement early in 1889. 