St. Andrew's Church (Kowloon)

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St. Andrew's Church (聖安德烈堂) is located on 138 Nathan Road, Kowloon. It is an Anglican Church in Tsim Sha Tsui, Kowloon, Hong Kong. The Victorian Gothic-style main building is in cruciform in plan; there is a single bell tower at the front right^[1]. It is part of the Anglican (Sheng Kung Hui) Province of Hong Kong and in the Diocese of Western Kowloon^[2].

The church provides many services on Sundays. It has a 9am, 11am and 6pm English speaking services and a 2pm Cantonese service.

[edit] History

St. Andrew's is the oldest Protestant church in Kowloon. The idea of building an Anglican church in Kowloon was first suggested in 1897 but no progress was made until 1904, when Catchick Paul Chater offered $35,000 to finance the construction. The chosen site was next to a large garden area owned by Sir Paul, covering the area between Robinson Road (now Nathan Road) and Austin Road. Work began in November 1904, and was completed in 1906. The church was consecrated on October 6th 1906.^[3]

This church was continuously used for Christian worship except during the period of Japanese occupation in the Second World War; ^[4]it was used as a Shinto shrine during that period.^[5]

In 1979, St. Andrew’s Christian Centre was built. The Centre now houses different Christian organisations. The Church was restored in 1959.

The church was important to the early history of Scout Movement in Hong Kong: it organised the 2nd Scout Group in Hong Kong.

The church recently held its centenary celebrations which included the consecration of two new stained glass windows.

[edit] References

^ Antiquities and Monuments Office.2000(APR) Heritage Hong Kong 3:4
^ History of St Andrew's Church
^ 2006. St Andrews Church Centenary Celebration commemorative booklet
^ 2006 Awards Entries for Culture Heritage Conservation: China
^ Sally Rodwell. 1991. A Visitor's guide to Historic Hong Kong. ISBN 962-217-212-1