Macau Protestant Chapel
Macau Protestant Chapel, commonly known as Morrison Chapel (Portuguese: Capela Protestante; traditional Chinese: 馬禮遜教堂; simplified Chinese: 马礼逊教堂; Jyutping: maa5 lai5 seon3 gaau1 tong4, pinyin: mǎ lǐ xùn jiào táng) is a small Anglican chapel situated off Camões Square, near Camões Park, in the Chinese Special Administrative Region of Macau. It was originally built in the early 19th century to serve the requirements of employees of the British East India Company, but now serves worshippers of a variety of denominational backgrounds in the diocese of Macau. The present structure was built in 1922.
History
Traders of the East India Company were engaged in trade with China from the late eighteenth century until 1834. Their charter included stipulations that employees regularly attend divine services, and that chaplains be sent out from England to minister the spiritual needs of employees.
Before 1821, when the land for a chapel and burial ground (now the Old Protestant Cemetery) was purchased, the chapel was probably simply a room at the offices of the British East India Company. The purchase of the burial ground was prompted by the death of Mary Morrison, wife of Robert Morrison, missionary and translator employed by the East India Company. Prior to this, the Portuguese authorities had only allowed Roman Catholic burials in the colony.
Nothing is known about the construction of the first chapel at the site. The first recorded ceremony at the chapel was a marriage in 1833.
In 1834, when the East India Company lost its trade monopoly, responsibility for the Chapel and cemetery was taken by the British government. In 1870 this responsibility was transferred by Deed of Transfer to Trustees consisting of three high ranking representatives of at least two nations having Protestant members living in Macau.
In 1921, the Chapel required complete rebuilding, except for the original foundation. Two conditions were placed on these works; it had to be hidden from the street behind a high wall, and it could have no church bell. The chapel has remained structurally unaltered since the completion of these works in 1922.
In 1941 Florence Li Tim-Oi became the pastor of the congregation swollen in numbers by refugees from the mainland and later from Hong Kong; she had been made an Anglican deacon on Ascension Day in Hong Kong. When men priests could no longer reach Macao, she was licensed by the Assistant Bishop of Canton to preside at Holy Communion services. The Bishop of Hong Kong and South China regularised her position by ordaining her 'a Priest of God' in Shui Hing on 25 January 1944. She thus became the first woman priest in the worldwide Anglican Communion and continued her ministry in Macao until 1946. Li Tim-Oi Foundation
Worship
The Parish of Morrison Chapel has two services on Sunday mornings: a traditional Eucharist at 9:00am held in the Chapel itself, and a family Communion Service held in Macau Anglican College 3rd floor hall, Taipa, at 11:00am. The second service offers a Sunday school, free parking, and a crèche. The parish Youth group also meets on Saturdays at 4-8pm in the MAC school hall. Refreshments are served after each service. Reverend Stephen R Durie has been the Pastor & Priest-in-Charge since Dec 2008. See the parish website for directions www.morrisonchapel.com
See also
References
- Lofland, B. J. "The Morrison Chapel", chapel guide, read in 2008
External links
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Coordinates: 22°11′59.63″N 113°32′24.71″E / 22.1998972°N 113.5401972°E