St. Paul’s Church
Founded in 1911, St. Paul’s Church stands beautifully on Glenealy in Neo-Gothic, Classical Revival and Dutch styles of architecture. The church belongs to a group of heritage buildings that stand on an area named Tit Kong, the Iron Mound. This group of heritage buildings include the church itself, the Bishop’s House, and the Old S.K.H. Kei Yan Primary School—amongst the many other Anglican buildings in the general area.
The buildings at the Iron Mound are the very testaments to the Anglican Church’s pastoral and educational missions in Hong Kong. Throughout the 20th century, the Anglican Church has established multiple schools in this location. The Bishop’s House (1851), for example, once served as the collegiate schoolhouse for St. Paul’s College, where prominent Hong Kong legislative councilor Wu Ting Fang once attended school.
The History of St. Paul’s Church in Hong Kong
Of the Anglican denomination, St. Paul’s Church came into existence by the efforts of four critical persons. At the time of founding, Lam Woo, Huang Mou Lin, Li Wei Zhen and Reverend A.D. Stewart called for the establishment of a church for the expatriate congregation of the Anglican faith in Hong Kong.
Throughout a century of its history, St. Paul’s Church has nurtured 35 bishops, 6 of whom became the archbishops in Hong Kong and overseas.
The St. Paul’s Church was one of the early Anglican parishes that began preaching in Chinese. It grew into a sizable church, and by 1938 it came under the administration of the Anglican Church in Hong Kong. During the Japanese Occupation, the church was turned into the training site for the kempeitai of the Japanese Imperial Army. After WWII, the church established the Sheng Kung Hui Kindergarten, bringing home its efforts in offering Christian education to the locals of Hong Kong.
The Architecture of the St. Paul’s Church
If you take a stroll in this part of Central, just a stone’s throw from the bar and entertainment establishments of Lan Kwai Fong, you will not miss the stately St. Paul’s Church, situated a bit more uphill from the Fringe Club.
If placed in a historical context, this area’s hodge podge of heritage buildings (and yes, Lan Kwai Fong’s bar establishments are also historical) exemplify the varied, colorful and eclectic character that forms the very core of Hong Kong’s heterogeneity. The Fringe Club, formerly Old Dairy Farm Depot, is now an arts and culture venue. The decadence of Lan Kwai Fong’s nightlife is the result of astuteness by the business leaders of Hong Kong. The Anglican cluster of buildings then add to this unlikely mix of heritage the call for atonement and the pursuit of holiness. And surely, St. Paul’s Church’s architecture appeals to the soulful yearnings for peace and hope.
The main architectural style of the St. Paul’s Church is Neo-Gothic, with elements of Classical Revival, Dutch and Tudor.
The first striking impression of the St. Paul’s Church is the Dutch walls featuring the colors of blue and white. The blue color adorns the roof and the mouldings against the white stucco walls.
Extending to a seemingly endless sky is the spire on the southern end of the building that typifies century-old churches anywhere in the world. In the urbanscape that is Hong Kong, this gothic architectural feature of the church embodies a significance that transcends the changing face of Central in the past century.
The other end of the church features a Dutch gable and canted bay. The main arched window in its front is the same motif throughout the upper row of windows that follow in the side walls.
The windows on the upper row of the side walls have pointed arches, a detail that comports with the building’s gothic theme.
Of most significance in St. Paul Church’s interiors are the stained glass panes that lie behind the altar. It was a gift of Reverend Stewart in 1917, shipped from the United Kingdom. The paintings on glass depict the disciples of Jesus Christ and Jesus himself. I was not able to enter the church during non-sermon hours. Therefore, I have not been able to photograph this beautiful piece of installation.
The St. Paul’s Church is a Grade 1 Historic Building.
Sources
The Official Website of the St. Paul’s Church and Vicarage.
The Antiquities Advisory Board, Bishop’s House Historical Building Appraisal No. 9 and No. 49.
Master-insight.com, A Building Cluster that Carries the History of Sheng Kung Hui’s Faith and Educational Missions (Chin).