When Dr. MacKay first settled in Tamsui, he rented a house as his base for missionary, medical and educational work. Yet, the locals were xenophobic and impediments came like crashing waves. However, with a determined heart, Dr. MacKay fought to blend in and finally, gradually, spread the gospel.

Dr. MacKay’s first baptism was conducted on February 9th, 1873; five Christians were admitted into the Christian church and the first communion was held the next Sabbath; thus the founding of today’s Tamsui Presbyterian Church. At around 1890, due to the increasing number of new Christian converts, Dr. MacKay procured a house neighboring the MacKay Hospital from owner Tan Ah Soon and remodeled it to the first chapel in Tamsui. Before this, services were held in rented houses.

Since the first remodeling, the Tamsui Presbyterian Church has undergone two reconstructions. The first reconstruction took place in 1915, it came to be known as the White Chapel for its North American style brick building with white-ash walls and a bell tower built on top of the main entrance.

The second reconstruction is now the Tamsui Presbyterian Church you see today, conducted to celebrate the 60th anniversary of Dr. MacKay’s missionary work in Taiwan. George William MacKay (Dr. MacKay’s son) helped fund (mainly from the Canada Presbytery Church), design and supervise the project. Other financial supports came from church donations in Taiwan. The second reconstruction began in 1932 and end on September 3rd, 1933.

The church is built with ceramic simple bricks, a Gothic-like turret and large metallic beams supporting the entire architecture. The interior of the church is decorated with stained glasses depicting stories from the Bible. The stained glasses at the front of the church illustrate the Holy Trinity of the Father, the Son, and the Holy Spirit. The two illustrations on the bell tower present elements from the “Five Loaves of Bread and Two Fish” and the “Prayer in Gethsemane”.

Now take a moment and step back in time. Imagine the church overlooking the Tamsui harbor, the sound of church bells ringing across to the shores of Bali, and the gospel - spreading in North Taiwan.