St. Andrew's Church | Gwulo: Old Hong Kong

St. Andrew's Church

St. Andrew's Church
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Good find Annelisec, I managed to buy this a couple of years ago.  Strange how the narrative is so terribly incorrect - Roman Catholic Church!  I've also seen it described as "The New English Church"

Liz and others.  Do you have old (pre 1920's) images of the wall on Nathan Road in front of St. Andrew's Church.  And can you help me date this postcard that shows the wall.  The church is going to tear it down and make it a glass wall !

Annelisec

That saddens me greatly.  As far as I'm concerned the wall was part of the process of building the church, the church is with spire in the picture so the wall is almost as old as the church. Why a glass wall?

here's their vision: http://www.lcsd.gov.hk/CE/Museum/Monument/form/AAB139-22-C.pdf

St Andrew's perspective is: St Andrew’s has taken the view that the existing wall has no specific heritage significance, and a number of heritage authorities in Hong Kong have agreed.

http://www.standrews.org.hk/index.php?option=com_content&view=article&id=206&Itemid=138

I agree that the wall is a key part of the site. But it seems the demolition will go ahead:

The Chairman concluded that the Board appreciated the initiative of the owner to consult AAB. While the final decision rested with the owner, it would be important to note the general view among quite a number of AAB Members that they had reservations about the revised plan of the Church and were in favour of retaining the existing rubble retaining wall as far as practicable. He also remarked that departments concerned might consider providing general guidelines to owners of privately owned graded buildings to facilitate them to arrange renovation/ maintenance works.
http://www.lcsd.gov.hk/CE/Museum/Monument/form/AAB148_minutes_e.pdf

Any letters to the AMO, to the South China Morning Post, to St Andrews might lend some weight against the plan

St. Andrew's is having their AGM on 20 March to ask for approval.  If you have friends who attend, and do not yet know about this, do let them know.

it isobvious that St. Andrew's Trustees are confident that it will get all the approvals.  In its literature it is insinuating that the wall is not as old as the
church. 

To atract the attention of the Public to their new underground community centre:  It is for marketing purposes !

http://www.standrews.org.hk/index.php?option=com_content&view=article&id...

It may well be not as old as the church, but I would say that it was probably built within a year or so of the foundation stone laying.  On its dedication on the 8 October 1906 it was reported that " The grounds have been well laid out and turfed." and having researched and studied the life of Sir Paul as much as I have I would say that he would not have felt comfortable allowing the dedication service to go ahead (bearing in mind that it was also quite a bitter-sweet occasion with the recent death of Bishop Hoare, so the whole event was actually rather sombre) without everything being perfect.  Another thought, the PRO will have documents of when the retaining wall was built, if anyone wants to check it out.

Affixed to the retaining wall on church grounds is a dedication to Sir Paul.

St. Andrew's Church - Dedication to Sir Paul Chater

Hi moddsey, HK Telegraph March 13, 1913 anounces that Sir Paul has agreed to defray the costs of the church hall.  The above stone marks the building of the Church Hall.