St Andrew's Church, Anglican church in Tsim Sha Tsui, Hong Kong
St Andrew's Church is an Anglican church at 138 Nathan Road in Tsim Sha Tsui, built of red brick and granite in the Victorian Gothic style. Its main facade has a large pointed-arch stained-glass window, and a square brick tower with a white parapet stands to the right. The altar and baptismal windows hold original 1906 glass by William Morris & Co.
The idea of an Anglican church in Kowloon was raised in 1897, but work only began after Sir Catchick Paul Chater financed it in 1904. Designed by Alfred Bryer of Leigh & Orange, the church was built in red brick and granite from November 1904 and consecrated on 6 October 1906. The Old Vicarage followed in 1909.
The church is named after Saint Andrew, patron saint of Scotland, reflecting the Anglican tradition of its founders. Its congregation was originally expatriate; today about 90% of those attending consider Hong Kong home, and services are held in English and Putonghua. The second vicar, Rev H. O. Spink, founded Hong Kong's first scout troop.
St Andrew's Church stands at 138 Nathan Road, directly opposite Kowloon Park, so it draws steady foot traffic. Sunday services run at 8:30am, 9:30am, 11:30am and 5:00pm in English, with a Putonghua service at 11:30am; Holy Communion is given at 8:30am weekly and at the other services on the second and fourth Sundays. The Lych Gate and steps added in 1954 lead up from the street.
The bell tower once carried a tall spire, removed after repeated typhoon damage. Its eight bronze tubular bells, cast by Harrington's of Coventry, were installed in 1906 and still hang in the tower. The 2006 centenary refurbishment received an Award of Merit, not the top prize, from the UNESCO Asia-Pacific Awards for Cultural Heritage Conservation.
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