Tamsui Church, Protestant church in Tamsui, Taiwan.
Tamsui Church is a white Gothic-style church in Tamsui, northern Taiwan, built on a hillside with pointed arches, stained glass windows, and a bell tower. The grounds around the building include pathways and steps that lead down toward the Tamsui River, giving the site an open, layered feel.
The congregation traces its roots to 1872, when Canadian missionary George Leslie Mackay arrived in Tamsui and established one of the first Protestant communities in northern Taiwan. The current building was constructed later, but the community has remained active on this site ever since.
Tamsui Church still holds regular services in Mandarin and Taiwanese, and locals come here not just for worship but also for community gatherings. The white building with its pointed arches has become a familiar landmark along the riverfront for people passing through the area.
The church is within walking distance of Tamsui MRT station on the red line, and there is no entrance fee to visit the grounds or the building. The site sits on a hill, so wearing shoes with a good grip is a practical choice, especially after rain when the steps can be slippery.
Mackay was Canadian, not American as is sometimes noted, and he chose to be buried in Taiwan rather than return to his home country. He is also said to have pulled more than 60,000 teeth for local patients, often trading dental care for a willing ear to his sermons.
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