In December last year, we wrote about the architecturally interesting St Mary’s Episcopal Church in Causeway Bay (on the way to Hong Kong Stadium).
The western church building is built in a mostly traditional Chinese style and even the pews sport Chinese and Christian characters.
I recently found an interesting programme on RTHK’s Hong Kong Stories series of television programmes, as a way of following up on my 2010 post. It deals with historical buildings around the Territory and includes the St Mary’s Church building as well as another beautiful building, the Catholic Cathedral in Cane Road, Central.
In addition to unpacking the relationship between Chinese religious architecture and western religion, the RTHK programme tells us more about the rich history of St Mary’s and how it came to being.
Click on the LINK to view it. (The part about St Mary’s is about 3/4 into the insert.)
Whenever I have to visit my son’s school in Causeway Bay (near the Hong Kong Stadium) I always want to kick myself when I pass a particular landmark in this area without a camera (my phone camera just doesn’t do it for me).
I found myself in Tung Lo Wan Road yesterday but this time I was well-equipped. The reason? There is a particular visually stunning Episcopal Church called St. Mary’s on the corner of Tung Lo Wan Road that is built in the traditional Chinese style.
It has been categorised as a Grade 3 historical building by the Hong Kong Government and was built in 1937
When you approach the red-brick structure that is built on a rise, you will be forgiven for mistaking it for a Chinese temple. Until you see the Christian cross above the main entrance.
I took a couple of pictures:
You can read more about St. Mary’s Church here and if you can read Chinese click here
