History

The New Zealand Chinese Anglican Mission Church was established in 1907, in Frederick Street, Wellington. However, just prior to 1900 a cathechist was employed to work among the 500 Chinese in Wellington and from this small group of lay workers both men and women were teaching Chinese people the English language and helping them to understand the Christian message.

Over the years, the Anglican Christian work spread from Wellington to Otaki, Levin, Palmerston North, Dannevirke and Northern Hawkes Bay. Other Chinese residents established themselves in Market Gardens, in the Lower Hutt Valley and Gracefield areas forming small scattered islands of Chinese.

Historical Church Design
Sketch of originally proposed church building.

During the late months of 1969, the church announced a proposal to build an Anglican Chinese Centre Community Hall (This is where we are situated today).

To fulfil its role in the Chinese community, the activities of the church were divided into two distinct parts; the spiritual and social. The social activities took place in the Chinese Centre Hall (top level), while the church premises was for spiritual worship (lower level).

Present and Future

In terms of the history of the Anglican Chinese Mission, the setting up of an English speaking service must rank as a milestone in the Mission's growth as a community church for New Zealanders of Chinese origins. Some might even go so far to say it was a quantum leap in our endeavour to meet the needs of those Chinese whom English is essentially their mother tongue.

We now have in place, a style of worship which will serve as a platform on which to build on and we can only go from strength to strength. Not even the church is spared from change! Whilst our worship style is subject to continuous improvement, the good news is the same good news - that through God's grace and mercy, we can receive salvation by simply accepting Him into our lives.