太平境馬雅各紀念教會簡史
	A BRIEF HISTORY OF THAI-PING-KENG MAXWELL MEMORIAL CHURCH

　 On June 16, 1865, Dr. Maxwell rented a house at Kan-Hsi Street(看西街) outside the west gate of the capital city. The front part of the house was used as a worshipping place, and the rest of it was his clinic. Thus Dr. Maxwell and his assistants began to practice medicine and preach the Gospel at the same time. This was how the church was started.

　 But political persecution happened only 23 days later. Dr. Maxwell and his assistants retreated to Chi Hou (旗後), Kaohsiung, under the protection of the English consulate, and waited for an opportunity to come back to Tainan. But Dr. Maxwell wouldn't waste any time waiting in vain. He set to work to establish the Chi Hou (Tako/打狗) Preaching Gospel Center to start his medical treatment and evangelistic programs. The result of his work was not bad. A branch church was established at Pei Tou (埤頭) in 1867. The so-called "Camphor Event" happened, and then came the "Pei Tou Persecution Event." So Great Britain took military action to safe-guard the missionaries. Later, Dr. Maxwell handed the Chi Hou preaching work over to Rev. Hugh Ritchie, a new pastor, and came back to Tainan with his two assistants, on Dec. 25, 1868.

　 The following year, in 1869, he rented Hsu's house, located at Erh Lao Kou(二老口), in eastern part of Tainan, and established the Capital Preaching Gospel Center to resume his preaching work and medical treatment. That same year, he rented another house on Ting Tzu Chiao (亭仔腳) Street as a church. There was a slow but stable growth in his Gospel preaching work. This was the beginning of the church organization in Taiwan.

　 The first Sunday School was opened in 1879. It was not until 1889 that MissionaryChu Yeh-an (Miss Joan Stuart, 朱約安), was recognized as the first Sunday School principal. In 1880, Rev. Hugh Ritchie's wife, together with other women, set up the "Ladies' Party." In 1887, a high school principal, Yu Jao-li (余饒理), suggested setting up a "Youth Party" to care about the youth. Therefore, "Pei Li Ya Party" (庇理亞會), the beginning of Youth Party, was founded. In 1888, missionaries Miss Chu and Miss An established "Women Prayers Meeting" for women to meet every Tuesday.

　 At that time, this church was called "Tainan Town Party"--- "City Church" in English. It was moved from place to place. However, Christianity began to expand and the number of Christians increased day by day. In 1902, a new church was built at the present site, and was named "Maxwell Memorial Church" by England's Presbyterian Church, in memory of Dr. James Maxwell and the evangelism of the Presbyterian Church in Taiwan.

　 Soon after that, Mr. Wu Tao-yuan (吳道源), a church worker, set up a preaching charity meeting. In 1908, Sunday School celebrated Christmas in February. In 1922, this church was renamed "Tainan Party" by Tainan Church Association. In 1930, "Youth Party" and the "Church Choir" were both established. The "Preaching Team" was opened before 1931. And a kindergarten was set up in April, 1931.

　 It is the custom of the Taiwanese to name a church after the street where it is
located. That's why the formal name of our church is "THAI PING CHING MAXWELL MEMORIAL CHURCH". Since 1935, the shortened form "THAI PING CHENG" has been used. In 1954, the church was rebuilt and has remained the same until now.

　 To date, more than 24 branch churches have been established and more churches have been opened by the branch churches. Now in total, there are over 60 churches in Taiwan, The evangelistic work, initiated by Dr. Maxwell and other missionaries, has been continued by all the followers. These churches have remained fresh and have become further established as time has passed. This is a living evidence for the Christ Presbyterian Church which has lasted more than 130 years in Taiwan. On July 9, 1994, it was our honor to have Rev. Handel Tai(戴牧師) as our thirteenth pastor. In 1995, we celebrated the 130th anniversary of the establishment of our church.

　 We are now designing new preaching programs and other activities with the hope that God's Gospel will be widely preached in the whole of Taiwan, in every village and every hamlet, and in every town and every city. Please kindly pray for us in God's name.