Theological Training College (1899-1909)

Appendices

A. List of Chaplains and Advisors since 1950

B. List of Chairmen of Christian Union since its establishment

Theological Training College (1899-1909)

In 1899, Bishop Joseph Charles Hoare and Rev. A. Bunbury closed the Anglo-Chinese school, and started a theological Training College for Chinese preachers. It was still called St. Paul’s College. There were an Advanced Students’ Class, and a Preparandi Class. A High School was set up in autumn 1900 to provide foundational training for young Chinese boys from Christian families, who would like to go on to study theology in the Advanced Students’ Class.

In the Preparandi Class, the theological students would study the Old and New Testament, Prayer Book, Christian Doctrine and Composition of Sermons. In 1910, a Difficulties Class, half an hour twice a week, was added to invite students “to discuss any difficulties which confront them, or which they may have heard raised from others.” (1) A Preachers Preparation Class on Friday evenings was held at the New Street Preaching Hall, attended by the Students and elder boys. It was held in 1910 by Rev. Fok Tsing Shaan, the Vicar of St. Stephen’s Church.

Besides attending lessons in theology, the students were very active in direct evangelistic work. “During term they have given assistance at the mid-day preaching at our central hall, in the city, or in the evening preaching in one of our suburbs. In the early spring there is a large feast and market held at Chik-Waan, just outside the borders of the colony: the Students went there for three days, usually accompanied by a native or foreign clergyman, and continual preaching was held throughout each day.” (2)

“Their work is not easy; they are often met with opposition, sometimes even by ill-treatment. They are almost always placed in isolated positions where they can only occasionally receive visits from the Chinese or English clergy. Deprived of many of the privileges possessed by ourselves, or even by their own brethren in large centres they need our prayers.” (3)

Footnotes:

1. St. Paul’s College Hong Kong The Tenth Year, pg. 6. CMS Archive No. 134, 1910, G1 CH1 O Reel 257.

2. Ditto, pg. 7 and 8

3. Ditto, pg. 9

Theological Training College (1899-1909)

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