The establishment of Christian Union in 1950s

Appendices

A. List of Chaplains and Advisors since 1950

B. List of Chairmen of Christian Union since its establishment

The establishment of Christian Union in the 1950s

When St. Paul’s College was re-established in 1950, it was a small College with a small number of students. Out of which, there was a small portion of Christians. At that time, there was an enthusiastic teacher who was very keen in student Christian activities. An old boy of the College, he taught P.E. and music in his Alma Mater since the pre-war period. He was Mr. Chiu Lin Chun (later the Revd.).

As a member of St. Paul’s Church, Mr. Chiu was able to keep in touch with the students in the church fellowship, some of which were also students of the College. One of them was now the Archbishop of Hong Kong Sheng Kung Hui, the Very Rt. Revd. Kwong Kwong-kit, Peter. Mr. Chiu started to gather a small band of Christian students, most of whom Anglican, and initiate some Christian activities in school, for example, Bible study, prayer meetings and hymn singing, etc. In about 1953, a committee was formed to run this new Christian Union. Its first chairman was Peter Kwong.

At that time, due to lack of communication and understanding among the different Christian denominations in Hong Kong, there was a common misunderstanding towards the Anglican Church. Hence, only two or three non-Anglican Christians attended meetings of Christian Union, which was then predominantly Anglican. However, as time was gone, better understanding was achieved among the Christians, and gradually, more and more Christians with a non-Anglican background started to participate in the Christian Union.

Later, Rev. Runcorn joined St. Paul’s College as the first Chaplain since 1950. He also participated in the activities of the Christian Union. (1)

With a small nucleus of 15 or 20 Christian students to start with, the Christian Union soon grew to become a society with an average attendance of more than 40 members in 1956-57 (2). Meetings were held in the chapel (3) every week. They were by no means confined to serious talks and sermons. “Occasionally we had films, but more frequently film-strips…. Bible quizes and mimes produced an equally good effect on the members.” (4)

Prayer meetings were held every day, either in the morning or after school. Discussion forums and Bible studies groups were held every week, either on Wednesday or Friday. Indeed, the model of various weekly meetings in subsequent years was set. (5)

Holy Communion was celebrated every month in the chapel by the chaplain and members of Christian Union. This tradition continues to the sixties, when it became more or less a school function instead of a Christian Union activity. In 1966, it was celebrated every Wednesday after school. It again became monthly in 1967. The last record of Holy Communion was in 1970, when it was “celebrated in the chapel on major Saint’s Days, with an encouraging attendance from students and staff.” (6)

Conferences or camps had always been the highlight of the year. In 1957, the Christian Union held two conferences, one at Easter in Tao Fung Shan and the other, during the Summer vacation, at St. Stephen’s College, Stanley. The latter was even joined by five boys from St. Mark’s who were led by their Chaplain. (7)

In the 1950s, Christian Union was also active in inter-school activities. Members from the Christian Union attended the meetings of the Hong Kong Joint Christian Fellowship. Joint school activities, like Christmas celebration, discussion forum and voluntary service, were held with St. Stephen’s Girls’ College and St. Mark’s Secondary School. (8)

A glimpse of two of the important traditions of the Christian Union could be seen here: summer conferences and inter-school connection.

Footnotes:

1. The information about the establishment of the Christian Union was obtained through an interview with the Very Rt. Revd. Peter K. K. Kwong. Since the first issue of Wayfarer was published in 1957, and the second one in 1963, written records of the Christian activities were very scarce. It is the author’s grief that Revd. Chiu had left us for heaven before our historical research commenced.

2. The Christian Union, Wayfarer 1957, pg. 57.

3. The old chapel was situated at

4. The Christian Union, Wayfarer 1957, pg. 57.

5. Interview with the Very Rt. Revd. Peter Kwong.

6. Interview with the Very Rt. Revd. Peter Kwong; Christian Union, Wayfarer 1966, pg. 35; Principal’s report, Wayfarer 1967, pg. 38; Principal’s report, Wayfarer 1970, pg. 8.

7. The Christian Union, Wayfarer 1957, pg. 57.

8. Interview with the Very Rt. Revd. Peter Kwong.

The establishment of Christian Union in the 1950s

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