Daqiao Church (Original Site of Fangxi Church). During the Sino-French War, an atmosphere of xenophobia pervaded Taiwanese society, and Dr. Mackay's church was consequently demolished by rioters. During the Sino-French War, an atmosphere of xenophobia pervaded Taiwanese society, and Dr. Mackay's church was consequently demolished by rioters. In 1885, Dr. Mackay negotiated the use of 10,000 taels of silver, compensated by Imperial Commissioner Liu Ming-chuan, to build four Gothic-style chapels, one of which was Fangxi Church. Dr. Mackay considered Fangxi Church the most beautiful stone church among the many he designed. In 1915, due to an increase in congregants, the church space became insufficient. Elder Li Chun-sheng single-handedly funded the construction of the new Dadaocheng Church. The congregants of Fangxi Church then moved to the new location for worship, and the church was renamed Dadaocheng Church. The original site of Fangxi Church was subsequently leased for use as a Japanese language school and later as the Baoxiang Zhai pastry factory. It remained vacant until the 1950s when Mrs. Sun Li-lien, seeing the site abandoned, encouraged the Presbyterian Church in Taiwan to rebuild a church there. The new church was finally completed in 1956 and began holding services, named Daqiao Church. The church building itself has undergone several reconstructions. Today, only the northern building and the outer stone walls remain from the original Fangxi Church structure, serving as the only physical testament to Dr. Mackay's missionary work in Taipei City. The thick stone walls built with Qilian stone and the classical Gothic arched windows and doors are still visible. On the south side of the church, imitation Roman columns built with terrazzo during the pastry factory period can be seen.
Address: 臺北市大同區大稻埕迪化街二段
Hours: 00:00–23:59
Taipei