Study of Catholic Charitable Works in 19th Century Wanchai (Apr. 2014 – Jul. 2016)

About the Project

Following the British occupation of the Hong Kong Island, the Catholic Church in Hong Kong was established as a mission prefecture in 1841. Soon after the first Catholic Church was built on Wellington Street in Central, a cemetery was set up on the hillside of Wanchai and then a Chapel was built near it. After the cemetery was moved to Happy Valley in 1846, the Catholic Church built some residential houses near the Chapel and leased to the faithful, while beginning to develop charity services facilities in Wanchai.

Since the Sisters of St. Paul de Chartres arrived in Hong Kong in 1848, and the Canossian Daughters of Charity started working in Wanchai in the 1860s, the Asile de la Sainte Enfance (Home of the Holy Childhood), St. Paul’s Hospital, St. Francis Hospital, schools and shelters came into being one after another in the area. From caring for the deceased at the beginning to raising abandoned children and helping those in need, the Catholic Church’s presence in Wanchai in the 19th Century was a response to the social problems and immediate needs of the local community, which reflects the situation of Wanchai at that age.

With sponsorship from the Lord Wilson Trust Heritage Fund, this project in its first stage studies the history of Catholic charity works and establishments in Wanchai and their roles in the 19th century. Apart from archival research, oral history was done for a closer look at the interactions between missionaries and the government or local inhabitants of different classes.

Fruits of the first stage serve as a ground for further academic discussions and civic education. Several events were organized mainly in 2015, including public talks (March and April), roundtable conference (June), exhibitions (August and September) and guided tours (January, February and November). Along with these activities, a leaflet and a guidebook for the tour were printed while a 19th century 3D map of Wanchai (http://catholic3.crs.cuhk.edu.hk/wanchai19th) was made for display during the roundtable conference.

To conclude this research project, a book titled “十九世紀天主教在灣仔的慈善工作 (Catholic Charitable Works in 19th Century Wanchai)” was published in April 2016, compiling papers presented in the talks and roundtable conference, and the Oral History with orphans from Canossian and St. Paul’s organizations.