wfn.org | Tainan City to Rename Park After Early Presbyterian Missionary

[Worldwide Faith News <wfn@igc.org>]

Taiwan Church News 2626, June 30, 2002
Reported by Chiou Kai-li,
translated and rewritten by David Alexander

    Tainan City's Youth Road runs for less than
two kilometers from the historical city center
to its termination at Victory Road. Along the
way it passes Tainan Theological College and the
Taiwan Church Press. Across the road from these
venerable institutions is Youth Park.

    A movement led by city council member Li
Wen-cheng is requesting that the park be renamed
in honor of the Rev. Mr. Thomas Barclay, founder
of both the college and the press. The land has
been a park for less than 20 years, and takes
its name from the road. Changing the name will
connect the location with its own history and
with that of a man who identified with and loved
Taiwan.

    Various council members have carried this
motion along, and hearings were recently held.
Renaming any location must take into account
the opinions of local neighborhood chiefs, some
of whom are opposed. An open hearing was held,
which many church members attended. The motion
was then sent to the council, which passed it
and has sent it to the executive for implementation.

    Members of the council and representatives of
several city departments gathered at Tainan
Theological College on June 24th for an informal
meeting to discuss how they might cooperate with
the college in the future. The history of Tainan
City since 1865 has often been intertwined with
the early persons and institutions of the
Presbyterian Church in Taiwan. These demonstrated
identification with this land and love for it.
The government officials were interested in
making this history known.

For more information:
Taiwan Church Press: pctpress@ms1.hinet.net
Tainan Theological College: ttcs@bbs.ttcs.org.tw

Taiwan Church News is published weekly in Chinese.
Visit our web site: www.pctpress.com.tw