ST JOHN'S CATHEDRAL, St John's Cathedral

The Cathedral Church of Saint John the Evangelist in Hong Kong was declared a historical monument in 1996, not so much for its artistic and architectural importance as for the fact it is the oldest Western church built in Hong Kong, and the only one of the period to have survived the Second World War.

Let’s take a look at its history. The cathedral, inaugurated in 1849, was initially designed in Neo-Gothic style, but the simpler Norman style was subsequently chosen, principally for financial reasons. At that time, this church was three times more expensive to build than other religious buildings erected in the colonial empire.

The cathedral remained open for worship until December 1941, when Hong Kong was occupied by the Japanese who used the building as a meeting place. After four years, despite the damage suffered, the cathedral was repaired and reopened to worshippers. The main portal was completely rebuilt, using the timber from a British military ship, the HMS Tamar, destroyed during the war at Victoria Harbor.

The outside of the church, which has a cross-shaped layout, is in a simple, linear style, elegant and without elaborate decoration. It has two facades, one opposite the other, with a high tower being the characteristic feature of the main one. There is an inviting garden on the side designed as a gathering place for the faithful.

Now press pause and enter.

At the entrance, you’ll immediately notice a floor mosaic which is predominantly blue. The rest of the floor has a light coloring, like the walls and the white columns that join in vaulted arches at the top, contrasting with the dark wood of the ceiling. In the beautiful stained-glass windows, you can see scenes from everyday life, and the fine wooden furnishings are also worth admiring.

Let me leave you with an interesting fact: on the left of the small lobby before the main entrance, you can see a coat of arms featuring a red hand. It is the coat of arms of Sir John Davis, one of the benefactors who helped fund the building of the church. The coat of arms on the facade sparked controversy because the symbol was felt to represent a bloodied hand.