The following article was published in Asian Week.
In October 1880, the Chinese Baptist Mission was established by Rev. Jesse B. Hartwell, a missionary recalled back from his work in northern China to work among the Chinese in San Francisco. He rented tenement quarters on Washington Street, facing Portsmouth Square. In those cramped quarters, the English Night School began. There was also a day school for children, conducted in another rented room on Jackson and Dupont Street (Grant Ave). Mornings were for studying English, and the afternoon, Chinese. Both languages were valued.
The English night school was originally taught by missionaries and volunteers from the church membership. In 1973 the San Francisco Community College District provided credentialed teachers to take over the teaching of English to community students during the mornings as well as evenings. Today the church continues its role by providing a staff person for site management, coordinating classes in the evenings, and tutoring and social programs for the students on Friday nights.
If not for the determination of Dr. Hartwell, the Mission would not have survived. He solicited for his own salary, since there was no financial support from the American Baptist Home Mission Society. He toured the country to make known the current needs of the Chinese in San Francisco and asked for help from American Baptist churches. Those were trying times of anti-Chinese sentiments and as some put it “antagonism by our own brethren.” But the prevailing attitude of the members was “one of recognition of Providence in bringing a heathen nation to our doors.”
In1886, Dr. Hartwell raised enough funds to purchase the lot on which the First Chinese Baptist Church stands today, the corner of Waverly Place and Sacramento Street. A beautiful church with stained glass windows, oak paneling, oak pews, rich carpets, and velvet curtains stood proudly in 1888, until it was completely destroyed by the 1906 earthquake and fire.
By now there was substantial support from the Home Mission Society. The need for the mission in the heart of Chinatown, on the street of the “Queen of the Heavenly Temple” (Waverly Place) must be filled. “Whereas the temples seem to be patronized by a number of older people, the Mission brings within its sphere of influence, a greater number of whom are children and youths under daily instruction.” In 1908, the church was rebuilt. Some of the bricks were salvaged from the earthquake. These bricks, which jut out from the other bricks, are known as “clinker bricks,” featuring glassy surfaces created by the intense heat of the fire.
FCBC thrives as a bilingual, bicultural church, committed to its mission since 1880. The church provides both English and Chinese worship services and a plethora of programs spanning the life cycle, from childhood to adulthood: Sunday school, senior citizen center, summer day camp for children, youth camp, softball and basketball leagues, bowling and golf tournaments, hand bell choir, gospel choir, and many fellowship groups.
Welcome to the corner of Waverly Place and Sacramento Street anytime. The birthday party is Saturday, October 8. View the historical exhibit. Join in cooking demonstrations and food tasting. Come away with origami and calligraphy projects. Visit the anniversary gift shop. Take a docent guided walking tour of Chinatown. Celebrate at the evening banquet at Empress of China.
On Sunday, October 9, you are welcome to attend an outdoor sidewalk Worship Service at 10:30 AM when there will be musical groups singing and the proclamation that God is still working through the First Chinese Baptist Church in San Francisco Chinatown!
For details on the whole weekend celebration, visit the website: www.fcbc-sf.org. Call 415-362-4139. It’s a Homecoming!
Please contact the following persons for quotes:
Dr. James Chuck, pastor emeritus. He grew up in the church and began his legacy in the church kindergarten class. Later, he served as its pastor for 40 years.
jaschuck@juno.com (510) 655-5100
Pastor Don Ng, Senior Pastor. He was an assistant pastor in the mid 1970s and worked in Valley Forge, Pennsylvania at the national American Baptist headquarters for 20 years, before coming back to FCBC. revdonng@fcbc-sf.org, 415-717-8941 (cell)
(office) 415-362-4139
Pauline Chin, church member. She attended the Chinese language school classes in the 1940s. She recently retired from the SFUSD, after many years as the Site Administrator for Child Development Centers. 415-333-8749
Anna Wong, Chairperson for the 125th Anniversary Celebration, SFCCD ESL instructor. “My father came from China in 1923 and learned English from the missionary volunteers at the church. If he came in 1973, he could have had me as his teacher!” aqw.dwwong@sbcglobal.net
Photos: the building before and after the earthquake
a 1950’s front door/sidewalk photo of some members