A Brief History of the First Chinese
Church of Christ

The Fort Street Church: 1881 to 1929

On January 2, 1881, the Fort Street Chinese Church was dedicated. From its very beginning, the church sought to reach out and share the gospel with others. A full-fledged mission school for Chinese children was started andlater branch stations were established throughout the city. They included the Gospel Hall on Beretania Street, the Aala Branch Mission, the Palama Chapel, the Kauluwela Station and the Liliha Settlement.

In 1882 Pastor Sit Moon moved to Kohala on the Big Island where he would help to found the Kohala Chinese Church.

In 1885, the Sunday School program is started with 30 students.

In 1886, some of the members wanting a more formal high church atmospherebranch off form the Saint Peter's Episcipal Church.

1892- The Rev. Frank W. Damon organized Hawaii's first kindergarten on the campus of the Fort Street Chinese Church.

In October, 1915, the mostly Punti members of the Gospel Hall Mission on Beretania Street formed themselves into the SECOND CHINESE CONGREGATIONAL CHURCH OF HONOLULU, which later moved to Judd Street in Nu'uanu to become the United Church of Christ.

Their younger members would later break off from their congregation to form the Community Church of Honolulu in 1934.

In 1919, the Rev. Yuen To Pui (1915-1923) would declare the Fort Street Church to be self-supporting.