Tunghai University hosted a ceremony this morning (September 26th 2024) titled “Reopening of the Luce Memorial Chapel: Praying for Taiwan in Unity,” celebrating the completion of the restoration of the 60-years-old national historic landmark. Representatives from the Taichung City Government, including Deputy Secretary-General Lin Yu-hung on behalf of Mayor Lu Hsiu-yen, joined guests to witness the reopening of this iconic symbol of modern Taiwanese architecture. The ceremony kicked off with the tolling of the Priest Bell Tower and included a pastor-led lighting session to offer prayers for Taiwan. The event was solemn yet heartwarming.
The Luce Memorial Chapel, built in 1963 in Taichung, is a significant cultural asset and spiritual symbol of Tunghai University. In 2022, the university launched a restoration project to return the chapel to its original grandeur. Deputy Secretary-General Lin highlighted the chapel's significance as a key cultural milestone in Taichung’s history, one of four national historic sites in the city, and a celebrated example of modern architecture in Taiwan. The other three national landmarks in Taichung include the Wufeng Lin Family Garden, the Taichung Old Station, and the Taichung Prefectural Hall, which has been under restoration since 2020. Additionally, Taichung boasts 55 designated historic sites and 119 historic buildings, all serving as representations of the city’s cultural evolution at various historical stages. Preserving and revitalizing these public assets is a prioritized mission for the city government. The city government expressed deep appreciation to the Ministry of Culture for its strong support.
Preserving cultural assets is essential to a city's development. According to the city government’s Cultural Affairs Bureau expressed its hope that the city will not only feature new buildings symbolizing progress but also preserve cultural assets like the Luce Memorial Chapel, which embodies cultural significance and architectural distinction. It aims to make Taichung a vibrant cultural city where the old and new coexist in harmonious splendor.
According to the Cultural Heritage Department of Taichung City, apart from the Luce Memorial Chapel, Tunghai University also boasts other invaluable cultural assets, including the city-designated historic sites Former Art Center of Tunghai University and Priest Bell Tower, as well as the historic Wesley House. In 2021, Tunghai University's early campus was announced as a cultural landscape after the university set a precedent in Taiwan by being the first university to voluntarily nominate its campus buildings as cultural assets.
The Cultural Heritage Department added that the city government has been working closely with Tunghai University to support the restoration of its buildings and the upkeep of surrounding landscapes. Efforts include aiding the university in securing central government subsidies for the Former Art Center of Tunghai University and Wesley House, with additional matching funds from the city government, demonstrating its commitment to preserving cultural assets. This year also marked the start of the restoration of the Former Art Center of Tunghai University. It is hoped that these cultural treasures will once again showcase their historical grandeur, fostering a close connection between citizens and these cultural memories while integrating cultural assets into everyday life.