aeeble

"College of Science", whose English name is "Oxford College" . From 1872 to 1880, Dr. Mackay taught in the open air, preaching on the roadside, under the banyan tree, by the stream, or by the seashore. Feeling the importance of establishing a school, he raised funds during his return to England in 1880. After returning to Tamsui, he began to build the school. "Oxford College" was completed in 1882, and it served as a base for the church to train missionaries, medical personnel, and educators. In order to commemorate the support from the British, Dr. Mackay named it after his hometown county "Oxford", to express the sentiment of remembering the source of water. The Oxford College is rich in traditional Chinese architectural features, with balanced symmetry, facing south and backed north. At the same time, eight small stupas are placed on the roof ridge, instead of the cross. The Oxford College was the base for the church to train missionaries, medical personnel, and educators. It is now listed as a second-grade national historic site.


The Oxford College can be considered the cradle of schools such as the True University and Tamsui High School. In terms of architecture, it is rich in traditional Chinese architectural features, designed personally by Dr. Mackay. It uses balanced symmetry, facing south and backed north. At the same time, eight small stupas are placed on the roof ridge, instead of the cross. The overall building materials use unglazed bricks and Minnan tiles, all imported from Xiamen. The small red bricks are painted with paint on the outside to prevent wind and rain, and their size is slightly flatter and longer than the local ones. The three-component soil is made by mixing steamed glutinous rice, lime and syrup. It is now listed as a second-grade national historic site.

Image source: Bureau of Tourism, Ministry of Transportation and Communications.