Chinese Presbyterian Church
A Presbyterian congregation in Surry Hills, Sydney, serving Chinese and wider communities through English-, Cantonese-, and Mandarin-language worship.
Last updated August 26, 2026
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Overview
The Chinese Presbyterian Church, commonly abbreviated as CPC, is a Presbyterian congregation based at the Fullerton Memorial Church on the corner of Crown and Albion Streets in Surry Hills, Sydney, New South Wales. It is widely described as the oldest surviving Chinese church in Australia. The congregation developed from the Presbyterian Church of New South Wales Chinese Mission, established in the context of Chinese migration associated with the Australian gold rushes and the growth of Chinese communities in colonial Australia. CPC formally began in 1893, when it opened its first church building on Foster Street in Surry Hills. Its first clergyman was John Young Wai. As the congregation developed, it relocated to Campbell Street in 1910. In 1957 it moved to the Fullerton Memorial Church, the Gothic Revival building that remains its principal worship venue. The building had been completed in 1905 and dedicated in memory of Rev. Dr James Fullerton, a prominent and controversial Presbyterian minister in nineteenth-century Sydney. The church continues to worship at the Fullerton Memorial Church and owns or uses adjoining properties for ministry and community activities. Its services have catered to English, Cantonese, and Mandarin speakers, reflecting the changing composition of Sydney’s Chinese Christian community. The church’s principal geographical focus is Sydney, although its historical influence extends through relationships with congregations that were planted by, or developed out of, CPC. Among these related churches are Cornerstone Presbyterian Community Church, which began as a CPC plant in Concord in 1994 with approximately 30 adults and became a separate pastoral charge by 1997, and GracePoint Chinese Presbyterian Church, which began in Burwood in 1998 as Burwood Chinese Presbyterian Church before becoming independent and later moving to Lidcombe. In 1964, four CPC elders also left to establish the Chinese Christian Church at Milsons Point, an inter-denominational and strongly evangelical congregation that subsequently became associated with further Chinese church planting in Sydney. By 2017, approximately 600 people were associated with CPC’s worship services. Since 2016, the congregation has been led by Rev. Christopher Chan, who succeeded Rev. David Tsai. The church has faced the broader challenge of serving a Chinese Christian population that has become more geographically dispersed across metropolitan Sydney. Families and younger members may prefer churches closer to their homes, while the number of independent and denominationally affiliated Chinese congregations has increased. CPC has identified local outreach in Surry Hills, including engagement with international residents and young professionals living or working in the area, as one response to this changing environment.
History
Chinese Presbyterian Church emerged from the Presbyterian Church of New South Wales Chinese Mission, which was formed as Chinese migration expanded in Australia. The development of Chinese churches in Australia is associated with the gold-rush era of the 1860s, when Chinese migrants travelled to Victoria and other parts of the country in search of economic opportunity. As Sydney became an increasingly important centre for Chinese residents and community life, Presbyterian missionary activity developed into a more permanent congregation. The church officially began in 1893, when it opened its first building on Foster Street in Surry Hills. John Young Wai served as its first clergyman. The early congregation was part of a broader effort to provide Christian worship and pastoral ministry for Chinese residents within the Presbyterian tradition. In 1910, the congregation moved to Campbell Street, also in Sydney. This relocation reflected the continuing institutional development of the church as its membership and activities evolved. In 1957, CPC moved to the Fullerton Memorial Church at the intersection of Crown and Albion Streets in Surry Hills. The church building had been completed in 1905 in the Gothic Revival style and was dedicated to Rev. Dr James Fullerton, a Presbyterian minister whose nineteenth-century career in Sydney was both influential and controversial. The building has since become the long-term home of the Chinese Presbyterian congregation and remains central to its identity. CPC’s history also includes the formation of related Chinese Christian congregations. In 1964, four elders departed to establish the Chinese Christian Church at Milsons Point. That church began as an inter-denominational congregation with Congregationalist-style church governance and a strongly evangelical character. It later developed an active church-planting culture, contributing to the growth of additional Chinese churches in Sydney, including West Sydney Chinese Christian Church. CPC subsequently sponsored or helped establish other congregations. Cornerstone Presbyterian Community Church began in Concord in 1994 with a group of about 30 adults. It became a separate pastoral charge in 1997 and later operated across multiple Sydney locations. GracePoint Chinese Presbyterian Church began in Burwood in 1998 through a CPC church plant. Initially known as Burwood Chinese Presbyterian Church, it first partnered with St James Presbyterian Church, later became independent, and eventually moved to a new building in Lidcombe in 2010 under the GracePoint name. The congregation’s contemporary ministry has involved worship and outreach in English, Cantonese, and Mandarin. By 2017, its worshipping community was reported at approximately 600 people. Since 2016, Rev. Christopher Chan has served as minister, following Rev. David Tsai. Like many established congregations serving immigrant and diaspora communities, CPC has had to respond to demographic and geographic change. The growth of young families and the expansion of Chinese churches across metropolitan Sydney have made locally situated congregations increasingly attractive. The Chinese Christian community has consequently become more decentralised than when a smaller number of large congregations served a wider area. CPC’s response has included greater attention to its immediate Surry Hills setting, including outreach to international expatriates and young professionals who live or work nearby. The church remains an active Presbyterian congregation with a historic Chinese-Australian identity and a multilingual ministry.
- 2017
Reported congregation of approximately 600
[1]The church was described as having approximately 600 people attending worship services in English, Cantonese, and Mandarin.
- 2016
Christopher Chan becomes minister
[1]Rev. Christopher Chan succeeded Rev. David Tsai as minister.
- 2010
GracePoint moves to Lidcombe
[1]A new church building was completed in Lidcombe for the congregation formerly known as Burwood Chinese Presbyterian Church.
- 1998
Burwood Chinese Presbyterian Church planted
[1]CPC established a church plant in Burwood, later known as GracePoint Chinese Presbyterian Church.
- 1994
Cornerstone Presbyterian Community Church planted
[1]CPC planted Cornerstone Presbyterian Community Church in Concord with a group of approximately 30 adults.
- 1964
Chinese Christian Church established by departing elders
[1]Four CPC elders left to form the Chinese Christian Church at Milsons Point.
- 1957
Move to Fullerton Memorial Church
[1]CPC moved to its present home at the corner of Crown and Albion Streets in Surry Hills.
- 1910
Move to Campbell Street
[1]The congregation relocated from Foster Street to Campbell Street in Sydney.
- 1893
Formal establishment in Surry Hills
[1]The Chinese Presbyterian Church officially began and opened its first church building on Foster Street in Surry Hills.
Products and positioning
A historic, multilingual Presbyterian congregation with a particular ministry focus on Sydney’s Chinese community and local Surry Hills outreach.
Recent events
- 2017
Congregation reported at approximately 600 worshippers[1]
Other
Reference material described approximately 600 people attending CPC worship services across English, Cantonese, and Mandarin.
- 2016
Christopher Chan succeeds David Tsai as minister[1]
Leadership change
Rev. Christopher Chan became minister of the Chinese Presbyterian Church, succeeding Rev. David Tsai.
Sources2 sources
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