A Leaf of the Ark Supporting Faith and Hope: The Cardboard Church in Taitung

By Lai Pei-xuan | Photos by Lee Hsin-yi

When driving along Coastal Highway 11 in Taitung and passing through Yiwan Tribe at the northernmost part of Chenggong Township, don’t rush past the quaint and lovely “Cardboard Church”! The “Cardboard Church” is actually a nickname for the church, and behind this name lies a story of faith and hope. This white-glistening church by the coastline is officially named the Yiwan Church of the Presbyterian Church in Taiwan, but it’s the adorable nickname that has drawn even more attention to it.

Why is it called the “Cardboard Church”? It turns out that in 1976, the wooden and thatched church where residents normally worshipped was severely damaged by a typhoon. So the community decided to rebuild a church that could withstand wind and rain — a safe and warm place for them to continue their faith.

At that time, one tribal member brought out a beautiful postcard of a European church. It had originally been a Christmas card used by missionaries to attract Indigenous children to church. As the tribe members grew up, the Christian faith and the image of the beautiful church remained in their memories. So they decided to rebuild the church to resemble the dreamy one on the postcard.

In the end, the church was built, but due to limited funds, only the warm and delicate front was fully designed. Looking from the side, you’ll notice it’s actually just a church made of corrugated metal, which is how it got its nickname, the “Cardboard Church.” The flat clock and flat angels on the façade reflect the innocent and romantic style of the Indigenous people. This is their effort to turn faith into reality. Though only partially realized, they used childhood memories and hard-earned funds to fulfill their steadfast beliefs. For them, this is an ark carrying their dreams, and that strength is something we deeply admire and can learn from.