TWO GREAT CHURCHES OF PHILIPPINE METHODISM:
CENTRAL AND KNOX

Over the years, there have been two churches that have continually stood out in the history of Philippine Methodism: Central Church and Knox Memorial Church they were the first Methodist churches in the Philippines. They have been the scene of many Annual Conference, and, in later years, Central Conference sessions. From their pulpits have been delivered many stirring testimonies and memorable addresses and out of their congregations have come men and women of great influence, not only in Protestantism, but throughout the national life of the Philippines as well.

From the start of Methodist work at the Soldiers' Institute, around the turn of the century, two distinct needs began to be sensed. On the one hand, there was the need of a church for the English-speaking population, primarily the Americans. On the other hand there was the distinct need for a dialect church that would minister to the general population, who at this early date, knew little or no English. Out of the first need grew Central Church; out of the latter, Knox Memorial Church.

At the District Conference of 1900, J. L. McLaughlin, presiding elder, was named minister of the "Manila English Church," or as we know it today, Central Church.*

In October, 1900, the Official Board of Central Church bought a corner lot for the church. This purchase, costing $3,250, was the first land bought in the Philippines for Protestant work. Practically the entire amount was raised in Manila in a month's time, and a temporary chapel seating 150 was erected. It was dedicated free of debt on Sunday, December 22, 1901. By 1903, Central Church had 100 members, 200 adherents, and an excellent lot, with a temporary chapel that seated over two hundred." It was soon able to build, in Ermita, a fine permanent church structure. Gradually the make-up of the congregation changed, as in time it lost the bulk of its American members to Union Church. Today Central Church is located on San Luis Street and possesses Methodism's most beautiful church building in the Philippines. Its congregation consists of Filipinos, Chinese and Americans and its influence extends far and wide into the business, professional, governmental, academic and cultural sectors of the nation. The 1900's showed great need for a large downtown Protestant church. So greatly was this need felt, that by the 1903 District Conference the Filipinos had raised $1,000 for such a church; in addition, they had requested the Board of Church Extension for $10,000 to help in the erection of a $20,000 structure. “In 1903, a temporary chapel was erected, pending receipt of further funds, and it was named Cervantes Church (Cervantes Street being the original name of Avenida Rizal). It was located across the street from its present location on Avenida Rizal; and Nicolas Zamora was named its first pastor.⁵¹ By 1905, Zamora was reporting very encouraging attendance in the Sunday school, in the Sunday worship and on Thursday evenings, "especially on moonlight nights," the attendance was averaging eighty to one hundred.⁵² In 1906, Diosdado Alvarez was appointed as the pastor and he reported 365 members, fifty probationers, four hundred adherents and a collection for the year of P261.18 with total expenses being P214.71.⁵³

The construction of the present church building was completed in 1906, at a cost of P80,000. At that time it was renamed Knox Memorial Church, because of $5,000 given for the building by a New York manufacturer of hats named Knox. He also left $10,000 in his will for the church." The name has frequently been a source of confusion because the name Knox is most often associated with the Presbyterian reformer John Knox. That is why Presbyterian tourists in the city often visit Knox, thinking they are coming to worship with a Presbyterian congregation!

Some of the other pastors of Knox Church, over the years, have included Felipe Marquez, Candido Magno, Roque Bautista, Nicolas Dizon, Filomeno Galang, D.D. Alejandro, E. T. Cruz and Francisco Galvez. Today, Knox is by far Methodism's largest church in the Philippines – and one of the largest Protestant churches in Asia – with around 4,000 members. Each Sunday there are services in English, Tagalog, Ilocano and Pampango.

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* Much later in 1915, the American congregations of Central Church and the Presbyterians' Emerson Memorial Chapel merged to form the Union Church of Manila. This united congregation later was joined by other Protestant congregations and continues today rendering fine service for the American community of Manila.

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