Nang Chong Stories : Hock Ming Methodist Church

Middle Nang Chong Village Methodist Church

The Middle Nang Chong Village Methodist Church is called Hock Ming Church or Blessing the People Church. It was founded in 1927. The land, 2 acres in all, was donated by Lau Kah Jui, the younger brother of Lau Kah Tii, the Foochow Headman appointed by the Rajah to help Rev James Hoover.

Together with the church an adjacent primary school, the Tiing Nang Primary School was also established. The church was completed first and started its service by 1927. 

When both buildings were completed, Lau Kiing Juo was appointed as both the lay preacher and headmaster for three years. There were only a few families of worshippers then but it was a good beginning. The following years saw the services of Lau Ing Kee, Wong Lee Huo,  Lau Ngo Kee and Wong Ding Ming.

The primary school gradual intake from a few students to a few hundred.  When the Second World War ended and the school was restarted, the population shot up to 105 with three teachers. the headmaster was Lau Yiing Chiong, and my mother taught there for two years before she married my father in 1948. She was replaced by her sister in law, Ting Ing Ngai who later was transferred to Tien Chin School in 24 Acres. My second uncle Lau Pang Kui also taught their for a while.

The Chairmen who led the Board of Directors before 1950 were Wong Dien Ching, Kiing Chiew Siong, Ting Siong Kuan, Lau Pang Kui and Wong Kah Chii. The headmasters were Lau Kiing Juo, Wong Liong Nung, Lau Ing Kee, Lau Buoh Sing, Lau Kiing Chiong and Ting Cheng Hui.

The school closed down after political upheavals and communist insurgency in the 1970's.