In the latest inspirational and informative article on influential Scots in Church History and Missions by Paul James-Griffiths of Christian Heritage Edinburgh, he writes, “This week’s article is about Dr James Laidlaw Maxwell. Although he was a missionary in Taiwan for only seven years, this Scotsman pioneered churches, a Bible-school and a hospital. He is regarded as the pioneer of the first Presbyterian Church in that nation. Later he translated the New Testament into Taiwanese.“

Dr James Laidlaw Maxwell (1836-1921) in Tainan, Taiwan, dmcdevit, CC BY-SA 2.0 <https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by-sa/2.0>, via Wikimedia Commons

Back in 1864, James Laidlaw Maxwell (1836-1921), a Scotsman with a passion for both the gospel and quality medical practice, embarked on his mission to Taiwan. It would be an act of sacrificial love for the people in Tainan, in the south-western part of this island-nation.

A year later fellow Scottish missionaries, H.L. Mackenzie and Carstairs Douglas, encouraged him to pioneer the first ever Presbyterian church in Taiwan. Today, 16 June, 1865, is the celebrated founding date of the Presbyterian denomination there, and the Presbyterians number about 30% of all of the Christians on the island. Following the typical Scottish model, Maxwell planted a gospel church amongst the locals, alongside a Bible-training school. From this beginning he pioneered congregations in Kan-Xi Street, Qiho, Bitou, Tainan Taiping and in Muzha. By 1872 there were 22 churches in Taiwan, mostly among the Pingpu indigenous people.

Using his expertise as a medical doctor and surgeon, he was keen to also pioneer healthcare, although he was often rejected by the local Chinese shamans and health practitioners. Rumours circulated that he tore out patients’ eyes and hearts and made potions with them! He established the Qiho Medical Clinic and the Fucheng Presbyterian Hospital, which later morphed into the Sin-Lau Hospital. This was the first modern westernized hospital in Taiwan. Today, the hospital has 473 beds and has the capacity to care for 1,693 people every day, on average. Tainan City Council, in honour of his memory, has named a park and library after him, and has released postage stamps celebrating his life and the great benefit he brought to the Taiwanese people. The Presbyterians have been a key influence in shaping the nation through education, healthcare, democracy and human rights.

Maxwell qualified in medicine at the University of Edinburgh, and then went on to practice in both Brompton Hospital in London and Birmingham General Hospital. He also trained in surgery in Paris and Berlin. Having gained sufficient experience, he embarked on his calling to Taiwan where he poured out his life as a missionary for only seven years, but had to return to England for health reasons. However, his passion for the people kept burning in his heart, and he completed his translation of the New Testament into Taiwanese in 1873. Seven years after this, he shipped out a printing press to Taiwan in order to speed up the spread of the written word of God. Briefly in 1883, he visited Taiwan with his wife. They were delighted to see the growth of the church and work, but by now the couple was frail. His son, Dr James Laidlaw Maxwell junior, continued the ministry at Sin-Lau Hospital, and worked hard to eradicate opium addiction, sexually transmitted diseases and leprosy.

Maxwell senior was buried in Bromley, England, in 1921.