Ganghwa Anglican Cathedral

Ganghwa Anglican Cathedral (Korean대한성공회 강화성당) is a historic cathedral of the Anglican Church's Diocese of Seoul, located in Ganghwa-eup [ko], Ganghwa County, Incheon, South Korea.[1] It opened in November, 1900.[2]

Ganghwa Anglican Church
Map
37°44′55″N 126°29′10″E / 37.7485°N 126.4862°E / 37.7485; 126.4862
Address10, Gwancheong-gil 27beon-gil, Ganghwa County, Incheon, South Korea
CountrySouth Korea

It was the first church to be established in Ganghwa, as well as the first Anglican church in the peninsula. The cathedral is notable for its use of Korean hanok architecture.[1]

History edit

The church has its origins around 1889, when the Anglican Church of Korea ordained its first bishop Charles John Corfe.[1] At the time, Christianity was virtually unknown in the peninsula. This church was the first to be established in Ganghwa, as well as the first Anglican church in the peninsula.[1]

Wood was transported via the Yalu River for its construction. A palace carpenter who worked on the construction of the royal palace in Seoul Gyeongbokgung managed the construction of the building.[1]

The composition of the church combines elements of both Eastern and Western architecture, with its layout particularly resembling Buddhist temples.[1] Similar to Buddhist temples, it has a number of gates that are entered in sequence. The main cathedral building is a wooden building built in a nearly completely Korean style, with little Western ornamentation. It still provides facilities to function as a church building, however.[1]

References edit

  1. ^ a b c d e f g "대한성공회 강화성당(大韓聖公會 江華聖堂)". Encyclopedia of Korean Culture (in Korean). Retrieved 2024-01-24.
  2. ^ "불교 銅鐘 껴안은 현존 最古 한옥 교회, 강화성당의 비밀". 신동아 (in Korean). Retrieved 2024-01-24.