Ganghwa Anglican Cathedral (Korean: 대한성공회 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]

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

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

  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.