Seoul Anglican Cathedral
Encyclopedia
The Cathedral Church of St Mary the Virgin and St Nicholas or simply Seoul Cathedral, is an Anglican cathedral in Seoul
, Korea
, and is the mother church of both the Anglican Church of Korea
and the Diocese of Seoul.
Construction of the building began in 1924 and the cathedral is now well known for its unique Romanesque architecture
as it is the only one in this fashion in the orient, together with its mosaic murals.
The Miraculous Finding of the Original Blue Print
A British museum worker visited the half-completed cathedral in the late 1980s ~ early 1990s and remembered that the original blue prints of the Cathedral drawn by Arthur Dixon, an English architect. He went back to England to get the blue prints from the museum archives and returned to Seoul with the drawing and handed it over to the Parish office. In 1994, the Cathedral began its expansion and was completed in 1996.
South Korea°N date=June 2009°W
Seoul
Seoul , officially the Seoul Special City, is the capital and largest metropolis of South Korea. A megacity with a population of over 10 million, it is the largest city proper in the OECD developed world...
, Korea
Korea
Korea ) is an East Asian geographic region that is currently divided into two separate sovereign states — North Korea and South Korea. Located on the Korean Peninsula, Korea is bordered by the People's Republic of China to the northwest, Russia to the northeast, and is separated from Japan to the...
, and is the mother church of both the Anglican Church of Korea
Anglican Church of Korea
The Anglican Church of Korea is the province of the Anglican Communion in North and South Korea. Founded in 1889, it has over 120 parish and mission churches with a total membership of roughly 65,000 people.-Birth of the Anglican Church of Korea:...
and the Diocese of Seoul.
Construction of the building began in 1924 and the cathedral is now well known for its unique Romanesque architecture
Romanesque architecture
Romanesque architecture is an architectural style of Medieval Europe characterised by semi-circular arches. There is no consensus for the beginning date of the Romanesque architecture, with proposals ranging from the 6th to the 10th century. It developed in the 12th century into the Gothic style,...
as it is the only one in this fashion in the orient, together with its mosaic murals.
Chronology
- 1885 - The Anglican mission to Korea started from Ganghwa IslandGanghwa IslandGanghwa Island is an island in the estuary of the Han River, on the west coast of South Korea. Ganghwa Island is separated from Gimpo, on the mainland, by a narrow channel, which is spanned by two bridges. The main channel of the Han River separates the island from Gaeseong in North Korea.About...
. - 1890 - Bishop John Corfe was consecrated in EnglandEnglandEngland is a country that is part of the United Kingdom. It shares land borders with Scotland to the north and Wales to the west; the Irish Sea is to the north west, the Celtic Sea to the south west, with the North Sea to the east and the English Channel to the south separating it from continental...
and arrived in Seoul as bishop of the Korean Diocese. - 1890 - Bishop John Corfe purchased the land and a traditional Korean style building on the site of the present cathedral, consecrated the church as "Jang-rim Seong-dang" (church) and began daily masses.
- 1909 - The Anglican Church purchased a large piece of land and finalized the plan to construct the cathedral.
- 1917 - The church asked Sir Arthur Dixon, a member of RIBA (Royal Institute of British ArchitectsRoyal Institute of British ArchitectsThe Royal Institute of British Architects is a professional body for architects primarily in the United Kingdom, but also internationally.-History:...
) to design the cathedral. - 1922 - The construction of Seoul Cathedral was started.
- 1926 - Due to financial difficulties, only about a half of the original construction plan was completed.
- 1950 - The Dean and a priest of the Cathedral were taken with Sister Marie-Clare by the Communists and martyred.
- 1965 - The dioceses of Seoul and Daejon were separated. The first Korean bishop of the Seoul diocese was inaugurated at the cathedral.
- 1978 - Seoul Anglican Cathedral is named important cultural asset number 35.
- 1985 - A pipe organ built by Harrison & HarrisonHarrison & HarrisonHarrison & Harrison Ltd are a British company that make and restore pipe organs, based in Durham and established in 1861. They are well known for their work on instruments such as King's College Cambridge, Westminster Abbey and the Royal Festival Hall....
(with 20 stops and 2 manuals) was installed. - 1987 - The cathedral became a key historical site of the June 10th Protest.
- 1991 - The plan for its expansion started.
- 1996 - The expansion of the Cathedral was completed.
The Miraculous Finding of the Original Blue Print
A British museum worker visited the half-completed cathedral in the late 1980s ~ early 1990s and remembered that the original blue prints of the Cathedral drawn by Arthur Dixon, an English architect. He went back to England to get the blue prints from the museum archives and returned to Seoul with the drawing and handed it over to the Parish office. In 1994, the Cathedral began its expansion and was completed in 1996.
See also
- Christianity in KoreaChristianity in KoreaThe practice of Christianity in Korea revolves around two of its largest branches, Protestantism and Catholicism, accounting for 8.6 million and 5.1 million members respectively. Roman Catholicism was first introduced during the late Joseon Dynasty period...
- Anglican CommunionAnglican CommunionThe Anglican Communion is an international association of national and regional Anglican churches in full communion with the Church of England and specifically with its principal primate, the Archbishop of Canterbury...
, Anglican Church and Anglican Church of KoreaAnglican Church of KoreaThe Anglican Church of Korea is the province of the Anglican Communion in North and South Korea. Founded in 1889, it has over 120 parish and mission churches with a total membership of roughly 65,000 people.-Birth of the Anglican Church of Korea:... - ProvinceProvinceA province is a territorial unit, almost always an administrative division, within a country or state.-Etymology:The English word "province" is attested since about 1330 and derives from the 13th-century Old French "province," which itself comes from the Latin word "provincia," which referred to...
, DioceseDioceseA diocese is the district or see under the supervision of a bishop. It is divided into parishes.An archdiocese is more significant than a diocese. An archdiocese is presided over by an archbishop whose see may have or had importance due to size or historical significance...
, BishopBishopA bishop is an ordained or consecrated member of the Christian clergy who is generally entrusted with a position of authority and oversight. Within the Catholic Church, Eastern Orthodox, Oriental Orthodox Churches, in the Assyrian Church of the East, in the Independent Catholic Churches, and in the...
etc. - Seoul Anglican Cathedral English MissionSeoul Anglican Cathedral English MissionSeoul Anglican Cathedral English Mission is an Anglican church in Korea. Anglican worship in English has been held on the site of the present Seoul Anglican Cathedral since its predecessor the Church of the Advent held its first Holy Communion service on 21 December 1890...
- Calendar of saints (Anglican Church of Korea)Calendar of saints (Anglican Church of Korea)-January:*2 Basil and Gregory. 379 and 389.*6 Epiphany.*13 George Fox. 1691.*20 Richard Rolle. 1349.*21 Agnes. 304.*24 Francis de Sales. 1622.*26 Timothy and Titus.*28 Thomas Aquinas. 1274.-February:*3 Ansgar. 865.*6 Martyrs of Japan. 1597....
External links
South Korea°N date=June 2009°W