Glimpses of History from 100-Year-Old Korean Churches
2014-01-06 17:10
In April 1898, Sawol Church was established largely by missionary James Adams of the United Presbyterian Church in the U.S.A. (UPCUSA ? 'northern branch'). Though the small, thatched house has changed its appearance many times over the years, the church has stayed in the same place for 116 years. Rev. Ryu Jin-wuk of Sawol Church says, “Through our history of more than a hundred years, parents have passed down their faith to their children, and again to the children’s children, and now three to four generations worship together at our church.”
In October 1913, during their relief and education mission all around Korea, officers Robert and Annie Hoggard from the U.K. established a Salvation Army church in Taean, Chungnam province. Officer Lee Dan-ju, currently at SA Taean Church, says, “For the past 100 years, our church has been leading a relief mission for local people who struggle against poverty and disease in this age of despair.”
A survey has revealed more than 900 churches in Korea that have been spreading the Gospel and serving local communities for longer than a century. On December 2, the Korean Church History Research Room (KCHR) announced its survey, “100+ Years Old Korean Churches.” According to this survey, there are 925 churches in nine denominations that are older than 100 years, including 319 churches of the Presbyterian Church in Korea (PCK Tonghap), 232 churches of the General Assembly of the Presbyterian Church in Korea (PCK Hapdong), 223 churches of the Korean Methodist Church, and 98 churches of the Presbyterian Church in the Republic of Korea (PROK).
Rev. Hwang Hye-yeon of KCHR says, “On May 16, 1883, the first-ever native Korean church was established in Songcheonri, Jangyeongun, Hwanghaedo. During the first 30 years after Christianity was 'officially' received in Korea upon the entry of Missionary Horace N. Allen, 2,000 churches were newly built in the country (called “Joseon” at the time). This was God’s grace, unmatched anywhere else in the world.”
Rev. Hwang explains that the 925 churches, which are still thriving, are evenly distributed all over the nation because the missionaries in the early days formed a united council and divided into different mission areas for the building of churches. “The Northern Methodist Church was responsible for Incheon region including Ganghwado; the Southern Methodist Church took the northern part of Gyeonggi province including Gaesung; the Northern Presbyterian Church and Australian Presbyterian Church were assigned Youngnam region; the Southern Presbyterian Church was in charge of Honam region; and Seoul was a common mission area for church building.”
Church history professor Lee Deok-ju of Methodist Theological University claims that “the number of churches increased drastically because during 1903-1907 people learned basic belief in Christianity through the early revival movement in Wonsan and Pyeongyang, and showed “Christians bearing crosses” through ethical restoration and repentance.” In fact, as a result of the Great Revival Movement, which started in 1907 at Jangdaehyun Church in Pyeongyang, 1,186 new churches were built all over Korea in the year 1908 alone. Professor Lee adds, “The churches provided emotional shelter during the unstable time at the end of the Joseon era, and also stimulated modernization of Korea.”
Professor Park Myeong-su of Seoul Theological University says, “In the future, for the Korean church to persevere another 100 years and longer, it should discard all attachments to wealth, honor and power, and recover the spirit of our ancestors in faith who were satisfied with Jesus alone.
Reporter Lee Saya (Isaiah@kmib.co.kr), Yeara Ahn-Park (yap@kmib.co.kr)
Click here for the original article in Korean
