Angseong Church

Overview

Angseong Church is a church of the Cheongju Diocese located in Yongdae-ri, Angseong-myeon, Chungju-si, Chungcheongbuk-do. It began as the Yongpo Catholic mission chapel of Gamgok Catholic Church in 1946, was elevated to a parish in 1966, was closed in 1967, became a parish again on June 24, 1995, and its patron is Saint John the Baptist.

History

[Yongpo Catholic Mission Chapel Period] According to the Digital Chungju Culture Encyclopedia, it began as the Yongpo Catholic mission chapel of Gamgok Catholic Church in 1946 at the house of Mun Geun-yeol (Thomas) at 85-9 Yongpo-ri, Gamgok-myeon, Eumseong-gun, Chungcheongbuk-do. In 1961, a chapel (a small church) was built with funds from American Elizabeth De Sauel.

[Elevation, Closure, and Re-elevation] According to the same source, as the number of the faithful grew, it was elevated to a parish on July 1, 1966, but the parish was closed on June 1, 1967 for financial reasons, and it was elevated again as Angseong Church on June 24, 1995. The Cheongju Diocese parish information also lists the establishment date as June 24, 1995. Originally belonging to the Eumseong District, it was incorporated into the Chungju District effective April 9, 2007 at the request of the Eumseong District.

[Present Condition] According to the Digital Chungju Culture Encyclopedia, the number of the faithful is 975, its Catholic mission chapel is the Saemmal Catholic mission chapel, and Father Park Min-ho (Joseph), ordained on January 25, 2006, is a priest from this parish. Its major groups include the Society for Ministry to the Dying, the Marian Association, the Middle-Aged Group, the Doksa Choir, the Mothers’ Group, the Youth Group, the Teachers’ Group, the Curia, the Altar Service Association, the Adult Service Association, M.E.(Marriage Encounter), Ultreya, and the Vocation Support Association. The total number of the faithful in the Cheongju Diocese parish information is 883.

Architecture and Space

The Digital Chungju Culture Encyclopedia states that the parish building established in 1996 is a multi-story concrete structure with exterior walls finished in red brick.

Related Places and People

• Gamgok Church (Gamgok Maegoe Marian Pilgrimage Shrine): the parish to which the Yongpo Catholic mission chapel, the predecessor of Angseong Church, belonged (Digital Chungju Culture Encyclopedia).
• Saemmal Catholic Mission Chapel: the Catholic mission chapel under the jurisdiction of Angseong Church (Digital Chungju Culture Encyclopedia).

References and Sources

1. Academy of Korean Studies, Digital Chungju Culture Encyclopedia “Angseong Church”. Beginning of the Yongpo Catholic mission chapel in 1946, chapel construction in 1961, elevation in 1966, closure in 1967, re-elevation in 1995, district transfer, current status.
   https://chungju.grandculture.net/chungju/toc/GC01902144
2. Catholic Cheongju Diocese, parish information “Angseong Church”. Establishment date June 24, 1995, patron Saint John the Baptist.
   https://www.cdcj.or.kr/parish/parish/view/23023
3. Academy of Korean Studies, Digital Chungju Culture Encyclopedia “Church”. Record that Angseong Church began as the Yongpo Catholic mission chapel of Gamgok Parish, was elevated to a parish in 1995 and was incorporated into the Chungju District in 2007.
   https://chungju.grandculture.net/chungju/toc/GC01902132