Gangchon Catholic Church

History & origins

The foundations of the Catholic community in Gangchon were laid during the mission-station period, before the parish itself was established. A mission-station building was erected in 1962 and dedicated at a Mass celebrated by Bishop Thomas Quinlan. Gangchon Mission Station then continued its community life under Jukrim-dong Parish.

In 1997, the interior of the mission-station building was repaired and renovated in preparation for elevation to parish status. On September 1 of that year Gangchon Mission Station became a parish, and on September 7 Bishop John of the Cross Chang Yik celebrated the Mass marking the elevation. The new parish was formed by bringing together Gangchon, Chugok, and Hudong mission stations of Jukrim-dong Parish with Gwangpan Mission Station of Hyoja-dong Parish; the Diocese of Chuncheon therefore describes it as a parish formed as a “union of mission stations.”

The parish later faced a major setback. In July 2005 a sudden gust of wind caused the church building to collapse. Reconstruction followed through the efforts of parishioners and benefactors, and the new church was dedicated on December 14, 2008. The history of Gangchon Parish is thus one of dispersed mission-station communities joining to form a parish and then rebuilding their church after disaster while preserving the community.