Hapdeok Catholic Church

Overview

Hapdeok Church is a church in Hapdeok-eup, Dangjin-si, Chungcheongnam-do, belonging to the Diocese of Daejeon. It began in 1890 as Yangchon Parish in Yangchon, Sanggung-ri, Godeok-myeon, Yesan-gun, and moved to its present site in 1898–1899, becoming Hapdeok Parish. The Korean Catholic Encyclopedia records it as the first parish in the Chungcheong-do region. Its patron is the Holy Family, and the church building completed in 1929 was designated in 1998 as Chungcheongnam-do Monument No. 145.

History

〔Early history of the Naepo region〕 According to the Korean Catholic Encyclopedia, the Naepo region where Guhapdeok Parish is located is the cradle of evangelization in Chungcheong-do, and it was the base of missionary activity of Yi Jon-chang (Ludovico Gonzaga), called the ‘Apostle of Naepo,’ after the Korean Catholic Church was founded in 1784. From the Shinhae Persecution in 1791 to the Mujin Persecution in 1868, each persecution produced many martyrs, and the families of Fr. Kim Dae-geon and Fr. Choe Yang-eop also accepted the Gospel here. The first missionary to take charge of this region was Fr. Mobang, who entered Joseon in early 1836, and Bishop Pereol who entered in 1845, Fr. Dabeullyu, and Fr. Choe Yang-eop who returned in 1849 were also active for a long time in the Hapdeok area. After Bishop Bereuneo divided the whole country into 8 parish districts in 1861, the missionary in charge of this region was Fr. Rangdeureu. During the Byeongin Persecution in 1866, Bishop Dabeullyu was arrested in Silli, Fr. Wien was arrested in Soejae, and Fr. Ometreu was arrested in Geodeori (present-day Sanggung-ri, Godeok-myeon, Yesan-gun), respectively.

〔Decision to establish a parish〕 The Korean Catholic Encyclopedia states that after the persecutions ended, two or three priests in charge of the Naepo region from 1881 visited the faithful communities and established Catholic mission chapels in various places, and during 7–8 they could administer the sacraments each year to hundreds of faithful in Hapdeok and Godeok-myeon, Sinam-myeon, Yesan-eup, Dangjin-eup and elsewhere. Accordingly, Fr. Coste, who became acting diocesan administrator in 1890, accepted the proposal of the two or three priests and decided to place a parish center in this region. On August 1890, Fr. Coste dispatched Fr. Kwirillie (Leo) and Fr. Paseukie to the Naepo region. Fr. Kwirillie resided in Yangchon and had jurisdiction over the south and east of Chungcheong-do, while Fr. Paseukie resided in Ganyanggol and had jurisdiction over the north and west. Thus, for the first time in 24 years since 1866, 2 parishes were again established in the Naepo region. The predecessor of Guhapdeok Parish was Yangchon Parish, and when Ganyanggol Parish was abolished in 1894 due to the Donghak peasant movement, Fr. Kwirillie integrated and administered this region (Korean Catholic Encyclopedia).

〔From Yangchon to Hapdeok〕 The Digital Dangjin Culture Encyclopedia states that Fr. Kwirillie deliberated for 2 years at first over where to build a church. The priest once settled in Sogil-ri, Seosan (present-day Geumhak-ri, Palbong-myeon, Seosan-si) and then settled in Yangchon (Sanggung-ri, Godeok-myeon, Yesan-gun) in 1892, attaching greater spiritual significance to the fact that Silli had been the center of the Naepo Catholic Church in the past, and therefore settled in Yangchon. Later he decided to move to Changmal, which has convenient transportation, namely the present church site. The Korean Catholic Encyclopedia states that in 1895 local people raided the rectory, destroying part of the building and taking furnishings, and thereafter Fr. Kwirillie judged Yangchon unsuitable as a parish center, purchased the hill of Changmal neighboring Hapdeokji in 1898, and began building a hanok rectory-cum-church, completing it and moving the following year and changing the parish name to ‘Hapdeok Parish.’ The timing of the move and the change of name differ slightly by source. The Digital Dangjin Culture Encyclopedia states that the church moved to Hapdeok in 1898 and began building a rectory and church, completing them in 1899, and the Encyclopedia of Korean National Culture and Good News state that it moved to the present location in 1899 and changed its name to Hapdeok Church. The Encyclopedia of Korean National Culture states that Fr. Kwirillie purchased 120 pyeong of land at the present location in 1899 and built a hanok church. The Digital Dangjin Culture Encyclopedia states that at the time of the move to Hapdeok only about 2–3 households of faithful lived nearby, but a conversion movement arose and faithful migrated, turning it into a Catholic village.

〔Early pastoral care and daughter parishes〕 According to the Korean Catholic Encyclopedia, after moving to Hapdeok Fr. Kwirillie founded a catechism school and established the Holy Spirit Association and devoted himself to evangelization. The number of faithful, which had been 1,800 people in 27 Catholic mission chapels in the year after his appointment to Yangchon, became 1,930 people in 22 Catholic mission chapels in 1910 despite intervening parish divisions. Fr. Kwirillie made Gongseri Parish in Asan independent on June 1895 and Geumsari Parish in Buyeo independent in 1901, from which many daughter parishes were again separated. When Fr. Kwirillie left for Gongju Parish on May 1904, the 2-th pastor, Fr. Hong Byeong-cheol (Ruga), who succeeded him, was transferred after 2 years to the newly established Okcheon Parish, and on May 1906 the 3-th pastor, Fr. Keurempeu (Henri), took office. Fr. Keurempeu founded ‘Maegoe School’ on September in the year after taking office, separated Sugok Parish in Gyeolseong (the predecessor of the present Seosan Parish) in 1908, and in 1914 established 25 Catholic mission chapels in only 4 areas, Asan, Yesan, Seosan and Dangjin, increasing the number of faithful to about 2,200. Maegoe School was divided into boys’ and girls’ schools in 1918 but was closed in 1928 (Korean Catholic Encyclopedia).

〔Tenure of Fr. Pereng〕 According to the Korean Catholic Encyclopedia, the parish grew greatly during the tenure of Fr. Pereng (Pilipbo), who took office as the 7-th head priest in 1921 and was active for 29 years until he was kidnapped by the communist army on August 1950. Fr. Pereng selected diligent and capable lay presidents and used them for the gatherings and catechetical education of mission-chapel faithful, gained the trust of the local community through Holy Infant Association work and charitable work, and organized the Catholic Youth Association and the Anna Association, among others. As a result the Church expanded, separating Yesan Parish on May 1928 and Dangjin Parish on May 1939, respectively. Fr. Pereng purchased the Silli historic site on July 18, 1927, erected a memorial to Fr. Kim Dae-geon within the Solmoe historic site on June 4, 1946, opened a branch convent of the Sisters of the Holy Family on July 21, 1947 to care for orphans, and built the Sohwa Nursery building on January 1949 (closed in 1969). The Digital Dangjin Culture Encyclopedia states that from its foundation in 1890 orphans were raised in the homes of the faithful, then from the Japanese colonial period an orphanage was provided on the church grounds, and in 1907 Maegoe School was founded, contributing to the education of local women.

〔Differences among sources on the timing of daughter parishes〕 The founding dates of the parishes separated from Hapdeok Church are recorded differently by source. The Korean Catholic Encyclopedia gives Seosan (Sugok) 1908, Yesan May 1928, Dangjin May 1939, and Sinhapdeok November 18, 1960. The Digital Dangjin Culture Encyclopedia gives Seosan 1908, Yesan 1927, Dangjin 1939, and Sinhapdeok 1960, and Good News gives Yesan 1926, Seosan 1935, Dangjin 1938, and Sinhapdeok 1961.

〔Tenure of Fr. Bak No-yeol and separation of Sinhapdeok〕 According to the Korean Catholic Encyclopedia, during the tenure of Fr. Bak No-yeol (Baoro), who took office as the 8-th head priest on September 1950, the enshrinement ceremony of the statue of Our Lady of Fatima was held on September 8, 1953, the unveiling ceremony of the statue of Our Lady of Lourdes was held on May 2, 1954, and a hall was provided at the Maesan-ri (present-day Sinpyeong-myeon, Dangjin-gun) Catholic mission chapel on June 15, 1960. In the same year, Unsan-ri was separated and newly established as Sinhapdeok Parish, the sixth daughter parish, on November 18, whereupon the parish name changed to ‘Guhapdeok Parish’ and the Solmoe historic site was transferred to the jurisdiction of Sinhapdeok Parish. The Digital Dangjin Culture Encyclopedia states that although Hapdeok Church had separated Seosan in 1908, Yesan in 1927, and Dangjin Church in 1939, it was still the largest church in the Chungcheongnam-do region in 1948 when the Diocese of Daejeon was established, and when the number of faithful reached 4,459 in 1960, it separated Sinhapdeok Church. Good News states that in 1997 it changed back to its original name, Hapdeok Parish.

〔Later changes〕 According to the Korean Catholic Encyclopedia, the parish unveiled a memorial to the 5 Blessed Martyrs of the Byeongin Persecution at the Silli Catholic mission chapel on April 30, 1969, and newly built a hall (1977), a rectory (1985), and a convent (1986), respectively. The Digital Dangjin Culture Encyclopedia states that due to rural exodus following industrialization the local population declined sharply and the number of faithful also fell rapidly, and that as of the end of 2015 the number of faithful was 941. It founded Maegoe School and a kindergarten and took part in educational activity, and in 2008 founded a youth hostel and contributed to youth educational activity. According to Good News, in 2008 it built the Hapdeok Youth Hostel (now the Holy Family Pilgrims’ House) on the church grounds together with Dangjin City. In 2010, in commemoration of the 120th anniversary of the parish foundation, it erected a memorial at Yangchon Catholic mission chapel, the origin, on February 21, a bust of Fr. Baek Mun-pil Pilipbo, the Good Shepherd, inside the church on April 12, and an 120th-anniversary memorial at the church entrance on December 25. In 2014 it completed restoration of the old rectory and opened it the following year as the church history hall, in 2018 installed a bell tower with 12 bells in the churchyard, and in 2020 created a park for Fr. Pilip Pereng (Baek Mun-pil Pilipbo) to commemorate the 130th anniversary of the parish foundation and held a blessing ceremony.

〔Church strength and successive priests〕 The church strength recorded by the Korean Catholic Encyclopedia is 1,800 people in 1891, 2,162 people in 1902, 2,060 people in 1912, 2,138 people in 1924, 2,851 people in 1954, 2,161 people in 1964, 2,449 people in 1974, 2,219 people in 1984, and 1,642 people in 1993. The encyclopedia states that priests produced since the parish foundation numbered 32, including Fr. Sin In-sik (Baoro) ordained in 1920, and religious numbered about 60. Successive priests were the first Fr. Kwirillie Leo (1890.8–1904.5), 2-th Fr. Hong Byeong-cheol Ruga (1904.5–1906.5), 3-th Fr. Keurempeu Henri (1906.5–1914.9), 4-th Fr. Raribo Adriano (1914.9–1917.4), 5-th Fr. Bak U-cheol Baoro (1917.9–1919.10), 6-th Fr. Keurempeu (1919.10–1921.5), 7-th Fr. Pereng Pilipbo (1921.5–1950.8), 8-th Fr. Bak No-yeol Baoro (1950.9–1961.6), 9-th Fr. Yu Seong-suk Rudobiko (1961.6–1963), 10-th Fr. Je Je-gu Robereuto (1963–1968), 11-th Fr. Yun Yeo-hong Baoro (1968–1971.2), 12-th Fr. Yi Jong-dae Yosep (1971.2–1971), 13-th Fr. Gim Byeong-jae Baoro (1971–1974.2), 14-th Fr. Jo Seong-ok Yohan (1974.2–1974.9), interim Fr. Yu Yeong-so Beullasio (1974.9–1974.11), 15-th Fr. Yeo Chung-gu Mareuko (1974.11–1980.8), 16-th Fr. Beullang Yohan (1980.8–1986), 17-th Fr. Yun Jong-hak Bereunareudo (1986.4–1991.8), and 18-th Fr. Gwon Tae-ung Anselmo (1991.8–present). Here ‘present’ means the time of writing of this encyclopedia.

〔Jurisdiction and mission chapels〕 The Korean Catholic Encyclopedia gives the jurisdiction as the east of Hapdeok-eup, Dangjin-gun (Hapdeok-ri, Sinchon-ri, Jeomwon-ri, Sangheuk-ri, Haheuk-ri, Haun-ri, Seongdong-ri, Segeori, Do-ri, Silli, Okgeum-ri, Daehapdeok-ri), Ugang-myeon (Ugang-ri), Godeok-myeon, Yesan-gun (Yangchon-ri, Sang-ri), and others, and the jurisdictional Catholic mission chapels as 13 places including Silli, Yangchon and Segeori. The Digital Dangjin Culture Encyclopedia gives the jurisdiction as of the end of 2015 as Hapdeok-ri, Jeomwon-ri, Do-ri, Okgeum-ri, Sinseok-ri and Segeori in Hapdeok-eup, part of Ugang-myeon, and Sanggung-ri in Yesan-gun.

〔6·25 and the martyrdom of Fr. Pereng〕 According to Good News, Fr. Pereng (Baek Mun-pil) was arrested by the People’s Army during confession on August 14, 1950 and killed, and Council President Yun Bok-su Raimundo and altar server Song Sang-won Yohan voluntarily submitted to arrest and were executed to stay by the priest’s side. The parish erected a martyrdom monument to Fr. Baek Mun-pil beside the church in 1957, and erected the martyrdom monuments of the two lay faithful beside it in 2005 on the occasion of the 115th anniversary of the parish foundation and the 55th anniversary of the martyrdom. Next to the monuments it created the tombs of four priests including Fr. Baek (whose remains were transferred in 2003 to the clergy cemetery in Daejeon Catholic University) together with the tombs of the lay president and altar server martyred with him (with only relics buried without remains), and has now moved the monuments and tombs to the backyard between the church and the old rectory, beside the outdoor altar. In the same backyard stands also the martyrdom monument of St. Hwang Seok-du Ruka.

The Encyclopedia of Korean National Culture states that the Hapdeok area has long been known as a Catholic historic site, and that the place where several missionaries hid before being arrested during the Byeongin Persecution in 1866, including Bishop Dabeullyu, is the Silli Catholic mission chapel of the present Guhapdeok Church, where relics of that time are preserved. Good News states that near the church there is the Silli Shrine created around the thatched house that was the birthplace of Son Ja-seon Thomas and used as Bishop Dabeullyu’s bishop’s residence, and the Myeoncheon historic site, where an old government office is said to have stood, is also located there.

Architecture and Space

〔Church construction plan and work〕 According to the Digital Dangjin Culture Encyclopedia, when Fr. Pereng (Korean name Baek Mun-pil) took office in 1921, the number of faithful of Hapdeok Church exceeded 2,000, so the existing church was too small, and the priest planned a new church from around 1925. Hoping for a ‘church of souls’ rather than a ‘church built of stone,’ Fr. Pereng prayed together with the faithful and collected building funds, preparing a considerable part of the construction cost with donations from the faithful together with help from acquaintances at home and abroad and his own living expenses and Mass offerings. Construction began in spring March 1929, felling trees on the church site and grading while technicians brought from China fired 1 ten thousand 200 bricks. The mobilized Chinese technicians numbered 26, of whom 8 were bricklayers and 3 were carpenters, and the faithful also took turns grading and firing and carrying bricks. The church was completed in autumn 1929 and had a dedication ceremony on October 9 (the Korean Catholic Encyclopedia records it as a completion ceremony on October 9), and around the dedication thousands gathered around Hapdeok.

〔Extension and form〕 The Digital Dangjin Culture Encyclopedia states that at the time of completion the church was rectangular, without side doors and aisles on both sides, a sacristy behind the altar, and a triangular roof on the steeple, and that these parts are known to have been added around 1940 by Japanese technicians. The building is a brick structure standing on a hill in a plain area, with a rectangular main body, two steeples arranged at the front, and side wings arranged on both sides, so that overall it has the form of a long cross. This culture encyclopedia describes it as a composite building combining the Western Gothic style with the Korean traditional culture of wooden floors. Descriptions of the architectural style differ by source. The Encyclopedia of Korean National Culture states that the 7-th head priest, Fr. Pereng, newly built the present brick Gothic church in 1929, and Good News states that it was built in the Gothic style in 1929 and that the two steeples symbolize the divinity and humanity of Christ. The Korean Catholic Encyclopedia states that the present Romanesque church building with 2 bell towers was completed on October 9, 1929.

〔Cultural heritage designation and repair〕 The Digital Dangjin Culture Encyclopedia states that the Hapdeok Church building was designated on July 28, 1998 as Chungcheongnam-do Monument No. 145 and then, pursuant to a Cultural Heritage Administration notice on November 19, 2021, its cultural-property designation number was abolished and it was re-designated as a Chungcheongnam-do Monument. In the 2000s there were repairs, but the original building form was maintained, and the owner is the Maintenance Foundation of the Diocese of Daejeon. This culture encyclopedia states that the Hapdeok Church building has the longest history among modern buildings built in the Dangjin area. Good News states that a Marian garden has been created on the church grounds, with a statue of the Holy Family, the parish patron, an outdoor altar, and a lawn plaza.

Related Places and Figures

• Silli Shrine (Silli Catholic mission chapel): the place where Bishop Dabeullyu, Fr. Wien, and Fr. Ometreu stayed or were arrested; Hapdeok Parish purchased the Silli historic site on July 18, 1927 and unveiled a memorial to the 5 Blessed Martyrs of the Byeongin Persecution on April 30, 1969 (Korean Catholic Encyclopedia, Good News).
• Yangchon Catholic mission chapel (Sanggung-ri, Godeok-myeon, Yesan-gun): the place where Yangchon Parish, the origin of Hapdeok Parish, stood; it erected an 120th-anniversary memorial of the parish foundation on February 21, 2010 (Good News).
• Solmoe historic site: it erected a memorial to Fr. Kim Dae-geon on June 4, 1946, and it was transferred to that jurisdiction when Sinhapdeok Parish was separated in 1960 (Korean Catholic Encyclopedia).
• Gongseri Parish, Geumsari Parish, Seosan Parish, Yesan Parish, Dangjin Parish, Sinhapdeok Parish: parishes separated from Hapdeok Parish (Korean Catholic Encyclopedia, etc.).
• Fr. Pereng (Baek Mun-pil Pilipbo): he ministered as the 7-st head priest of the parish from 1921 to 1950, built the present church in 1929, and was martyred during 6·25 (Digital Dangjin Culture Encyclopedia, Good News).

References and Sources

1. Research Institute of Korean Church History, Korean Catholic Encyclopedia, “Guhapdeok Parish” (Vol. 2). Parish establishment process in 1890, move from Yangchon to Hapdeok, daughter parishes, successive priests and church-strength statistics, church completion in 1929, separation of Sinhapdeok.
   https://encyclopedia.catholic.or.kr/entry/663
2. Korean Studies Central Research Institute, Digital Dangjin Culture Encyclopedia, “Catholic Hapdeok Church.” Establishment process and move, daughter parishes, social-welfare and educational activity, status as of the end of 2015.
   http://www.grandculture.net/dangjin/toc/GC06400959
3. Korean Studies Central Research Institute, Digital Dangjin Culture Encyclopedia, “Dangjin Hapdeok Church.” Church construction process in 1929, extension around 1940, building form, progress of designation as Chungcheongnam-do Monument.
   https://dangjin.grandculture.net/dangjin/toc/GC06400551
4. Korean Studies Central Research Institute, Encyclopedia of Korean National Culture, “Hapdeok Church.” Change of name from Yangchon Church to Hapdeok Church, new church construction in 1929, Silli Catholic mission chapel.
   https://encykorea.aks.ac.kr/Article/E0062311
5. Archdiocese of Seoul Good News, Catholic Information, “Daejeon Diocese Hapdeok Church.” Church history, martyrdom of Fr. Pereng and two lay faithful, martyrdom monuments, commemorative projects in 2008–2020, designation as Chungcheongnam-do Monument.
   https://maria.catholic.or.kr/sa_ho/list/view.asp?ctxtOrgNum=2310&menugubun=holyplace