Wangrim Church

Overview

Wangnim Church is a church in Wangnim-ri, Bongdam-eup, Hwaseong-si, Gyeonggi-do, belonging to the Suwon Diocese, and is also called Gatdeungi Church after the old village name. As the Gatdeungi Catholic mission chapel, which had a Catholic faithful village since before 1839, was established as a parish in July 1888, it became the first parish in Gyeonggi-do south of the Han River and is regarded as the mother parish of the Suwon Diocese. The Mirinae, Hauhyeon, Buksudong, Baran, Namyang, Jeongnam, and Bongdam parishes separated from this parish.

History

[Gatdeungi Catholic Mission Chapel] The Korean Catholic Encyclopedia writes that it is not known exactly when the Gospel was first preached in the Gatdeungi area and when the Catholic village began to form, but since the name Gatdeungi Catholic mission chapel appears in Bishop L. Imbert diary entry on January 25, 1839, it can be seen that a Catholic village had formed before 1839. The Good News Holy Sites introduction explains that Gatdeungi, meaning a lantern wearing a gat, a traditional hat, was a secret term used by believers during the persecution era to refer to priests. The Encyclopedia of Korean Culture writes that, located on a narrow, quiet mountain road about 12 km west of Suwon, believers fled here from the early persecution, fired earthenware and lived there, forming a Catholic village; Bishop Imbert hid here and evangelized in 1839; and around the Byeongin Persecution in 1866, it also produced several martyrs. According to the encyclopedia, around the Byeongin Persecution the chapel faithful appear to have scattered in all directions, and with missionaries re-entering from 1876 onward, the Catholic village would have formed again. In the Gyeonggi-do church statistics for 1881 to 1882, the Suwon district had 4 Catholic mission chapels at Gatdeungi, Geoni, Neujiji, and Yanggan, with 105 faithful at Geoni, 102 at Gatdeungi, and 47 at Neujiji. The first missionary in charge of the Gyeonggi-do area south of the Han River was Father G. Mutel, who visited the chapels in the Gatdeungi area and administered the Easter confession sacrament for 3 years from 1883 to 1885, after which Father V. Poisnel took charge alone.

[Parish Establishment] The Korean Catholic Encyclopedia writes that in July 1888 Father James J. André, An Hak-go, took office as the first pastor and it became the first parish in Gyeonggi-do south of the Han River, while the Digital Hwaseong City Cultural Encyclopedia gives the founding date as on July 14, 1888. The Good News Holy Sites introduction describes Wangnim Parish as the third parish of the Korean Church after the Jonghyeon, present-day Myeong-dong, established in 1882, and Wonsan, established in 1887, parishes, and as the first parish in Gyeonggi-do south of the Han River, while the Digital Hwaseong City Cultural Encyclopedia records it as the fourth parish on the Korean Peninsula, so the order differs by source. According to the encyclopedia, in 1889 Father André built a thatched church that could hold 200 people; its jurisdiction at the time covered 4 counties of Suwon-gun, present-day Hwaseong-gun, Yongin-gun, Anseong-gun, and Pyeongtaek-gun, with 24 Catholic mission chapels and 1,790 faithful.

[Father Alix and Samdeok School] The encyclopedia writes that Father Joseph J. Alix, Han Yak-seul, who took office as the 2 pastor in April 1890, named the parish patron as the Sacred Heart of Jesus immediately after taking office, expanded and renovated the thatched church in September of the same year, and founded the Samdeok School, a Chinese-character village school, to eradicate illiteracy and evangelize. Samdeok School later changed its name to Sinmyeong Uisuk in 1914, Wangnim Hagwon in 1933, Wangnim Training Center in 1938, Bongdam Higher Civic School in 1950, Gwangseong National School in 1955, and others, contributing to local development. The Digital Hwaseong City Cultural Encyclopedia gives the new construction of Samdeok School as in September 1890, the renaming to Sinmyeong Uisuk as on September 1, 1914, the renaming to Wangnim Hagwon as in 1933, the establishment of Wangnim Training Center as in August 1938, and the approval for the establishment of Gwangseong National School as on January 15, 1946, while the Encyclopedia of Korean Culture writes that Father Kim Won-yeong, who took office in 1917, reorganized the village school Samdeok School opened in 1907 into Sinmyeong Uisuk, which became the predecessor of present-day Gwangseong National School. Gwangseong National School was closed on February 28, 1981, Digital Hwaseong City Cultural Encyclopedia.

[Division and New Church Construction] According to the encyclopedia, as the church grew, the Mirinae Parish was separated and established in April 1896, the Encyclopedia of Korean Culture gives 1895, and in 1897, when Father Alix temporarily returned home, Father Penne and Father Lee Jong-guk served as temporary pastors. Father Alix, who returned as pastor in March 1900, newly built a 33-kan tile-roofed church and a traditional Korean-style rectory the following year and held the dedication ceremony officiated by Bishop Mutel in 1903. The Digital Hwaseong City Cultural Encyclopedia gives the blessing ceremony for the traditional Korean-style church and rectory as on November 22, 1902. In 1906, the Buksudong Church was separated and established. Father Charles Le Gac, Gwak Won-ryang, the 5 pastor, took office in 1911, evangelized for 3 years, and died of typhoid in 1914. Under Father Augustine Kim Won-yeong, the 6 pastor, the church grew greatly, reaching more than 2,700 faithful in 69 Catholic mission chapels in 1917. In October 1927, Sisters of St. Paul of Chartres were dispatched for the first time.

[From the Japanese Occupation to Incorporation into the Diocese] According to the encyclopedia, when Father Peter Kim Yeong-geun, the 8 pastor, took office, the parish suffered hardship as Wangnim Hagwon was closed under Japanese oppression and a village school was opened instead, but it was approved as Wangnim Training Center in August 1938 and continued its educational work, and was approved as Gwangseong National School in January 1946, with the pastor also serving as principal. Under Father Paul Im Jong-gu, the 9 pastor, the church was expanded in 1949, the Digital Hwaseong City Cultural Encyclopedia adds that a bell tower was built the same year, but the school and church were occupied during the Korean War. The Baran Parish was separated and established in June 1957 and the Namyang Parish in October 1961, and with the establishment of the Suwon Diocese in 1963, the parish was incorporated into the Suwon Diocese.

[Since the Late 1960s] The encyclopedia writes that under Father Pancratius Kang Ju-hui, the 13 pastor, rice paddies for the school self-support project were prepared in November 1969; the Junior Praesidium of the Queen of Martyrs was founded in April 1971; a new modern church was built and dedicated in November of the same year; and the Cheongyori Catholic mission chapel in Bibong-myeon was newly built with materials from the demolished old church. The Encyclopedia of Korean Culture also writes that the present church was built in 1971 and Suwon Catholic Seminary was founded here in 1984. The Praesidium of the Queen of Creation and the Praesidium of the Queen of Peace were founded in 1973, and under Father Michael Ha Jae-byeol, the 16 pastor, a 33-pyeong rectory was newly built in August 1975 and the Jeongnam Parish was separated and established, the Digital Hwaseong City Cultural Encyclopedia gives the Jeongnam separation as in May 1975. Father Thomas Aquinas Jeong Hae-seong, the 17 pastor, formed various pastoral organizations, newly built the convent, and improved the access road. Under Father Andrew Choi Jae-pil, the 18 pastor, the Sisters of St. Paul of Chartres withdrew and a branch house of the Sisters of the Blessed Korean Martyrs was established.

[100 Anniversary Memorial Church] According to the encyclopedia, in October 1985 construction began on the 100 anniversary memorial church for the parish establishment, along with the rectory and convent, and in January 1987 the 100 anniversary parish renewal campaign for the parish establishment was launched. Under Father Joseph Lee Chan-jong, the 19 pastor, concrete work around the church and roof work were carried out; in November 1988 a pictorial book commemorating the 100 anniversary of the parish founding was published; and on November 1 a Mass for the 100 anniversary of the parish founding and the dedication of the church was celebrated. In May 1990 a collection commemorating the 100 anniversary of the parish founding, 1, was published. The Digital Hwaseong City Cultural Encyclopedia writes that the groundbreaking ceremony for the memorial church was held on October 23, 1985 and the first Mass was offered in the new church on November 25, 1986. Father Joseph Lee Yong-sam, the 23 pastor, held a proclamation ceremony for the New Family Search Movement and street evangelization in April 2000, installed a crucifix and the Stations of the Cross in March 2001, and carried out fence work in May of the same year and pew repairs in November. According to the Digital Hwaseong City Cultural Encyclopedia, Bongdam Church was separated in January 2001.

[Patron and Recent Times] The encyclopedia gives the patron as the Sacred Heart of Jesus. The Digital Hwaseong City Cultural Encyclopedia writes that on September 14, 2004 the parish patron was changed from the Sacred Heart of Jesus to the Blessed Virgin Mary Conceived without Original Sin, and that on July 14, 2013, to commemorate the 125 anniversary of the parish establishment, a joint faith gathering was held at the Hwaseong Sports Complex Town indoor gymnasium with believers from the Mirinae, Hauhyeon, Buksudong, Baran, Namyang, Jeongnam, and Bongdam churches separated from Wangnim. According to the same source, as of 2020 there were 409 households and 1,093 faithful, with 1 priests and 2 sisters, and the dispatched missionary sisters are the Sisters of the Blessed Korean Martyrs.

[Jurisdiction, Church Statistics, and Successive Priests] The jurisdiction recorded in the encyclopedia is Bongdam-eup and Bibong-myeon in Hwaseong-si and parts of Paltan-myeon. For church statistics, there were 1,790 faithful in 1889, 2,204 in 1899, 1,002 in 1904, 1,301 in 1910, 2,154 in 1914, 2,646 in 1919, 2,215 in 1924, 1,574 in 1965, 2,059 in 1970, 1,490 in 1975, 1,590 in 1980, 1,508 in 1985, 1,718 in 1990, and 2,300 in 2000. The successive pastors are the first, James André in 1888.7 to 1890.4, the 2 pastor Joseph Alix in 1890.4 to 1897.10, the 3 pastor Carlo Penne in 1897.10 to 1899.5, the 4 pastor Alix in 1900.3 to 1911.4, the 5 pastor Carlo Le Gac in 1911.4 to 1914.5, the 6 pastor Augustine Kim Won-yeong in 1914.5 to 1933.5, the 7 pastor Peter Baek Nam-hui in 1933.5 to 1936.5, the 8 pastor Peter Kim Yeong-geun in 1936.5 to 1948.9, the 9 pastor Paul Im Jong-gu in 1948.9 to 1955.5, the 10 pastor John Im Eung-seung in 1955.5 to 1957.6, the 11 pastor Joseph Im Se-bin in 1957.6 to 1962.7, the 12 pastor Vitus Jang Geun-sil in 1962.7 to 1964.7, the 13 pastor Pancratius Kang Ju-hui in 1964.7 to 1972.7, the 14 pastor Matthias Kim Hyo-sin in 1972.7 to 1974.3, the 15 pastor Paul Song Yeong-gyu in 1974.3 to 1975.4, the 16 pastor Michael Ha Jae-byeol in 1975.4 to 1977.12, the 17 pastor Thomas Aquinas Jeong Hae-seong in 1977.12 to 1984.9, the 18 pastor Andrew Choi Jae-pil in 1984.9 to 1987.2, the 19 pastor Joseph Lee Chan-jong in 1987.2 to 1992.2, the 20 pastor Francis Lee Yong-hwa in 1992.2 to 1994.2, the 21 pastor Paul Bang Hyo-ik in 1994.2 to 1995.2, the 22 pastor Anthony Kim Chan-su in 1995.2 to 1998.1, and the 23 pastor Joseph Lee Yong-sam in 1998.1 to present.

Architecture and Space

According to the Good News Holy Sites introduction, the Wangnim Church area is densely clustered with Suwon Catholic University and several religious orders, and early Church liturgical items and others are displayed in the Gatdeungi Museum next to the church. The Encyclopedia of Korean Culture writes that Suwon Catholic Seminary was founded here in 1984.

The church grounds measure 2,949 square meters of land and 1,604 square meters of buildings as of 2020, Digital Hwaseong City Cultural Encyclopedia. The Korean Catholic Encyclopedia writes that a new modern church was built and dedicated in November 1971, and the Encyclopedia of Korean Culture writes that the present church was built in 1971. The Digital Hwaseong City Cultural Encyclopedia writes that construction began on the 100 anniversary memorial church for the parish establishment in October 1985 and the first Mass was offered in the new church on November 25, 1986.

Related Places and Figures

• Mirinae Parish: separated from Wangnim Parish in 1896, 1895 by the encyclopedia standard, Korean Catholic Encyclopedia, Encyclopedia of Korean Culture.
• Hauhyeon Parish: a parish separated from Wangnim Parish, whose believers participated in the 2013 125 anniversary joint faith gathering for the parish establishment, Digital Hwaseong City Cultural Encyclopedia.
• Buksudong Parish: separated and established from Wangnim Parish in 1906, Korean Catholic Encyclopedia.
• Baran, Namyang, Jeongnam, and Bongdam Parishes: separated from Wangnim Parish respectively in June 1957, in October 1961, in 1975, and in January 2001, Korean Catholic Encyclopedia, Digital Hwaseong City Cultural Encyclopedia.
• Father James J. André, An Hak-go: a missionary who took office as the first pastor in July 1888 and built the thatched church, Korean Catholic Encyclopedia.
• Father Joseph J. Alix, Han Yak-seul: the 2 and 4 pastor who designated the parish patron as the Sacred Heart of Jesus and founded Samdeok School, Korean Catholic Encyclopedia.
• Father Augustine Kim Won-yeong: the 6 pastor who greatly expanded the church, Korean Catholic Encyclopedia.
• Samdeok School: a Chinese-character village school founded by Father Alix, later continuing as Sinmyeong Uisuk, Wangnim Hagwon, Wangnim Training Center, Gwangseong National School, and others, Korean Catholic Encyclopedia, Digital Hwaseong City Cultural Encyclopedia.

References and Sources

1. Korean Catholic Encyclopedia, Wangnim Parish, 9 volume. Parish establishment in July 1888, patron, jurisdiction, church statistics, successive pastors, prehistory and chapel era, parish foundation and development, 100 anniversary.
   https://encyclopedia.catholic.or.kr/entry/4672
2. Good News Catholic Holy Sites, Wangnim Church, holy sites and historic sites. Meaning of Gatdeungi, Catholic village before 1839, first parish in Gyeonggi-do south of the Han River, thatched church in 1889, dedication of the 1988 100 anniversary memorial church, Gatdeungi Museum.
   https://m.catholic.or.kr/web/holyplace/?seq=2380
3. Academy of Korean Studies, Digital Hwaseong City Cultural Encyclopedia Wangnim Church. Founded on July 14, 1888, history, patron change, separated churches, status in 2020.
   https://hwaseong.grandculture.net/hwaseong/toc/GC08600935
4. Academy of Korean Studies, Encyclopedia of Korean Culture Wangnim Church. Formation of the Catholic village, Bishop Imbert, thatched and tile-roofed churches, Samdeok School, present church in 1971, Suwon Catholic Seminary in 1984.
   https://encykorea.aks.ac.kr/Article/E0039066