- Former Gorin church is located on Hisaka island in the Goto islands. The island is shaped like a horse’s hoof.
- Hidden Christians moved here from Sotome and kept their faith in secret.
- Following the Discovery of the Hidden Christians at Oura Cathedral in Nagasaki in 1865, many thousands more throughout the Nagasaki region confessed their faith. Soon, however, a new wave of persecution occurred, including in the Goto islands.
- Former Gorin church was first constructed in another part of Hisaka island. It was called Hamawaki church (the name of the area where it was built). However, in 1931 it was dismantled and reconstructed in the Gorin district, the place where it stands today. In 1985 it was almost decided that the church should be dismantled, but in the end a decision was made to preserve it.
- The church sits right on the shoreline. Its simple wooden architecture somewhat resembles that of a traditional Japanese house, giving it a warm atmosphere.
Website of the Churches and Christian Historical and Cultural Heritage of Nagasaki
Registered asset
Former Gorin Church
Articles related to this asset
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Goto Islands
A church which arrived by sea
Former Gorin church was originally located in a different part of Hisaka island
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Goto Islands
Memories of island life
In 1985, a new church was constructed in Gorin, and Former Gorin church became disused.
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Goto Islands
A church dedicated to St. Joseph
It seems that St. Joseph’s earnest and sincere life resonated with local Christians
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Goto Islands
A silent cemetery overlooking the sea
A cemetery which tells of the Christian belief in the resurrection of the body
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Goto Islands
An island of wild camellias
Camellia flowers have, in the past, been used by Japanese Christians to represent the Virgin Mary. They grow wild on Goto, which has a long history of producing camellia oil
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Goto Islands
Persecution of Christians on Goto
In the Meiji period, Christians on Goto were persecuted for their faith. Hisaka island is where these persecutions began. After the Japanese government was strongly criticised for this by foreign countries, it opted to formally lift its long ban on Christianity.
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Goto Islands
A simple wooden church
Former Gorin church’s architectural style is, in certain ways, very distinctly Japanese
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Goto Islands
五輪真弓さんのルーツ
歌手の五輪真弓さんのルーツは久賀島五輪地区
おじいさんは教会でオルガンを弾いていた -
Goto Islands
昔の里道を歩く
旧五輪教会堂の正面脇につながる九州自然歩道は
かつて信徒たちが利用していた里道 -
Goto Islands
手作りの擬似ステンドグラス
旧五輪教会堂にはステンドグラスはない
ガラスとガラスの間にセロハンをはさんだ信徒たちの思い
