Here, before Saebongcheon Presbyterian Church, faith echoes through time. Saebongcheon Presbyterian Church stands as a testament to Korean Protestantism. Let’s uncover its story.
Saebongcheon Presbyterian Church is more than bricks and mortar. It embodies faith and architectural innovation. Its story intertwines with Seoul’s religious evolution.
Saebongcheon Presbyterian Church reminds me of the Saemoonan Church. Saemoonan Church is the first organized Presbyterian church in South Korea. Horace Grant Underwood founded it in 1887. He was an American missionary. Underwood also founded Underwood School. It is now Kyungsin High School and Middle School. He established Yonhi College now Yonsei University and Severance Hospital. Saemoonan Church is known as the Mother Church of Korean Protestantism.
Over the years, Saemoonan Church has had six different chapels. The latest chapel was constructed from 2014 to 2019. Architect Lee Eunseok designed the building. His design attracted media attention. It featured an unconventional design like a mother’s arms spread wide. It also offered much community space.
During construction, the church significantly modified the initial design. The unique external facade remained from the original plan. This led to the building’s international recognition. Some believe the heavily modified interior spaces do not match the exterior. Some architects feel it would have been better to follow the original plan. Others are relieved part of the original design was retained.
Saemoonan Church’s sixth chapel has received multiple accolades. In 2019, it was the first church building to win the Architecture Master Prize. It won in the Cultural Architecture category. In 2020, it was a finalist for the Building of the Year in ArchDaily. That same year, it received the Jury Award in the Religious Architecture category of the Architizer A+ Awards. In 2021, the chapel’s curved surface graced the cover of Phaidon’s collection, The World’s Best Architecture.
The church faced controversies. One involved the pastor appointment process. Rev. Lee Sang-hak accepted a call to Saemoonan Church. He left Pohang First Presbyterian Church without informing his congregation. This shocked many church members. The pastoral selection process was confidential. This led to internal conflicts. Rev. Lee said his departure aligned with God’s will. However, many members found it difficult to accept.
Another controversy involved Lee Sang-hak’s dissertation. In 2011, he received his doctorate from the Graduate Theological Union in Berkeley. He focused on Sin and Salvation Based on the Han Experience of Koreans. He argued for shifting the Korean church’s traditional judicial model of salvation to an image of healing. This stirred controversy. Rev. Lee pointed out punitive interpretations of the crucifixion may negatively impact those who have experienced deep-seated grief.
Saemoonan Church exemplifies architectural innovation. The church replaced the conventional spire. It used a softly curved effect that is open to the sky. Excessive ornaments were converted into simple and abstract expressions. The church expresses God’s love and mercy with the curve of its soft front. It has a fan-shaped chapel plane. This encourages dynamic participation between believers.
Saemoonan Church embodies loving neighbors. It is an architectural assignment that 21st-century churches must consider. The yard of Saemunan-ro, created by the hollow front and bent arch gate, provides a resting place for citizens. Continuous communication was planned through the lobby towards the Sejong Center for the Performing Arts. The small chapel brings back history by downscaling the existing brick church. It serves as an open cultural space.
Saemoonan Presbyterian Church is a transparent glass box. It seems to disappear into the sky beyond the curved wall. It aims to protect future generations from the congested streets. It is a bright Education Hall with a rooftop garden. The top floor of the Education Hall building and the high altitude space of the Cross Tower can become a memorial space open to every citizen.
Casavant Frères built a new organ for Saemoonan Presbyterian Church. It is a four-manual and Pedal instrument. It contains 63 stops and 4,343 pipes. The organ is conceived in French Symphonic style. It speaks on the church’s longest axis. The organ has stylistic unity throughout. It offers sustainable and reliable mechanisms. The visual design was done in collaboration with Seoinn Design Group.
Saebongcheon Presbyterian Church represents the ongoing evolution of faith. It is architectural expression in Seoul. Its story is a testament to the enduring spirit. It shows the intersection of tradition and modernity.