“What makes this church so special?” Founded by American missionary Henry Appenzeller, Chungdong First Methodist Church stands as a testament to faith and history. It is located in Jeong-dong, Jung District, Seoul. This church is not just a building. It is a living monument to Korea’s earliest encounters with Protestantism.
Chungdong First Methodist Church holds many historic firsts within Korea. Its congregation was founded on October 11, 1885. The church saw Korea’s first Methodist baptism on July 24, 1887. It started the first Christian women’s group in 1889. It also boasted the first pipe organ and the first Western-style chapel.
The first building was completed on December 26, 1897. It is the oldest extant church in Korea. It is the only one originally built during the 19th century.
In September 1887, Henry Appenzeller bought a small hanok or traditional Korean house. He used it to house the church. Appenzeller called the building Bethel Chapel. As the congregation grew, leaders decided to build a larger church. The groundbreaking ceremony occurred on September 9, 1895. Notable Korean leaders Soh Kwang-pom and Yun Chi-ho attended. A dedication service was held for the new building on December 26, 1897. They also called it Bethel Chapel.
The church expanded in 1926. It changed from a cruciform or cross-shaped church to a rectangular building. The architecture is a simplified American gothic style. Look at the arched window frames.
Chungdong First Methodist Church served as the headquarters for early publications in Korea. It hosted the Trilingual Press publisher. These publications included Tongnip sinmun or the first private newspaper in Korea. It also published The Korean Christian Advocate or the first Christian newspaper in Korea. The Christian News was published here too. So was The Korean Repository or the first English-language monthly magazine. The church acquired the first privately-owned printing press in Korea for these publications.
Bethel Chapel became Historic Site of South Korea No. 277 in 1977. Chungdong First Methodist Church holds worship services in both Korean and English. It maintains a Mangon Christian History Reference Room for historical materials. A history museum opened on November 12, 2023.
As you stand before Chungdong First Methodist Church remember its history. Think about its contributions to Korea’s religious and cultural landscape. The church is a symbol of enduring faith. It is a beacon of hope in the heart of Seoul.