Dedicated to the first English martyr, Saint Alban. That is St. Alban’s Church where we stand now in Tokyo. It is a beacon of English-language Anglican worship. Imagine services echoing with hymns familiar to congregations worldwide. This church stands as a testament to faith and community.
St. Alban’s Church is more than just a place of worship. It’s a piece of history nestled within the bustling city. Its story intertwines with that of St. Andrew’s Cathedral. St. Andrew’s is the Cathedral Church of the Tokyo Diocese of the Anglican Church in Japan.
English-language services have been held on this site almost continually since 1879. The original church was established alongside St. Andrew’s by Canadian SPG missionary Rev. Alexander Croft Shaw. St. Alban’s provides a spiritual home for English speakers in Tokyo.
The original St. Andrew’s Church building was a red brick neo-Gothic structure. It was designed by Charles Alfred Chastel de Boinville. The construction was financed by foreign residents in Tokyo. British Envoy Sir Harry Smith Parkes chaired the Church Committee.
Located on elevated ground at Shiba Koen, St. Andrew’s became a central point. It became the center of Anglican Christian worship and clergy training in Tokyo. Bishop Edward Bickersteth established the St. Andrew’s Brotherhood in 1888.
St. Andrew’s intended by Shaw primarily as a mission church. It became one of the first Anglican churches in Japan. It had an autonomous indigenous ministry. In 1894, Rev. John Toshimichi Imai was appointed Rector.
From its earliest days St. Andrew’s Church building was shared. It was shared between Japanese and English-speaking congregations. Members of the foreign community attended services. They were conducted by Rev. Armine F. King.
The original building was destroyed in the 1894 earthquake. It was quickly rebuilt as a small chapel. It was adjacent to a larger wooden structure. This accommodated the growing Japanese congregation.
Like many urban Nippon Sei Ko Kai churches, St. Andrew’s buildings were lost. They were lost in the 1945 Allied incendiary bombing.
The current cathedral building dates from 1996. It is on the same site as the original church. St. Alban’s Church stands adjacent to St. Andrew’s Cathedral.
The current St. Alban’s Church building was consecrated on March 17, 1956. It was designed by Czech American architect Antonin Raymond.
Today St. Alban’s Church continues to serve. It serves as a vital hub for the English-speaking community. It is one of only three English-language-based congregations in the Nippon Sei Ko Kai. The other two are Christ Church in Yokohama and St. Michael’s Church in Kobe. They share historic connections to the Mission to Seafarers.
So as you stand here take a moment to appreciate St. Alban’s Church. It is a place of worship. It is a symbol of international connection. It is a reminder of the enduring power of faith.