Seoul Anglican Cathedral

Anglican Church In Seoul

Historical Seoul Anglican Cathedral of Saints Mary & Nichols

The Seoul Anglican Cathedral of Saints Mary and Nichols (shortened as Seoul Anglican Cathedral) is a Christian church building established by the Anglican religious group earlier in the century. It is one of the historic sites in the area surrounding Seoul City Hall and Deoksugung Palace.

Seoul Anglican Cathedral is considered as the mother church of the Anglican Church of Korea since 1891. It was first built as a traditional Korean building by Bishop John Corfe who was sent as the first missionary bishop to Korea. 

The present (renovated) Romanesque architecture was designed by an English architect Arthur Dixon. It was Bishop Mark Trollope who commenced the construction of the building in 1922 and consecrated it in 1926. Some unfinished portions were completed based on the original design in 1996.

The church is now designated as Tangible Treasure of Seoul City.

The Cathedral area was famous for social actions among activists it is also a Centre of Christian Spiritual Life and Social Justice. It is where protesters gather and then head to Gwangwhamun Square for their social justice actions.

For that background, the Cathedral is known as a 'memorable cornerstone of the Korean democratic movement of the 1980s. Located at the heart of Seoul, Seoul Anglican Cathedral represents as a center of the ecumenical movement, cultural events, justice actions and liturgical life of the Christian believers.