Anglican Church of Japan, Koriyama Church of Saints Peter

Nippon Sei Ko Kai Koriyama St. Peter and St. Paul Church: A Gothic Gem in Fukushima

Standing quietly on the elevated Hayama hillside in the heart of Koriyama City, Fukushima Prefecture, the Nippon Sei Ko Kai Koriyama St. Peter and St. Paul Church (日本聖公会郡山聖ペテロ聖パウロ教会聖堂) is one of the most distinguished examples of early Shōwa-era ecclesiastical architecture in the Tōhoku region. Completed in 1932, this reinforced concrete Gothic-style chapel has served as a place of worship for the Anglican community in Koriyama for nearly a century, while also standing as a beloved landmark cherished by local residents.

Registered as a National Registered Tangible Cultural Property in 2018 (Registration No. 07-0197), the church exemplifies the remarkable fusion of Western Gothic architectural traditions with Japanese craftsmanship that characterized Anglican church-building in prewar Japan.

Historical Background

The origins of the Anglican mission in Koriyama trace back to 1903 (Meiji 36), when a preaching station called the Koriyama Lecture Hall was established near Koriyama Station. Over the following decades, the congregation grew steadily, and in 1923 (Taishō 12), the church was formally named Koriyama St. Peter and St. Paul Church.

In 1926 (Taishō 15), the community acquired land on the Hayama hillside and erected a temporary wooden chapel. By the early 1930s, under the guidance of Bishop Norman Spencer Binsted, plans were set in motion for a permanent, purpose-built church. Construction began in July 1931, and the reinforced concrete Gothic chapel was consecrated on February 24, 1932—the Feast of St. Matthias.

The church endured the upheavals of World War II. Under the Religious Organizations Law of 1942, it was temporarily renamed Koriyama Holy Cross Church (郡山聖十字教会) and reorganized as an independent parish. After the war, the church restored its original name and returned to the Nippon Sei Ko Kai (Anglican Church in Japan) Tōhoku Diocese, to which it belongs today.

In 2013, a new parish hall was completed adjacent to the chapel. Five years later, in 2018, the chapel received national recognition as a Registered Tangible Cultural Property, honoring its architectural and historical significance.

Why It Was Designated a Cultural Property

The chapel was registered as a cultural property for several compelling reasons. As a reinforced concrete church built in the early 1930s, it is a rare surviving example of Gothic-style ecclesiastical architecture from that period in the Tōhoku region. Its exterior features refined Gothic detailing, including buttresses with columnar forms at the corners of the tower and along the walls, which lend the building an air of dignified solidity.

Inside, the roof structure is particularly noteworthy: it combines scissors trusses with arched beams to create an elegantly soaring interior space. This hybrid structural approach demonstrates the sophisticated engineering and design sensibility of the era. The chapel's stained glass windows, crafted from Czechoslovakian glass, add an additional layer of artistic value.

The building represents the culmination of the collaborative design approach between American architect John Van Wie Bergamini, who provided the basic design concept, and Japanese architect Uebayashi Keikichi, who executed the detailed design. This partnership produced a series of Anglican chapels across Japan, and the Koriyama church stands as one of the finest examples of this "Modern Anglican standardized chapel" tradition.

Architectural Highlights and Attractions

The chapel is an east-west oriented reinforced concrete structure with a gabled roof. On the north face, a gabled entrance porch projects at the eastern end, while a distinctive tower rises at the western end. This tower, with its Norman-style crown and four-tiered buttresses, serves as the building's most recognizable feature and an unmistakable landmark in the Hayama neighborhood.

The interior reveals a single-nave plan where the chancel occupies the western end—an unusual orientation that adds to the building's architectural interest. The scissors truss and arched beam roof system is exposed, creating a dramatic visual effect that draws the eye upward and fills the modest space with a sense of lofty grandeur.

The stained glass windows, made with glass imported from Czechoslovakia, bathe the interior in warm, colored light. A baptismal font, dating to the original construction, remains in place as one of the chapel's most treasured furnishings.

The chapel is surrounded by a tranquil garden setting on the Hayama hilltop, offering visitors a peaceful retreat from the bustle of the city below. The adjacent St. Paul Kindergarten, which has operated for over 60 years, adds a lively community atmosphere to the church grounds.

The Architect: Uebayashi Keikichi

The chapel was designed by Uebayashi Keikichi (上林敬吉), a devout Anglican and principal of the Uebayashi Architectural Design Office in Tokyo. Uebayashi developed his skills under the mentorship of foreign missionary architects and became one of the most prolific designers of Anglican churches in prewar Japan.

Working under the basic design guidance of American architect John Van Wie Bergamini, Uebayashi created the detailed construction drawings for a series of Anglican chapels that established a distinctive "Modern Anglican" architectural vocabulary. The Koriyama chapel, along with earlier works in Urawa, Morioka, Akita, and Fukui, represents the mature expression of this design tradition.

Surrounding Attractions

The church is located in the Hayama cultural district of Koriyama, one of the city's most historically rich neighborhoods. Within easy walking distance, visitors can explore several notable sites:

• Hayama Park (麓山公園) – An Edo-period park selected as one of Japan's 100 Historic Parks, featuring pine groves, ponds, and the Hayama Waterfall, a monument to the Asaka Canal irrigation project.
• 21st Century Memorial Park "Hayama no Mori" – A modern park offering seasonal flowers, green spaces, and community facilities, located directly across the street from Hayama Park.
• Koriyama Public Hall (郡山市公会堂) – A Registered Tangible Cultural Property built in 1924 in Renaissance Revival style to commemorate Koriyama's elevation to city status, featuring a distinctive clock tower.
• Koriyama Central Library and History Museum – Located nearby, offering insights into the city's development from an Edo-period post town to a modern regional hub.
• Asaka Canal Hayama Waterfall (安積疏水麓山の飛瀑) – A Registered Tangible Cultural Property and component of the Japan Heritage "One Waterway That Opened the Future," commemorating the Meiji-era canal project.

Visiting the Church

The church welcomes visitors, though it remains an active place of worship. Sunday services (Holy Eucharist) are held at 10:30 AM. Visitors are asked to respect the sacred nature of the space and any services in progress.

From JR Koriyama Station, the church can be reached by bus (approximately 10 minutes to the Saibansho-mae stop) or on foot in about 20–25 minutes. By car, it is approximately 20 minutes from the Koriyama Interchange on the Tōhoku Expressway. The church is located on the north side of the Hayama Post Office.