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Outline
The memorial church was built in 1952 (Showa 27) to commemorate the 400th anniversary of St. Francis Xavier’s visit to Yamaguchi. Inside, it featured beautiful stained glass depicting the life of Xavier. Every 15 minutes, the sound of its bells echoed beautifully through the city. However, the church was sadly destroyed by fire on September 5, 1991 (Heisei 3).
Afterward, efforts such as fundraising campaigns were carried out to support the reconstruction. Finally, on April 29, 1998 (Heisei 10), six years and seven months after the fire, the long-awaited new memorial church, shining white, was completed. The new memorial church features a bold, modern design with two 53-meter-high towers (including the crosses and bells) and a triangular roof covering the entire structure. The interior of the chapel is adorned with numerous stained glass windows, and a pipe organ has also been installed. Today, the nostalgic sound of the bells, which ring every hour from 8:00 AM to 6:00 PM, has returned. After the completion ceremony, the church was opened to the public, and many gathered to celebrate its rebirth.
Xavier Park
Xavier Park was built on the site believed to be the former location of Daidoji Temple in Kanakoso-cho, Yamaguchi City, where a monument honoring St. Francis Xavier now stands.
Daidoji Temple was given to Xavier by Ōuchi Yoshitaka and became the center for Christian missionary work. At that time, the temple was in a state of disrepair.
Afterward, Xavier entrusted the mission to his fellow missionaries and left Yamaguchi. The remaining priest, Torres, was granted permission by Yoshitaka to rebuild the temple, and it became Japan's first Christian church, where Japan's first Christmas Mass was also celebrated.
※ Xavier Park is not located at the same site as the St. Francis Xavier Memorial Church.
(Address: Kanakoso-cho, Yamaguchi City)
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