The Oura Catholic Church was built for foreigners staying in Japan. Its actual name is “26 Martyrs Church”, and was built in honor of 26 apostles who reached martyrdom in the year 1597. The church faces West Hill, which is where they were executed.
The church was designed by a French priest, Furet, and Father Petitjean. It was constructed by Hidenoshin Koyama in 1864. The church is designed with a gothic architectural style, with bricks, painted with plaster.
When Christianity was banned in March 1865, Christians who were hidden in Urakami visited the church to confess to Father Petitjean. The heart-moving event of a congregation that secretly maintained their faith for approximately 250 years is considered one of the miracles in the history of Christianity around the world.
On August 9th, 1945, the church was damaged by the atomic bomb, and after 5 years of reconstruction, it was rebuilt in 1953, marking itself as a national treasure. In 2018, it became a “Hidden Christian Site in Nagasaki Region”.
The oldest gothic church in Japan built of wood and brick is a must-visit if you ever find yourself in Nagasaki.
Highlights
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The school and pavilion next to the church is the “Christian Museum”.
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The statue of the Virgin Mary can be found on a small altar next to the podium.
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The Virgin Mary statue at the entrance was given by the French to commemorate the discovery of the apostles.
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The ceiling is designed in an arch-like structure with wooden pillars.
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Father Petitjean is buried under the church, the pavilion also has a grave.
