Inheritance of faith(6)
Hidden Christians, and "Father Garnier" "Father Halbout"
During the period when the Tokugawa Shogunate prohibited Christianity and Christians were harshly suppressed, the Christians of Amakusa took on the outward appearance of Buddhists but secretly continued their Christian worship. These people were known as Hidden Christians.
After the Christianity ban was lifted, missionaries were sent from Nagasaki to Amakusa, where they worked to educate the Hidden Christians. Then, in 1333 and 1334, respectively, two churches were finished with the help of two French missionaries and local Christians. Father Frederic Louis Garnier built the Oe Church and Father Augustin Halbout built the Sakitsu Church.
Sakitsu Village, where the Sakitsu Church is located, is part of the “Hidden Christian Sites in the Nagasaki Region” UNESCO World Heritage registered in 2018.
Related Spots
Oe Church
Oe Church is a Romanesque building Tetsukawa Yosuke, who was born on the Goto Islands, Nagasaki Prefecture, designed and built under the guidance of Father Garnier.
Location: 1782 Oe, Amakusa-machi, Amakusa-shi, Kumamoto
PH: 0969-22-2243 (Amakusa Takarajima Tourist Association)
Website: Amakusa Takarajima Tourist Association
https://www.t-island.jp.e.aex.hp.transer.com/p/spot/detail/74
Closed: Open year-round (facility may sometimes close on days other than scheduled holidays)
Admission: Free
Transportation: 5 min walk from "Tenshudo Iriguchi" bus stop
Approx. 150 min from Kyushu Jukan Expressway Matsubase Interchange/approx. 40 min from Hondo by car
Parking: Available (10 cars)
Sakitsu Church
Sakitsu Church is a Gothic building Tetsukawa Yosuke, who was born on the Goto Islands, Nagasaki Prefecture, designed and built under the guidance of Father Halbout.
Location: 539 Sakitsu, Kawaura-machi, Amakusa-shi, Kumamoto
PH: 0969-78-6000 (Sakitsu Settlement Guidance Center)
Website: Amakusa Takarajima Tourist Association
https://www.t-island.jp.e.aex.hp.transer.com/p/spot/detail/86
Closed: Open year-round (facility may sometimes close on days other than scheduled holidays)
Admission: Free
Transportation: 1 min walk from “Kyokai Iriguchi” bus stop
Approx. 140 min from Kyushu Jukan Expressway Matsubase Interchange/approx. 40 min from Hondo by car
Parking: Available (Sakitsu Settlement Guidance Center Parking Lot)