About the English Ministry

Are you looking for a place to worship and grow? Look no more!

Chungdong First Methodist Church - English Ministry, is a vibrant and dynamic international community of faith situated in the heart of Seoul, South Korea. Chungdong First Methodist Church is a landmark and must-see for tourists to Seoul. The church, located in downtown Seoul, is regarded as the birthplace of Korean Christianity.

The English Ministry was born on 1 June 1997 as an outreach to the many foreigners in Seoul and surrounding areas. From its inception, the ministry was supported by a diverse international community consisted of foreigners, many Koreans who previously lived and work overseas, as well as Korean members who wished to improve their English skills.

During the past 25 years, the English Ministry has established itself firmly as an international community of faith with people from various church traditions worshiping in harmony.

Belief Statement

  • Our Passion is God
  • Our Motivation is the Love of Christ
  • Our Power is through the Holy Spirit
  • Our Mission is the world, and
  • Our Vision is to create a loving, informing, worshiping, global, community where God's presence, love, and power can be experienced and appreciated in unity
  • We believe in God, the Creator of all that we see, and all that we do not see. We believe in Jesus Christ, God become flesh; in death the Forgiver of sinners, in rising the Healer of the broken. We believe in the Holy Spirit, God within us; Comforter, Strengthener and Friend.

Our History

Chung-dong First Methodist Church is the birthplace of Korean Protestantism. Established and started in 1885 by the pioneer American missionary Henry Appenzeller, the church has always been a vital meeting point between East and West and a place where the beauty of diversity is celebrated in God's unity. This important feature of the church has gained further prominence when the English Ministry was launched in 1997 and had its first service on June 1 in the historic Bethel Chapel.
 
Throughout the years, the English Ministry has established itself as a spiritual home to both foreigners who live and work in Korea, and the English speaking Koreans who form the majority of the ministry. The EM identifies itself as a networking and 'station' ministry where people from all over the world come to worship during their stay in Korea. Our EM is indeed not a static nor exclusive ministry, but sees itself as dynamic, new and inclusive. The doors of the ministry are always open to those who want to come and celebrate the life and resurrection of Christ and share the Word of God.

Henry Appenzeller

On Easter morning 1885, Horace Underwood (pioneer Presbyterian missionary) and Henry and Ella Appenzeller (Methodist missionaries from Drew University) arrived on the western shore of Korea. This arrival marked the beginning of Korean Protestantism which would ultimately change the religious landscape on the peninsula forever. 

Its founder, Henry Gerhard Appenzeller, also known as the “Wesley” of Korea, was a major contributor to Christianity in Korea and left his mark on the modernization of the country. His legacy includes the establishment of PaiChai Haktang, now a fully-fledged university, as well as his significant contribution to the translation of the Bible in Korean, among many other developments.

On 11 June 1902 Henry Appenzeller passed away while rescuing a girl from a sinking ship.

Bethel Chapel

Chungdong First Methodist Church started building the Western-inspired Bethel Chapel in 1897, replacing the traditional Korean hanok-style building where the church began in 1885. Upon its completion in 1898, it was Korea’s first Protestant Church. It is still the only 19th century church building in Korea in existence. The style is Victorian-era Gothic with arched windows. A new connecting sanctuary was built and dedicated on April 15, 1979.

Interesting facts

  • One striking feature is that no cross was put on the church, a tradition that has continued to the present day. Missionary work had to be kept secret at the time of the building of the chapel.  
  • The very first pipe organ installed in Korea was built in Bethel Sanctuary 100 years ago in 1918. It was destroyed by bombing during the devastating Korean War, but rebuilt in 2003.
  • When you enter the main door of Bethel Chapel you’ll see the bell-ringing rope. The bell, which is so old that it is only currently tolled during the New Year’s Eve service, was tolled the first time to commemorate the completion of the construction of the church. As it was concurrent with the announcement of the establishment of the Korean Empire, Koreans naturally assumed it was in celebration thereof and came to feel more positively about the church and Christians in Korea.
  • The interior of the chapel is simple and unadorned. Male and female students were separated by a curtain running down the middle during the first years. The curtain was removed in 1910 causing some to jokingly refer to it as the “chapel of love” since then.
  • The chapel was designed by Appenzeller himself and was meant to look like a cross when viewed from above. The building was later enlarged to fill the four corners, turning it into a square church in the basilica style.
  • The pulpit, made of oak, was shipped in from the West. Even today pulpits are modeled after it.
 
Please note: The Appenzeller Museum nearby the main campus is open daily. The Chungdong Museum on campus may also be visited daily.