St. Frances Xavier Church

Overview

St. Frances Xavier Church (Catholic Kanda Church) is a parish church in Chiyoda, Tokyo, belonging to the Catholic Archdiocese of Tokyo. Its church name is dedicated to St. Francis Xavier, and it stands as one of the churches opened for Japanese believers at a relatively early stage after the ban on Christianity was lifted. The present church building was constructed in 1928 and is registered as a Registered Tangible Cultural Property of Japan.

Highlights

• ●The church building, constructed in 1928 and registered as a national Registered Tangible Cultural Property
• ●A dedication to St. Francis Xavier reflected in its church name
• ●A history of being opened early for Japanese believers after the ban was lifted
• ●Its role as a parish of the Catholic Archdiocese of Tokyo

History

After the ban on Christianity was lifted, the church, like the Catholic Tsukiji Church, was opened for Japanese believers at a relatively early stage in Tokyo. The present church building was constructed in 1928 and is registered under the name of the Catholic Kanda Church building as a Registered Tangible Cultural Property of Japan. After the war, it served for a time as a provisional cathedral for the Archdiocese of Tokyo until the archdiocese's own cathedral was rebuilt. The church interior preserves part of the relics of St. Francis Xavier and the chair of Tatsuo Doi, Japan's first cardinal. A church also once bore the name Kanda Church within the Japanese Orthodox Church, but it was organizationally merged into the Holy Resurrection Cathedral (Nikolai-do) in 1974 and is a separate institution.

Map

35.6994, 139.7574 · Wikidata

Suggested itinerary

1. 1Head to the site in Chiyoda ward
2. 2View the exterior of the church building, constructed in 1928 and a Registered Tangible Cultural Property
3. 3Note the dedication of the church name to St. Francis Xavier
4. 4Walk through the surrounding urban area as well

Did you know?

💡 The church name honors St. Francis Xavier, after whom the church is named.

Nearby spots