St. Andrew's Cathedral, Anglican cathedral in Shiba Koen, Japan
St. Andrew's Cathedral is an Anglican cathedral in the Shiba Koen district of Tokyo, built in red brick with a design that draws from both European church architecture and local construction methods. The complex includes the main cathedral for Japanese-language services and St. Alban's Church, a separate building on the same grounds for English-speaking worshippers.
The first cathedral was built in 1879 to a design by British architect Charles Alfred Chastel de Boinville, making it one of the earliest Anglican buildings in Tokyo. It was destroyed during the Second World War and later rebuilt, keeping much of its original character.
The cathedral holds services in both Japanese and English, and visitors can attend a Sunday service to see how two congregations share the same space naturally. St. Alban's Church, located within the same grounds, serves the English-speaking community separately.
The complex is close to Tokyo Tower, making it easy to reach by public transport. The grounds are accessible outside of service times, but it is worth checking the schedule in advance if you want to enter the buildings.
The complex has housed the St. Andrew's Brotherhood since 1888, an organization set up to provide housing and training for unmarried clergy. This makes the site more than a place of worship: it has functioned as a small community from the very beginning.
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