History

Brief History of Hongo Lutheran Church and the Center

The Hongo Student Center began its activity at Nishikata-machi 10, Bunkyo Ward (in front of the Agriculture Department, Tokyo University) on April, 1956. Rev. Morris A. Sorenson Jr. was in charge of the Center.

The Sunday worship service began on April 18^th, 1956. Since then, Hongo Lutheran Church has never ceased to have worship service.

The first baptism took place on October 28^th, 1956. It was of a student among the Center.

Rev. Ivan Fagre, missionary of ELCA arrived to work at the Center in 1958.

Rev. Lyle Larson, missionary of ELCA arrived to work at the Center in 1961

Rev. Hiroyoshi Okada came to work for Hongo Lutheran Church as the first Japanese pastor in 1965.

The building for Hongo Lutheran Church and the Center was newly built at Hongo 6 chome, on June 26^th, 1966.

Rev. Phillip Hyland, missionary of ELCA assumed his post as director of the center in 1970.

Rev. Masanori Uno assumed his post as pastor of Hongo lutheran church in 1976.

Rev Richard Nelson assumed the post as director of the Center in 1979.

Rev. Ryuichiro Nagaoka assumed the post as pastor of Hongo Lutheran Church in 1990.

Mr. Tom Dillon, missionary assumed the post as director of the Center in 1990.

Japan Lutheran Church had the 100th mission anniversary in 1993.

Large-scale renovation took place in August of 1994.

Hongo Lutheran Church and the Center celebrated 40^thanniversary of the founding on April 14^th, 1996. The commemorative publication for 40^thanniversary was issued.

Rev. Aaron Albrecht, missionary of ELCA took the position of Director of the Center in 1997.

Rev. Hiroyoshi Nagao worked as pastor of Hongo Lutheran Church. (He concurrently held the position of executive director of JELC.)

Rev. Nobuo Yasui assumed the position of pastor of Hongo Lutheran Church in 2002.

The Vision Action for Hongo Lutheran Church Mission was decided in February, 2004.

Large-scale renovation for Hongo Lutheran Church building took place in 2004.

“A Guide-a little Bible” (Michi Shirube) was issued as a commemorative publication for the 50^thanniversary of Hongo Lutheran Church on April 18^th, 2006.

Rev. Eric Hanson worked as a missionary for the Center (concurrently) in 2009.

The first "Shirokanipe Festival" in commemoration of Yukie Chiri was held on September 18^th, 2010.

Ms. Ross Turner worked as missionary for the Center (concurrently) on April, 2013.

Repairs for earthquake-proof building and repainting of the outer wall were completed in August, 2013.

The first “Hongo Festa ! It’s Delicious Time!” took place on May, 2014. This festival has taken place every year since 2014.

The worship service and symposium in commemoration of 60^thanniversary of Hongo lutheran church was held on May 22, 2016. And “Sunny Corner of Grace” (Megumino Hidamari)-the commemorative publication of 60^thanniversary of Hongo lutheran church and the Center was issued on the same day.

Worship service in commemoration of 500^thanniversary of Reformation was held in October, 2017.

The informal name of the Center was decided as “Hongo English Terrace” in April, 2018.

Mr. Paul Forsyth worked as missionary for the Center in April 2018.

A memorial plaque for the late Yukie Chiri was installed on the church notice board in March, 2019.

Rev. Yuki Goto began to work as pastor of Hongo Lutheran Church in April, 2019.