Manners for visiting the churches and terms of service｜Hidden Christian Sites in the Nagasaki Region

Home > Manners for visiting the churches and terms of service

Manners for visiting the churches

The churches are not tourist attractions but important places for Christians to pray.
When you visit the churches as a sightseer, please observe proper visiting manners and keep in mind to feel comfortable for everyone.

We would like you to observe the following rules:

The chancel (the altar and the area around it) is a holy place. Please do not enter it under any circumstances.
The Mass (religious service) is a sacred ceremony. Please do not take photographs of it.
Eating and smoking are forbidden.
Please avoid talking loudly and running around in the churches. When visiting with children, please make sure they also observe proper visiting manners.
Please do not touch the various ceremonial objects, Bibles, or ornaments.
Toilets of the churches are intended for use by local church-goers. Please use other toilets if possible.
Please wear clothes suitable for this holy space.
There is no dress code but avoid immodest clothes.

The churches are usually open to the public as the place for prayer. (However some churches are locked for security.): The front door is used mainly for ceremonies. When the notice “take your shoes off” is posted, please remove your shoes and put them in the shelf. Please also remove your hat and make sure to enter quietly.

The water basin near the entrance is the “font”.: Christians use it to make the sign of the cross and cleanse themselves as they enter the church.

Please take a seat quietly.: Eating, smoking and drinking are forbidden in the churches. Please refrain from talking in a loud voice. The Bibles and prayer books on the chairs and desks are owned by local Christians, so please don’t touch them.

Please take in the solemn atmosphere of the churches.: These churches are permeated with the prayers of generations of people who have lived in the area. Listen calmly to their praying.

The chancel is the holiest part of the church.: The altar is set in a raised part of the front of the church, called the “chancel”, and Mass is held there every morning to commemorate the Last Supper. As only the clergy are allowed to enter the chancel, please do not enter it under any circumstances.

No photos inside the churches.: Please keep record of your visit in your mind, not in your camera.

Visitors are sometimes not allowed to enter the churches during Mass.: Most churches hold Mass on Sunday morning to commemorate the Last Supper. Some churches ask non-Christians not to enter during Mass. Even if you are allowed to participate in Mass, the ceremony called “the Eucharist”, which involves receiving a small piece of white bread, is intended only for Christians. Non-Christians are supposed to remain quietly seated during this ceremony. Please refrain from entering the churches while people are praying or while ceremonies like weddings and funerals are being held.

If you would like to give thanks:: You can put a donation in one of the offertory boxes in the churches if you would like to show your thanks.

*Your donation will be used for the maintenance and management of the churches.

font

The chancel

User policy of this "prior notice system for visiting churches"

Article 1 (General Provisions): 1. This user policy provides the conditions applying to the "prior notice system for visiting churches" (hereinafter referred to as the “System”) that is managed and operated by the "Churches and Christian Sites in Nagasaki" Information Centre (hereinafter referred to as the “Centre), as well as matters that all the users are required to observe.; 2. Every user must comply with this user policy, the operation method of the System and rules that shall be specified under separate regulations.

Article 2 (Definition of Terms): In this user policy, terms are defined as follows;; (1) “User” means all the people who use the System regardless whether they are individuals or groups.; (2) “Registered user” means users who have registered their personal information, such as address, in the System by themselves.; (3) “Individuals” mean visitors whose total number is five or less.; (4) “Groups” mean tour organizers, such as travel agencies, or groups of individuals whose total number is six or more.; (5) “Prior notice” means that people who wish to visit the churches, regardless whether they are individuals or groups, apply for their visitation through the System.

Article 3 (Fee of the System): The system is free of charge.

Article 4 (Registration of User Information): 1. Users of the System can register their personal information, such as address, in order to enhance their own convenience.; 2. It is recommended travel agencies register themselves in the System so that they do not need to enter the information every time.

Article 5 (Management of Login ID and Password): 1. Registered users shall be responsible for management of their own login ID and password.; 2. The Centre shall not be responsible for direct or indirect damage, blame, burden, loss and the like (hereinafter referred to as “damage, etc.”) of registered users, irrespective of existence of their negligence, caused by use of their login ID and password by the others.

Article 6 (Correction of Registered Information): 1. Registered users are supposed to quickly make correction when there is any change in their registered information.; 2. The Centre shall not be responsible for damage, etc. caused by failing to make correction as described in the preceding paragraph.; 3. The registered users shall agree that any notification from the Centre is deemed to have arrived at the time when the notice should normally have arrived, even if they cannot receive the notification due to their failing to make correction as described in the paragraph 1 of this article.

Article 7 (Suspension of Use): 1. In cases where the users violate the conditions prescribed in this user policy and in other cases that the Centre deems improper in the operation of the System, the Centre can cancel prior notice made by such users and suspend their use of the System.; 2. In cases where the registered users violate the conditions prescribed in this user policy and in other cases that the Centre deems improper in the operation of the System, the Centre can cancel prior notice made by such registered users, delete their registered information and suspend their use of the System.

Article 8 (Reception Period): Prior notice for a visit can be made through the System from six months to three days before the visit.

Article 9 (Change of Date and Time of Visitation): In cases where date and time of a visit are changed, the user who made the prior notice shall quickly modify the date and time in the System.

Article 10 (Notification from the Centre): 1. The Centre shall give notification basically by displaying in the System, sending an e-mail, and by other means that the Centre deems appropriate.; 2. In cases where notification described in the preceding paragraph is sent to a user’s e-mail address registered in the System, such notification shall be deemed to have reached the user at the time when the notification arrives in the mail receiving server.; 3. In cases where notification described in the paragraph 1 of this article is displayed in the System, such notification shall be deemed to have reached the user at the time when the notification is displayed in the System to enable the users to browse it via access to the System.