홍천 본당(Hongcheon Parish) was elevated from the SongjeongCommunity Chapel to a parish in 1923 under the patronage of TheImmaculate Conception of the Blessed Virgin Mary. Historicalrecords show that relatives of Father 최양업 토마스(Father Thomas Choe Yang-eop) settled in Hongcheonin 1791 after fleeing persecution, making the area a Catholic village formed byfaithful seeking refuge. In 1936, the parish was relocated to Hongcheon-eup,activating evangelization efforts. The stone church completed in 1955 was laterdesignated as a Registered Cultural Heritage site. Over the past century,Hongcheon Parish has given rise to four new parishes, establishing itself as acentral faith community in the mid-regions of Korea.