Demolition of tangible properties as an intangible practice

Catholic churches built around 1900 ad exist on islands in Western Japan. For various reasons local Catholics have carried out intangible practices of dismantling, demolition, relocation, reuse and/or recycle of some of those church buildings. Architectural historical studies in the 1970s and 1980s have revealed the physical architectural characteristics (Kawakami and Tsuchida 1983; Maekawa 2003). However, those studies paid little attention to the intangible aspects of church buildings. The recent research by Kikata et al. (2010) has relevance to intangible aspects. They have revealed traditional methods and practices to maintain churches by the local Catholic congregation as well as factors to enhance or hinder participation of non-Catholic residents in church maintenance.