Ancient church recreated - on Japanese skyscraper

04/11/2009

A multi-millionaire Japanese tourist was so taken with the design of a Herefordshire church that he commissioned an exact copy to be built on a skyscraper in Osaka - even down to the churchyard and its railings.

The developer stumbled upon All Saints Church in Brockhampton after getting lost on a sightseeing tour.

It seems that the century-old thatched church, which features wishbone arches and railings, made such an impression that he ordered a three-quarter scale model to be built on the 21st floor of Hotel Monterey Grasmere in Osaka.

Japanese couples can even get married in the replica church, which costs £8,000 to hire for weddings.

"Even the slightest imperfection and mark on the stonework has been reproduced," said a stunned Reverend Will Pridie.

"The stained glass windows are all exactly the same and they have even built a scaled down bell tower."

All Saints Church in Brockhampton is a Grade I listed building which was designed by architect William Lethaby as his last major work.