Information regarding the closing of Tsubaki Grand Shrine of America as per May 7th, 2023
Disclaimer #1: I am sharing this information for the English-speaking Shinto community online. This information was given to be by various parishioners of Tsubaki Grand Shrine of America and I have been requested to share this information for informational purposes and to clear confusion around the situation.
Disclaimer #2: I am acting as an individual when sharing this information, not as a priestess or representative of Konko Faith or my shrine Konkokyo Yokosuka Shrine. I have also not been a member of Tsubaki Grand Shrine of America since 2014-2015 though I have a connection as friends of mine are parishioners.
Disclaimer #3: I am not aware of, nor can provide any details about the situation beyond this information, I am only passing along what I was informed and requested to make an announcement about.
Should Tsubaki Grand Shrine of America, or any members relating to the shrine and it’s operations make any official announcement, please refer to that as the most recent and correct information.
Disclaimer #4: The purpose of posting this is not for commentary or reflections of my personal views, but solely for informational purposes.
With that being said, this is what I was informed of:
“1. Rev. Barrish is suffering from a health condition that prevents him from continuing to oversee the running of the large shrine and it’s large grounds as it’s only priest.
2. Due to his health condition, a proposal was made by Rev. Barrish to the local board of Tsubaki Grand Shrine of America (*not the board of Tsubaki Okami Yashiro in Japan*) that would have transitioned the shrine operations to a new priest.
However, the proposal concluded with a vote to close down the shrine and sell the land. Because of this vote, the shrine will be officially closed on June 30th, 2023 and cease operations.
3. Rev. Barrish is not retiring, nor ceasing his work as a priest and he will begin a new shrine, Kannagara Chikyu Jinja, in Kissimmee, Florida - it is a location 25 minutes from the Orlando International Airport and situated in the popular tourist destinations of the State with a variety of people. More information: https://earthshinto.org/”
That is the latest information I have.
I was not told the details of the proposal or vote, why it was voted to be closed, nor aware of Rev. Barrish’s specific health condition. I also do not know why Kissimmee was chosen in particular.
To know those details will be up to members of the shrine and Rev. Barrish to share at their discretion.
I am not sure if more information will come after the shrine’s closing on June 30th, 2023, but any updates that I am able to share, will be shared.