Foreign Christians have been free to worship in Thailand for nearly five hundred years. The first to do so were Portuguese traders who settled outside Ayutthaya early in the 16th century. The remains of three Roman Catholic churches and a graveyard can still be seen there.

Ayutthaya was destroyed in 1767, and it was ninety years before Westerners began to settle in Thailand again; welcomed by King Mongkut (1851-1868). Protestant and Roman Catholic missionaries came and worked without hindrance amongst the Thai and Chinese communities. They built hospitals and schools, many of which are still flourishing. There were also many fine Roman Catholic churches. But there was no equivalent Protestant church, though there was aProtestant Cemetery which is still in use.

Chronology

The Church began at a site by the river

3 June 1861	Meeting of non-Roman Catholic Christians held at the British Consulate: Protestant Church Committee formed.	East Window of Chapel
26 July 1861	King Mongkut granted land by the river to the Community of foreigners of Protestant Christian faith.
1 May 1864	The Protestant Union Chapel (also called The English Church) opened for worship. The preacher at the opening service was the Rev. S. Mattoon of the American Presbyterian Mission.
April 1894	Canon William Greenstock came as Chaplain, supported by SPG (Society for the Propagation of the Gospel).
16 Feb 1896	First confirmation in the chapel. It was conducted by Bishop George Hose, Bishop of Singapore Labuan & Sarawak.
7 April 1904	King Chulalongkorn granted permission to sell the river site and gifted land off North Sathorn Road for the building of a new church.

Clergy, River Site
1864-1892	American missionaries
1894-1900	Revd. W. G. Greenstock (Chaplain)
1900-1901	American Presbyterian missionaries
1901-1902	Revd. W. H. Robins (Chaplain)
1902-1903	American Presbyterian missionaries
1903-1905	Revd. H. de Courcy Blakeney (Chaplain)

Christ Church was built on land granted by King Chulalongkorn, Rama V, to the English-speaking Protestant Christian community.

Christ Church 1905 - 1963

30 April 1905	Church building dedicated. The service was conducted by the Rev. H. de Courcy Blakeney (chaplain), Canon W. Greenstock (SPG) and the Revd. J. Carrington (American Bible Society)
September 1905	Baptism font arrived.
19 November 1905	Pipe organ dedicated. For more information on the pipe organ this pdf
1907	Clergy stalls and chancel screen provided.
1913	First ceiling fans installed.

Christ Church

East windows

Armchair seating

Ceiling fan

4 November 2 December 1917	Severe flooding: services were held at the British Legation instead of at Christ Church.
December 1918	Land between the church building and BNH Hospital purchased.
1928	Celebration of a century of Protestant missions in Thailand.
23 July 1937	British Governments representative no longer to be ex-officio chairman of the Church Committee.
1941	The Chaplain was interned in a military camp during World War II and the Churchs affairs were looked after by the Scandinavian community.
1946	Church Services were resumed upon cessation of hostilities.
1948	The Church began to take full responsibility for financing all of its own affairs.
1 May 1955	Golden Jubilee celebrations.
1956	Services began to be taken in Saigon, Phnom Penh and Vientiane as circumstances demanded.

Chaplains, Christ Church - 1905 to 1963
1905-1907	Rev. H. de Courcy Blakeney	1941-1945	Chaplain interned-Second World War
1908-1920	Rev. Dr. H. J. Hillyard	1945-1946	British Army Chaplains
1920-1921	Rev. C. R. Simmons	1946-1951	Rev. C. G. Eagling
1921	Rev. F. Dowland Ryan	1951-1955	Rev. W. H. Fowke
1922-1932	Rev. C. R. Simmons	1955-1958	Rev. J. L. Gilmour
1932-1935	Rev. E. Edwards	1958-1962	Rev. E. J. Pulman
1935-1940	Rev. C. W. Norwood	1962-1963	Interregnum - Diocesan Clergy
1940-1941	Rev. C. G. Eagling

Christ Church 1963 -

1963	The Revd J. E. Ironside inducted as Vicar. This saw the end of 70 years of chaplaincies.
1969	New Vicarage built.
13 February 1972	H.M. Queen Elizabeth II accompanied by H.R.H. The Duke of Edinburgh and H.R.H. The Princess Anne attended divine service.
1976	Memorial Chapel and Garden of Remembrance were dedicated.
1982	Outreach toKaren displaced persons began.
10 February 1991	The Colin Britton Memorial Windows are dedicated.
1991	Thai-language ministry organised by the Revd. Gerry (Gerald) Khoo and his wife, Dorothy.
1993-4	Air-conditioning installed.
1994	Anglican Church in Thailand registered with Evangelical Fellowship of Thailand.

Chapel and Vicarage

Garden of Remembrance

Rainbowland

Li Hall

1996	Christ Church Banchang established.
1998	Rainbowland Child Development Centre opened in the Old Vicarage.
1999	A new wall, gates and a car park built.
1999	Christ Church Sawang Daendin established.
November 2001	The new church hall, the Li Hall, was dedicated.
26 December 2004	Tsunami: Christ Church responded quickly with active involvement and aid.

Christ Church Vicars Since 1963
1963-1966	Rev. J. E. Ironside	1986-1995	Rev. Dr. Monty Morris
1966-1971	Rev. D. N. Bowers	1995-1997	Rev. Bruce Mc Nab
1971-1973	Rev. P. D. Kingston	1998-2004	Rev. Stephen Gabbott
1973-1981	Rev. John Taylor	2004-2005	Rev. Andrew Dircks
1982-1984	Rev. Ian Bull	2005-2006	Rev. Stephen Gabbott (Interim Vicar)
1984-1986	Interregnum - Revd. John Morrett (Acting Vicar)	2006-	Rev. Peter Cook

Statement of vision and core values produced by the 2005/6 Parish Church Council

30 April 2005	Centenary Celebration of the church building on the corner of Convent and North Sathorn Roads.
August 2005	Installation of bell (made 1955).
29 April 2007	Dedication of Sala in memory of Archdeacon Gerald (Gerry) Khoo.
2007/2008	Renovations to the church building were undertaken as a result of a generous financial gift from the Religious Affairs Department of the Thai Government, in celebration of the 60th year of reign by His Majesty King Bhumipol Adulyadej.
31 October 2010	Archbishop John Chew of Singapore ordained the Rev. Pairoj Phiammattawat to the priesthood at Christ Church, making him the first native priest of the Anglican Church in Thailand.
July-September 2012	The stained glass windows on the eastern and western sides of the church building are restored.

Movatterモバイル変換