Christ Church Bangkok
Encyclopedia
Christ Church is a parish
of the Anglican Church in Thailand
within the Diocese of Singapore
. It has both English- and Thai-language congregations. There are about 400 church members representing many different nationalities and denomination
al backgrounds. The liturgy is Anglican-Episcopal
.
The building is in an attractive Gothic style large enough to seat as many as 450 persons.
Christianity
was brought to what is now Thailand
as early as the sixteenth century. The Protestant faith came with British traders and American missionaries who reached Bangkok
in the early years of the 19th century, but made little progress until the country opened to the West during the enlightened reign of King Mongkut
Rama IV (1851-1868).
At first, Bangkok's Protestants met for worship in each other's homes but as their numbers increased they felt the need for a church building. To a petition's response, King Mongkut granted land near the Chao Praya River for the use of the "community of foreigners who are of Protestant Christian faith". A new church was opened for worship on 1 May 1864. Officially named the Protestant Union Chapel, it was commonly known as "the English Church".
By the end of the century the congregation had grown and access by land had become impossible so it became necessary to build a larger church in a more central location.
On 7 April 1904, His Majesty King Chulalongkorn
Rama V graciously granted a larger plot of land at the junction of Convent and Sathorn Roads for the use of the church. He also permitted the sale of the land on which the first church stood. A building was erected on the new site and was given the name "Christ Church". It opened for divine service on 30 April 1905.
and chancel are flanked by six pillars beyond which are north and south aisles. There are seven double doors in the walls of each aisle. The doors at the west end of the north aisle open on to a short covered passageway linking the church to the church hall. There is an apse
at the east end in which is the sanctuary
. At the west end, large double doors open on to a porch formed by the tower.
The nave including the chancel is 25.6 metres long with a roof rising to 13.7 metres. With the aisles, the width is 15.9 metres. An arch 7.3 metres high by 5.8 metres wide spans the entrance to the apse which is 6.4 metres deep by 6.7 metres wide. The tower is 5.8 metres square and 15.8 metres high.
The church is built on a foundation of teak logs. The walls and pillars are made of brick covered with plaster. The roof is supported by teak timbers and is tiled. The floor of the nave and chancel is tiled. The sanctuary is paved with marble.
The organ, the only pipe organ
in Thailand, is at the east end of the north aisle. The vestry
is in the corresponding position in the south aisle. There is seating for two clergy
and for 24 choristers facing the congregation. There is a free-standing altar
at the crossing between the chancel and the nave. A teak screen, which originally separated the chancel from the nave, is now at the west end of the main body of the church.
There is seating for 175 worshippers on wood and cane armchairs, with room for about 200 more if needed.
There are five ceiling fans on each side of the church: also air-conditioning. A bell hangs in the tower, tuned to the note F.
The east window depicts the Crucifixion
. There are smaller windows on either side. In the west wall a rose window opens into the tower with lancet windows on either side. Each aisle has windows at the west end and is overlooked by seven clerestory
windows.
Mural plaques record the memory of past worshippers and benefactors.
Parish
A parish is a territorial unit historically under the pastoral care and clerical jurisdiction of one parish priest, who might be assisted in his pastoral duties by a curate or curates - also priests but not the parish priest - from a more or less central parish church with its associated organization...
of the Anglican Church in Thailand
Anglican Church in Thailand
The Anglican Church in Thailand is a Deanery of the Diocese of Singapore within the Province of South East Asia. It is in communion with other members of the worldwide Anglican Communion.ACT began with the Parish of Christ Church Bangkok...
within the Diocese of Singapore
Anglican Diocese of Singapore
The Anglican Diocese of Singapore consists of 26 Anglican parishes in Singapore to date and 6 deaneries throughout the Asia region. It has an established history of church-planting as well as providing educational, medical and social services in Singapore and the neighbouring region. The Diocese...
. It has both English- and Thai-language congregations. There are about 400 church members representing many different nationalities and denomination
Christian denomination
A Christian denomination is an identifiable religious body under a common name, structure, and doctrine within Christianity. In the Orthodox tradition, Churches are divided often along ethnic and linguistic lines, into separate churches and traditions. Technically, divisions between one group and...
al backgrounds. The liturgy is Anglican-Episcopal
Anglican Communion
The Anglican Communion is an international association of national and regional Anglican churches in full communion with the Church of England and specifically with its principal primate, the Archbishop of Canterbury...
.
The building is in an attractive Gothic style large enough to seat as many as 450 persons.
History
Christianity
Christianity is a monotheistic religion based on the life and teachings of Jesus as presented in canonical gospels and other New Testament writings...
was brought to what is now Thailand
Thailand
Thailand , officially the Kingdom of Thailand , formerly known as Siam , is a country located at the centre of the Indochina peninsula and Southeast Asia. It is bordered to the north by Burma and Laos, to the east by Laos and Cambodia, to the south by the Gulf of Thailand and Malaysia, and to the...
as early as the sixteenth century. The Protestant faith came with British traders and American missionaries who reached Bangkok
Bangkok
Bangkok is the capital and largest urban area city in Thailand. It is known in Thai as Krung Thep Maha Nakhon or simply Krung Thep , meaning "city of angels." The full name of Bangkok is Krung Thep Mahanakhon Amon Rattanakosin Mahintharayutthaya Mahadilok Phop Noppharat Ratchathani Burirom...
in the early years of the 19th century, but made little progress until the country opened to the West during the enlightened reign of King Mongkut
Mongkut
Phra Bat Somdet Phra Poramenthramaha Mongkut Phra Chom Klao Chao Yu Hua , or Rama IV, known in foreign countries as King Mongkut , was the fourth monarch of Siam under the House of Chakri, ruling from 1851-1868...
Rama IV (1851-1868).
At first, Bangkok's Protestants met for worship in each other's homes but as their numbers increased they felt the need for a church building. To a petition's response, King Mongkut granted land near the Chao Praya River for the use of the "community of foreigners who are of Protestant Christian faith". A new church was opened for worship on 1 May 1864. Officially named the Protestant Union Chapel, it was commonly known as "the English Church".
By the end of the century the congregation had grown and access by land had become impossible so it became necessary to build a larger church in a more central location.
On 7 April 1904, His Majesty King Chulalongkorn
Chulalongkorn
Phra Bat Somdet Phra Poramintharamaha Chulalongkorn Phra Chunla Chom Klao Chao Yu Hua , or Rama V was the fifth monarch of Siam under the House of Chakri. He was known to the Siamese of his time as Phra Phuttha Chao Luang . He is considered one of the greatest kings of Siam...
Rama V graciously granted a larger plot of land at the junction of Convent and Sathorn Roads for the use of the church. He also permitted the sale of the land on which the first church stood. A building was erected on the new site and was given the name "Christ Church". It opened for divine service on 30 April 1905.
The church building
The church is in a simple Gothic style. The naveNave
In Romanesque and Gothic Christian abbey, cathedral basilica and church architecture, the nave is the central approach to the high altar, the main body of the church. "Nave" was probably suggested by the keel shape of its vaulting...
and chancel are flanked by six pillars beyond which are north and south aisles. There are seven double doors in the walls of each aisle. The doors at the west end of the north aisle open on to a short covered passageway linking the church to the church hall. There is an apse
Apse
In architecture, the apse is a semicircular recess covered with a hemispherical vault or semi-dome...
at the east end in which is the sanctuary
Sanctuary
A sanctuary is any place of safety. They may be categorized into human and non-human .- Religious sanctuary :A religious sanctuary can be a sacred place , or a consecrated area of a church or temple around its tabernacle or altar.- Sanctuary as a sacred place :#Sanctuary as a sacred place:#:In...
. At the west end, large double doors open on to a porch formed by the tower.
The church is built on a foundation of teak logs. The walls and pillars are made of brick covered with plaster. The roof is supported by teak timbers and is tiled. The floor of the nave and chancel is tiled. The sanctuary is paved with marble.
The organ, the only pipe organ
Pipe organ
The pipe organ is a musical instrument that produces sound by driving pressurized air through pipes selected via a keyboard. Because each organ pipe produces a single pitch, the pipes are provided in sets called ranks, each of which has a common timbre and volume throughout the keyboard compass...
in Thailand, is at the east end of the north aisle. The vestry
Vestry
A vestry is a room in or attached to a church or synagogue in which the vestments, vessels, records, etc., are kept , and in which the clergy and choir robe or don their vestments for divine service....
is in the corresponding position in the south aisle. There is seating for two clergy
Clergy
Clergy is the generic term used to describe the formal religious leadership within a given religion. A clergyman, churchman or cleric is a member of the clergy, especially one who is a priest, preacher, pastor, or other religious professional....
and for 24 choristers facing the congregation. There is a free-standing altar
Altar
An altar is any structure upon which offerings such as sacrifices are made for religious purposes. Altars are usually found at shrines, and they can be located in temples, churches and other places of worship...
at the crossing between the chancel and the nave. A teak screen, which originally separated the chancel from the nave, is now at the west end of the main body of the church.
There is seating for 175 worshippers on wood and cane armchairs, with room for about 200 more if needed.
There are five ceiling fans on each side of the church: also air-conditioning. A bell hangs in the tower, tuned to the note F.
The east window depicts the Crucifixion
Crucifixion
Crucifixion is an ancient method of painful execution in which the condemned person is tied or nailed to a large wooden cross and left to hang until dead...
. There are smaller windows on either side. In the west wall a rose window opens into the tower with lancet windows on either side. Each aisle has windows at the west end and is overlooked by seven clerestory
Clerestory
Clerestory is an architectural term that historically denoted an upper level of a Roman basilica or of the nave of a Romanesque or Gothic church, the walls of which rise above the rooflines of the lower aisles and are pierced with windows. In modern usage, clerestory refers to any high windows...
windows.
Mural plaques record the memory of past worshippers and benefactors.