The Best Churches in Bangkok

The Best Churches in Bangkok

Most people tend to think of Bangkok as the ‘go-to’ city for tantalizing, spicy cuisine, massages, festivals, nightlife…and of course, Buddhist temples.

Which is all true in relative terms. And, continuing with the temple theme for a moment, it turns out that Thailand has literally thousands of temples.

Some of these structures are ancient, some more modern, and all of them are centred exquisitely around various themes and designs related to ‘Thai Buddhism’, which apparently first made its way towards Thai shores in the 12^th century.

Buddhism (albeit the Thai ‘version’) is obviously the main religion practiced in Thailand then, and the temples are a point of attraction for many (usually first-time) visitors to the Thai capital. Yet most people are probably unaware that in Bangkok (and in fact nationwide) there are also many impressive Christian churches, and even cathedrals.

Christianity in Thailand

In the days when Ayuttaya was the Thai capital and the king first started trading with foreigners in the 16^th century -– initially the Portuguese — Christianity appeared in Thailand for the first time, and it actually began to spread.

Churches then inevitably began to appear, many of them built by visiting missionaries (who were largely Catholic at first).

And briefly fast-forwarding to when Bangkok became the new capital towards the end of the 18^th century, the Catholic Church was again the one that made efforts to (re-) establish itself, this time in the new capital, building many of the amazing churches that are not only still standing today, but are fully operational.

Image by Khun Thammarith sourced from wikimedia commons.org

These still-standing historical relics, some of which are magnificent to behold, have obviously undergone restoration and structural work at some point, and many of the buildings are impressive exhibits of the Gothic and Romanesque architectural style that was typical of Christian religious constructions around the late 18^th century.

So we already know that it was the French Catholic missionaries who arrived later on towards the latter half of the 17^th century who had more of a hand in the development of the Church in Bangkok (and in fact Thailand).

But after them came others, and Protestants began to appear in Thailand in the early 1800s, sent by The Church of England via the London Missionary Society, but apparently they didn’t stay in the country for that long and eventually beat a retreat, leaving little evidence behind of their visit, unlike the Catholics.

American Presbyterians had followed them by 1840 and built their first church 10-20 years later, which still stands today and features in this report.

The churches also go some way towards showing the historical religious tolerance of a predominantly Buddhist nation, where Christians actually comprise around just 1% of the population. Having said that, a digitally-scaled map of the Metropolitan Bangkok region in fact reveals that there are 108 churches of various denominations in total in the Thai capital.

Some of the churches in Bangkok also became a part of the hub of Thai education – namely through the establishment of schools, convents, colleges and universities connected to their particular church. The educational style appealed to the Thais in that it emphasized academic achievement along with responsibility and ethics learned through religious morals, and obviously through the teaching and use of English when possible.

Besides all that though, Bangkok churches can provide a pleasant respite from the chaos and heat of the city for many visitors. Some of these places offer a cool, vast, quiet interior, amidst stunning, tranquility-inducing architecture.

Architecture enthusiasts can have a ball here, as several of the churches in Bangkok are outstanding in that they offer something a little bit different

So if you were wondering where to find the best churches in the capital city of Thailand, then your search ends here with our selection of some of the best churches in Bangkok.

1. Santa Cruz

Image by UweBKK from creativecommons.org

Santa Cruz Church is a prime legacy of the historical Portuguese presence in Thailand and Bangkok. (The name of the church is Portuguese for Holy Cross.)

Situated on the Thonburi side of the river, here stands a Bangkok church that has been in this area since the late 18^th century.

You can spot it quite easily from the river if you are travelling by boat, and this particular area of the city is apparently a hub of sorts in terms of other cultural and religious influences from outside of Thailand that exist in Bangkok, including Portuguese, Chinese, and Muslims from the deep south and beyond.

The district is known locally as Kudee Jeen, and it is worth checking out as it’s a rather historical and diverse neighbourhood, right next to the river.

Architecture buffs on the lookout in Bangkok should definitely have a wander around this small region of the city, as the architectural design and style, which can also be found in other regions of the country –- Phuket being a prime example — is very distinctive because of the Portuguese and Chinese migrants’ influence.

The building is noticeable from its bell tower, which is a reddish dome on top of the central bell tower, with round spoke-like windows also being a feature. The decorative arches and intricately-detailed ceiling make for an impressive interior.

Location: Thetsaban Sai 1 Rd, Wat Kanlaya, Thonburi, Bangkok 10600

2. The Immaculate Conception Church

by กสิณธร ราชโอรส from wikimedia commons

Reputedly the oldest Catholic Church in Bangkok, this building dates back to the 1600s when Ayuttaya was still the capital of Thailand.

Located deep in Soi Mitrakham, Samsen, the Immaculate Conception Church has obviously undergone a fair few ‘face-lifts’ in its time. However, it still stands proud, and continues to service the religious requirements of the local Catholic population.

The church was built in 1674, when Bangkok was still a transit port for ships sailing up the Chao Phraya River to the old capital in Ayutthaya. The present incarnation of the church underwent major reconstruction in 1847. When Ayutthaya was virtually destroyed in 1767 it was also pretty much the end of Catholicism in the kingdom.

For non-Catholics –- The Immaculate Conception is a part of the Catholic doctrine that tells how the mother of Jesus, the Virgin Mary, conceived the child by Divine Grace alone — an old belief reminiscent of 15^th-century Catholicism which was officially added to church dogma in 1854 (on the 8^th December, when the feast of the Immaculate Conception is actually celebrated).

location: Wachira Phayaban, Dusit, Bangkok

3. The Church of the Blessed Sacrament

In the Taling Chan area of Bangkok you can find a church that looks so modern and ‘untraditional’ – as churches generally go — that it could easily be missed or taken for some other kind of contemporary modern building with its smooth lines and curved roof.

Image sourced from creativecommons.org

Although many people think it resembles an art gallery, apparently Thai architect Manode Sookchai cites the shape of the sacramental bread used in Catholic ceremonies as his source of inspiration.

Seemingly quite a thoughtful designer to say the least, Mr. Sookchai also built in a sloped pathway to the entrance of the church. This was apparently inspired by the Catholic theology that man ‘comes from dust and goes back to dust’.

The church’s cross tower is 50 metres high, which means that it can be spotted from a distance quite easily.

Location:14/4 Ratchapruek Road, Talin Chan, Bangkok 10170

4. The Church of St. Nicholas the Wonderworker

This Bangkok church is unique in that it is a rather striking Russian Orthodox construct.

Image sourced from pexels.com

Found in the centrally-located Sukhumvit area of the city, the church was apparently built using donations from members of the Orthodox community, which is obviously larger than one might expect.

On top of the building is the double cross that typifies the R.O. churches worldwide, located on a gleaming golden dome which in turn is mounted on a striped and tapered tower. This Bangkok building is indeed an impressive sight to behold for anyone never having seen this type of church before, or even for anyone not expecting to see one in the Thai capital..

The church has smaller, dome-topped towers on each corner of the main building, and the interior has to be seen to be believed. Murals cover the walls and ceiling, and an array of amazing-looking candles, rugs, chandeliers, and other plush furnishings add a few final touches.

Location: 101/1 Bang Chak, Phra Khanong, Bangkok 10260

5. Christ Church

This church in Bangkok is a prime example of Gothic-style architecture, and it was one of the first (and few) Protestant constructions in the city.

Christ Church apparently comes under the Diocese of Singapore, and just to give some idea of the size of the place, it accommodates close on 500 people.

Image by dialog centre sourced from creativecommons.org

The interior of this place is no less impressive than any of the others, and includes six pillars and the highly-decorative stained glass windows typical of buildings from this period. Some of the images included within these windows — which are certainly worth a look — are those of Christ with children, Mary Magdalene, and various other scenarios including Jesus calming the waves from Lake Galilee.

The Crucifixion behind the communion table is undoubtedly the centre piece of this fascinating 175-year-old church. The church runs a kindergarten on weekdays called the Rainbow Land, and like the majority of Bangkok churches on our list offers services in both Thai and English.

There is a memorial garden in the church grounds where the ashes of the church members are scattered and their photos are placed.

Location: 11 Convent Road, Silom, Bang Rak, Bangkok 10500

6. Assumption Cathedral

Image by Ahoerstemeier from wikimedia commons

This particular place was built in the European architectural style, and undoubtedly is one of the grandest on our list today. The cathedral was originally built in the 16th century, and was later reconstructed in the 19th century by the Italians.

Assumption Cathedral is one of the most attended churches in the city of Bangkok. This may be due to the fact that most people know the name through the high-brow, fee-paying schools, colleges and universities of the same name, which have long been an educational mainstay of the Bangkok moneyed classes.

Built in the rectangular, Romanesque style of the day, the highly-decorated, baroque-style ornate ceiling is immediately impressive when entering the church through the huge towers built around it.

It is worth examining some of the finer details of the church when you visit, with its historical and beautiful frescos reminiscent of the Italian Renaissance.

Apparently this cathedral was one of the structures that suffered damage from some of the bombings of Bangkok that took place during World War II, a fact that you would never imagine when casting eyes on the currently magnificent architecture.

Location: 57 oriental avenue, Bangrak, Bangkok 10500

7. The Holy Rosary Church

Holy Rosary is another one of the oldest churches in Bangkok, dating back to the late-17^th century, and was another church in Bangkok built by the Portuguese.

Image by Philip Roeland sourced from creativecommons.org

Anyone doing a Bangkok ‘church tour’ would notice more of the Gothic-style architectural style here, particularly with the doors and windows of the church, which also has a rather impressive steeple.

The Gothic influence is even more apparent from the motifs and emblems decorating the construct, not to mention the floor plan in the shape of a crucifix. Ornate, finely-detailed windows and ceilings again feature heavily in the design of the church, with the stained glass being one of the most notable features.

Located towards the east of the Chao Phraya, the church actually faces the river, and its cream-coloured exterior looks impressive in the daytime, while the interior has an impressive European influence to its décor.

The interior of the church is again definitely worth taking detailed note of, particularly the stained-glass images depicting Bible stories and aspects of Jesus’s life. Another focal point of the church is an intricately-decorated Mother of the Rosary statue. Further to that, there is a small green area outside with another statue of the Virgin Mary.

Location: 987 Vanich 2 Alley, Talad Noi, samphanthawong, Chinatown, Bangkok 10100

8. The First Presbyterian Church

Image by dahlfred sourced from creativecommons.org

Finally arriving in Bangkok after both the Catholics and the Protestants, the Presbyterian missionaries built this church in the latter half of the 19^th century.

It’s on a reasonably peaceful stretch of the Chao Phraya River near the Krung Thep Bridge, although you wouldn’t notice it from the river as it is not passed by any of the regular, passenger-shuttling boats.

The church is an artefact to the efforts of the American Presbyterian Mission pioneers and their attempts to spread their message to various regions of the globe.

Location: 37 charoen nakhon, alley 59, Samray, thonburi, bangkok 10600